Buy a Better Bar

by Valerie Nahmad — October 2, 2007

I love my breakfast bars. Say what you want about cereal, eggs, and the like, but sometimes a Power Bar is the perfect morning treat. Seems I'm not alone--AOL Body reports that 2/3 of Americans eat some kind of breakfast bar and bar sales are expected to increase up to 45 percent by 2011. Good times. Make the most of your breakfast on the go with these guidelines on what to look for:

• Skip the Sugar--Look for bars that contain less than 15 grams of sugar. A bar low in sweeteners will help keep your blood sugar and energy levels steady and avoid extra calories.
• Fuel the Fiber--Take a bite out of your recommended 25 daily grams of fiber by sticking to bars with at least 5 grams of fiber. Eat it with a piece of fruit and you'll be even better off.
• Power up with Protein--Protein keeps us energized and satisfied. We're supposed to get 75 to 100 grams a day; look for a bar with at least 5 grams of protein.
• Count on Calcium--Compensate for missing the milk in your morning cereal by choosing a bar with at least 25 percent of the DV for calcium. Boost your numbers even more with a glass of milk or calcium-fortified juice.