NutritionDoc

Back in the 1980s, a stroke of marketing genius led cereal companies to press healthy sounding granola into bar shapes that you could eat on the run.

 

Today, they have replaced much, if not all, of the granola's whole grain oats with "crisp" ( read: sugar coated) white rice, white flour, a smorgasbord of sugars, and candy fixings like chocolate, marshmallow, icing, and caramel.

 

The bar market now stretches from unabashed junk ( Hershey's Snack Barz, Kellogg's Go Tarts) to what appears to be good for you ( Kellogg's Nutri Grain Yogurt, Raisin Bran Crunch Bars).

 

Keep in mind that even the best bars do not hold a candle to fruits, vegetables, salads, yogurt, or healthy sandwiches. Bars are convenient because they are shelf stable, compact, and individually wrapped. But there is nothing special about the sweetened stuff inside.

 

Wholesome foods beat bars hands down.