There's no denying that cereal bars have become popular with many people. They are easy to transport, can be carried in your bag, stay in your office drawer for days, are light, compact, practical and have a variety of flavors, in short, it is a food that has adapted very well to the rush of modern life. However, you need to be careful, as like any other source of energy, cereal bars must be consumed in moderation and never be used to replace meals.
“Cereal bars do not have the nutritional qualities to replace meals”, warns nutritionist and professor at Centro Universitário São Camilo, Samantha Rhein. The professional highlights the false advertising of diet packages that promise weight loss through eating only savory bars and sweets. “The best time to eat them is between meals”, explains Samantha.
Just like fruit, yogurt or even a piece of white cheese, cereal bars are recommended for quick snacks as a way to vary your diet. However, Mariana Del Bosco Rodrigues, nutritionist at Abeso, highlights the importance of natural foods. “Whenever possible, it is preferable to opt for a natural snack. This does not mean that industrialized products are bad, but there has been an inversion that leads to preference only for industrialized ones”.
The nutritional composition of cereal bars varies according to each product and manufacturer, as the variety on the market is wide. “In general, they are energetic products, suitable for consumption before physical activity, or rich in fiber, contributing to the regularization of intestinal transit. The tip is to always analyze the label (nutritional composition table and list of ingredients)”, teaches nutritionist Adriana Alvarenga, Scientific Information Manager at Gold Nutrition.
For Mariana Del Bosco Rodrigues, cereal bars should not have the “healthy product” label since they are sources of sugar and fat. “The ideal daily fiber intake is between 25 and 30g and most bars don’t even have 1g”, he highlights.
But, according to Mariana, you cannot ignore the great quality of this food: practicality. Nutritionist Samantha Rhein also highlights other positive points of the cereal bar. “Because it has fiber, you need to chew a lot, which satisfies the feeling of hunger. And it also fulfills the desire, especially among women, to eat a sweet treat in the middle of the day.”
Products indicated as light also have caveats. “The difference between light and normal is around 30 calories, that is, very little and unnecessary for those who have a controlled eating habit”, explains Samantha Rhein.
Nutritionist Luciana Piccolo gives tips for choosing healthier bars:
Choose bars made from seeds (sesame or linseed, for example) instead of cereal flakes, as they are richer in fiber and a source of vitamins and omega 6.
Quinoa-based bars are great. They provide protein, omega 3 and 6, are also good sources of fiber, vitamins and minerals (magnesium, zinc and potassium) and do not contain gluten.
And finally, cereal bars covered with chocolate, which are the most caloric and least nutritious, as they contain sugar and an increased level of saturated fat in their composition. Sometimes with almost zero fiber content.
Source:http://saude.terra.com.br/noticias/0,,OI4669570-EI16562,00-Comer+barra+de+cereais+e+um+habito+saudavel.html; http://www.wallstreetfitness.com.br/fique_por_dentro/artigo/760/