So I have talked about added sugar. I read labels, a lot…actually, I read EVERY label on EVERY item that I buy.
I was grocery shopping the other day. I was standing in line and saw this item…I believe the items in the area of the cashiers are called “impulse items”. I picked it up because I saw a few of those keywords that leads people to believe that it’s healthy.
I saw the words “protein”, “no artificial flavors” and “go strong”.
I would like to share with you the PROS and CONS of this specific snack food…and the THOUGHT PROCESS I go through BEFORE buying ANY packaged food item.
First the PROS:
- Each serving is 180 calories. I look for snacks that are under 200 calories. The point of a snack is to TIDE you over until a full meal. They should not be mini-meals.
- There are 9 grams of protein per serving. A snack with a significant amount of protein (or fiber) …at least 7-8 grams…can help fill you up so that you DON’T eat a mini-meal.
- There are 9 grams of fat, but only 2 are saturated. That means that the majority of the fat is coming from the almonds, soy protein isolate, peanuts and almond butter…all sources of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated (the good types) of fat.
Now for the CONS:
- Look at the ingredients. They are always listed in the order of the AMOUNT of each ingredient…so the first few are most prevalent. Ingredients 2 and 4 are both forms of sugar: SUGAR and CORN SYRUP…ingredients 10 and 12 are also forms of sugar: HONEY and INVERT SUGAR.
- Each serving has a total of 8 grams of sugar. Now. That’s not horrible, but it is all from ADDED sugar. It is not natural sugar, like in fruit or dairy.
Overall I have to say that I am kind of torn on whether I would buy this product. On the one hand, there is a lot of added sugar. On the other, if eating ONE serving of this product SATISFIES you – and perhaps STOPS you from eating something with MORE sugar, then it is a good choice.
I see this product as a TREAT versus a SNACK – something that I would “go to” on a regular basis.
What are YOUR thoughts and/or questions about it?
