Myth Buster: Fiber One Bars

I was at Costco this week picking up groceries, when I stopped at the dreaded treat trap. You know, the rows of candy, trail mix, and mostly just sugar treats right before you check out? The area meant to entice you because you're so hungry from all of the shopping you've just done.

Well, I saw that Fiber One bars were on sale.
"Joseph likes those. That could be a good addition to his lunch for some healthy carbs"

But as I put them in my cart I looked at the label. Folks, prepare to be ruined.
29 grams of carbohydrates
20 grams of net carbs (total carb minus fiber)
and 2 measly grams of protein.

If that doesn't mean a lot to you, let me share what I've learned over the last couple years of health coaching. For snacks and meals, you're looking for a balanced number of net carbs and protein grams to keep your blood sugar stable. You want them to be as close to the same number as possible (or have the protein winning). When sugars and carbohydrates are so high, like this, it causes your blood sugar to spike, your insulin pump to turn on, and your body to store fat. For real. Because who wants that?!

On a whim I checked the Dark Chocolate Bark Thins snack next to it:
18 grams of carbohydrates
17 grams of net carbs
7 grams of protein

Now I'm not saying that you should eat this all the time, but I am telling you that you're better off choosing this dark chocolate snack for your healthy maintenance treat over the Fiber One bars. It's funny, right, that the one that looks like candy has more nutritional value than the one that's supposed to be healthy?

Don't be fooled by marketing. Most granola bars are cookies in disguise. And they definitely didn't get to come home with us.