Healthy Eating Tips

8 Pet Peeves of Top Dietitians

These nutrition gurus dole out advice left and right, and they have some serious beefs when it comes to the current concepts of food
By Carrie Stevens fitbie
 

Dietitian Pet Peeve #1: Replacing Meals with Energy Bars

Just because energy bars come in tiny packages that say they’re loaded with vitamins and minerals doesn’t necessarily make them a healthy choice. “A lot of them are nothing more than glorified candy bars,” says Sari Greaves, RD, nutrition director for Step Ahead Weight Loss Center in New Jersey. Not only can many be packed with enriched white flour, high fructose corn syrup, and other sweeteners, but also saturated fat and little fiber. “If you eat them in addition to meals, that’s an extra 300 to 400 calories in your day, which most of us can’t afford,” she says.

Right the wrong

If you must replace a meal with an energy bar, Greaves suggests choosing one between 200 and 300 calories; for a snack, shoot for 150 calories or fewer. Opt for a bar with whole grain as the first ingredient, such as brown rice, whole wheat, or whole oat flour. And the shorter the ingredient list, the better.

Your pick should meet at least two of Greaves’s requirements: less than 2 g of saturated fat; less than 15 g of sugar; at least 3 g of fiber; and at least 5 g of protein. If you can’t find one that packs enough protein, add it yourself. Spread a low-calorie bar with a thin layer of peanut butter, or pair with a glass of low-fat milk or a piece of low-fat string cheese, says Greaves. Adding in the protein will help you feel satisfied longer and prevent overeating later.

Forbidden Foods You Can Actually Eat

7 Comments
More From fitbie
Keywords:
Related Content