Protein. Do you know how much you’re supposed to eat per day?
And do you know how much you actually eat? While facts and figures vary for each individual the importance of protein in a balanced diet cannot be argued. Lack of protein in your diet can lead to muscle loss and a depleted immune system. Protein also helps you to feel fuller for longer. Eating a meal with a decent proportion of protein is a better long term solution than eating something high in carbs and sugar that will leave you feeling starving hungry just an hour later. I notice this myself – if I eat eggs for breakfast I don’t start reaching for the snacks until much nearer lunch, compared to having a cinnamon and raisin bagel!
Quest Bars
Protein bars can be a handy way to refuel with the recommended amount of protein after a workout, or to make sure that your diet contains the suggested quantities if you’re short of time or always on the go.
I’d been hearing a lot of hype about Quest Bars. They recently hit the shelves in the UK after becoming one of the most popular protein snacks in the USA.
THE FACTS
- Each Quest bar contains around 200kcals and 20g of protein.
- The protein source is whey protein isolate and milk protein isolate, so while the bars are vegetarian, they’re not vegan friendly.
- They are however, suitable for those on a gluten free diet, are soy free and contain a high quantity of fibre.
- The ingredients list isn’t too long compared to some other protein bars although it does contain added sugars and flavours.
- The list of flavours is pretty amazing!
I’ve been enjoying Quest Bars for the past few weeks in various different situations, which just goes to show how versatile they are. From breakfast on the go before a morning workout to an afternoon snack with a cup of tea.
I even ate one whilst out walking along the Thames Path as part of my Shine Night Walk training – check out Cinnamon Roll flavour admiring the view of Syon House by Kew Gardens!
My favourite flavours have to be the aforementioned Cinnamon Roll, Chocolate Brownie and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough! I was worried that the sweet sounding flavours would taste artificial , and protein bars can sometimes have a distinctive chalky texture, but I was pleasantly surprised. In fact I’ve heard that several of the dessert flavours taste even better if you microwave them for a few seconds first so they go a bit gooey…
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| Image from Quest |
It is worth noting that these bars, while containing a substantial amount of your daily protein and fibre intake, also include added sugars and flavours and at the end of the day, are a processed product. As with all other snack bars, they’re intended to be a supplement to a healthy balanced diet rather than replacing natural sources of protein.
Which flavour would be your favourite? Do you eat protein bars to supplement your daily intake or for convenience?
Beki x
NB: Predator Nutrition is the official UK distributor of Quest Bar products and kindly sent me some samples to try – as always, all opinions are my own.
