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A Dietitian’s Guide to Choosing Granola Bars

Oct 08, 2019

By Mairead Rodgers, RD PHEc

What should I look for in a granola bar? Are granola bars ok to eat? What granola bars are best? Am I eating too many granola bars?

These are questions I get all the time from nutrition clients and we’re going to answer (hopefully) all of them today!

Can I eat granola bars? Is this ok?
Yep, granola bars are just fine as part of a balance healthy diet! They’re quick and convenient, don’t need to be kept cold and are super portable!

Could I eat too many granola bars?
Of course! If granola bars are taking the place of other important foods, that’s an issue. For most people, a granola bar in your lunch or for snack every day is not going to be an issue. If we’re having 2-3 a day, maybe it’s time to find some more variety in your snacks, but that could vary by the person based on their specific needs.

What should I look for in a granola bar?
For this, you’ll have to flip the bar over and check out the nutrition facts, or look at the nutrition panel on the side of the box.
Fibre:  Fibre is important! It helps keep us full longer (important for snacks for busy people!), keeps us regular, and can help keep our cholesterol in check. Look for a granola bar with at least 3-4g of fibre to make a dent in your needs for the day.
Sugar:  There can be a lot of sugar in granola bars! Something sticky has to hold it together! Even if something is sweetened with honey, maple syrup, or brown rice syrup, it’s still sugar and all acts the same way in our bodies. Try to keep the sugar per bar under 8g if you can. 
Protein:  Protein also helps keep us full longer, and can help us repair muscles after a hard workout. Try to find a granola bar with minimum 5g of protein. Closer to 10g is even better! For lower protein granola bars, trying pairing it with a source of protein (cheese, Greek yogurt, hardboiled egg) for a wellrounded snack.

Hopefully these tips make snacking and choosing things in the granola bar aisle easier! If you have another nutrition topic you wonder about, email  maireadrodgers@degreecrossfitseaforth.com  to get it answered!

Have specific questions about your personal nutrition? Book your FREE 15-minute Bite Sized Nutrition Chat  here  and let’s get started!

5 Types of Resources: Environment

08 May, 2024
Written By: Coach Kelly When it comes to our fitness and nutrition routines, there are a few resources we need to consider that we either have a lot of, some of, or minimal of. These are: Time Money Environment Support Skills Together, these 5 resources give us the framework for what style of fitness is going to fit us best, what our schedule may look like, and our overall enjoyment of the program - this equates to PROGRESS and CONSISTENCY! Environment We're not talking trees and grass (although this is important, too!) We mean things like: Where do you live (is it close to a gym)? Do you have meals and snacks ready? Do you have quality food around? How is the support from friends or family at home? The environment we live in will directly impact how we are able to manage all the things. If we live further from a gym, we will want to take into account the time it takes to get there, or maybe we live within walking distance. Can we have some healthy snacks available for after work or school? (This is tied to TIME from the list above!) You can contact our Nutrition Coach directly HERE for help! Setting our environment up for success can take a little bit of time at the start, but have a big pay off in the long run! Do you need help workshopping ways and ideas to get your environment ready for your success? We can help! CLICK HERE to book your free intro meeting or email info@degreefitnessseaforth.com ! 

5 Types of Resources: Money

07 May, 2024
Written By: Coach Kelly When it comes to our fitness and nutrition routines, there are a few resources we need to consider that we either have a lot of, some of, or minimal of. These are: Time Money Environment Support Skills Together, these 5 resources give us the framework for what style of fitness is going to fit us best, what our schedule may look like, and our overall enjoyment of the program - this equates to PROGRESS and CONSISTENCY! Money There are so many ways to stay active - some require no cost (ie. walking or running outside, playing a YouTube video, etc.), whereas some services have a fee to them (ie. Coaching, Group Classes). As always, there are a few things to consider: Are the free options working for you? (ie. Are you able to get out for your walk regularly and continue to see the changes you want?) Or, do we find that the accountability or motivation simply isn't there to get it done? When we invest in something we are generally more likely to use the service. Then, it's a matter of finding the best package or program that fits your budget, and is something we can commit to in the long run. At Degree, we offer different options with different price points based on schedules, budgets and what sort of environment a person is looking for (ie Group Classes , Personal Training , Nutrition Coaching ). It's important to sit down with a Coach, look at what is available and pick the thing that fits so you feel good about doing it, and invest in Yourself! Sit down with one of our Coaches by CLICKING HERE to explore your options, and find the best fit for you, or, email info@degreefitnessseaforth.com !

The Best Nutrition Advice is the Most Boring!

03 May, 2024
Written By: Mairead, Registered Dietitian When it comes to health and fitness goals, we're all often looking for that next new shiny thing that's going to change our lives. It makes sense - when we find something new, it seems fun and exciting. We're super motivated and hitting our goals or targets seems like a game. But eventually, that shine wears off and it starts to feel like a chore. We start to slip more often and might not be seeing the progress we were before. Often this leads to us giving up entirely. Until we find that next new shiny thing. And the cycle repeats over and over again. As a dietitian, I have clients come in all the time looking for some magic secret. They're hoping there's some trick or hack or secret diet they haven't heard about before that's going to stick forever and fix all their problems. I wish I had one. In reality, the best nutrition advice I can give you is not shiny or magic. While there may be new things you need to learn for specific conditions or needs, the basics for most people are the same. Eat lots of vegetables and fruit. Choose whole grains and high fibre starches over more refined versions. Eat a source of protein at most meals and aim for variety in these sources. Include healthy fats. Wash, rinse, and repeat. If most people did these most of the time, they would see improvements in their energy levels, their performance in the gym, and in their health overall. The hardest part of all is sticking to it for the long-term. It's not a 75 day challenge with an end date, it's the rest of your life. The key is finding ways to incorporate these basics over and over and over again, in ways you enjoy enough that you'll keep doing it. Is there more to nutrition than these basic pieces? Absolutely. And if you have concerns about a specific condition or need, you should seek out credible information for that. But the basics still apply, and are being consistent with these is what will get you those biggest gains in your health and fitness. Looking for more personalized nutrition advice? Let's chat! Email mairead@degreefitnessseaforth.com for more info, or CLICK HERE to book your FREE Bite-Sized Nutrition Chat!
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