Like many people, I used to reach for sugar for a mid-afternoon snack. I’d have my peppermint patty and diet coke sometime between 3-4pm. The peppermint patty was labeled “fat free” and the diet coke had no calories, so I thought I was “being good.” Now I understand that eating well is not a matter of “being good;” it is about nourishing my body, supporting my immune system and providing my brain with the energy and clarity it needs to complete the tasks on my to-do list.
Two of my go-to resources these days are Jaybars and Larabars.
Jaybars provide 14g of protein and are quite filling. I either eat them as a meal replacement, or eat ½ of the bar as a mid-morning snack and the other ½ as an afternoon snack. For taste, I prefer the fudge brownie flavor and I also eat the cashew coconut (there is a peanut butter bar but I no longer eat peanut butter so I can’t attest to the taste). The bars travel well because they are not chocolate coated and therefore don’t melt in the heat (they do get soft, but not messy).
I started eating Jaybars a few years ago at the suggestion of my health counselor and the bars immediately filled a void – the need for a quick meal replacement that didn’t need a blender to prepare or need to be refrigerated, a snack I could eat when out with friends at Starbucks and not be tempted to eat something I knew wouldn’t make me feel my best, food I could order in advance and keep a supply at work and at home.
I have purchased Jaybars at select Vitamin Shoppes in New York City and also order them from the Jay Robb website.
One of my favorite snacks is a Larabar. There are 16 flavors! The ingredients in my favorite, chocolate coconut chew, are dates, almonds, unsweetened cocoa powder and unsweetened coconuts. Can you believe that? 4 ingredients and I can pronounce all of them! These bars do have a high sugar content because of the fruit ingredients, but the fiber and protein content helps to slow down the sugar rush. Like Jaybars, Larabars also travel well because they are not chocolate coated and don’t need to be refrigerated. Larabars don’t keep me satiated for as long as a Jaybar, but they are a great addition to a light meal such as a salad, or as a mid-meal snack with a cup of tea. I’m always calm knowing I have a Larabar in my bag because I know I am prepared and I won’t have to sacrifice taste.
Larabars are available at Whole Foods and many local health food stores. I’ve even seen Larabars at local delis, making it easy to stay away from the candy aisle.
Allergy note: Both bars are nut-based and therefore not suited for anyone with tree nut allergies. Jaybars also contain milk by-products and are manufactured in a facility that processes other products which may contain soy, wheat and eggs.
{The links above are provided for readers. I do not receive any compensation for recommending these products.}
