area number of foods that make frequent appearances in these type of recipes because of how much nutrition, flavor, and texture they add. Though add-in options are pretty much endless, there. Whatever you want! Most protein bars are made from simple ingredients and don't require a lot of prep time. What should you put in homemade protein bars?

No scrutinizing lengthy ingredients lists and no weird stomach gurgling involved. That’s why at-home protein bars may be especially appealing for anyone who does have allergies, sensitivities, or reactions to certain ingredients. The beauty with homemade protein bars is that you don’t have to worry about any of that. And if you have celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity, for instance, you need to look for gluten-free protein bars. Five of the nine major food allergens flagged by the US Food and Drug Administration are commonly found in protein bars on the market: peanuts, tree nuts, soy, milk, and eggs. Many people will also need to avoid certain ingredients for health reasons. If sugar alcohols cause you problems, check the nutrition label (where they’re only sometimes listed) and scan the ingredients list for erythritol, hydrogenated starch hydrolysates (HSH), isomalt, lactitol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol, and xylitol. If you know that too much added fiber bothers your stomach, you should look out for bars with large amounts of fiber and skim for chicory root, inulin, or oligofructose on the label, as SELF has explained. When it comes to choosing what kind of protein bars to buy, you’ll want to go on individual preference and avoid (or limit) any ingredients that you know cause you stomach issues, like the aforementioned large amounts of added fiber or sugar alcohols. There’s no set list of ingredients that everyone should stay away from. What ingredients should you avoid in protein bars? While everybody’s tolerance for the type and amount of sugar alcohols they can consume before experiencing GI issues is a little different, as SELF has explained, they can cause gas, stomach pain, and diarrhea for plenty of people. The other main culprit-popular in low-sugar, sugar-free, or low-calorie protein bars-is sugar alcohols. This can cause issues like gas, bloating, cramping, and yes, pooping.

Do protein bars make you poop?Ĭertain store-bought protein bars have a reputation for making you clutch your stomach or run to the bathroom because they contain ingredients known to cause GI discomfort, such as (a lot of) added fiber and sugar alcohols.įiber is wonderful, but the high concentrations of added fiber that some bars contain (as much as 10 or 15 grams) is a lot for your system to handle at once, as SELF has reported, especially if you aren’t used to such amounts. Finally, we’ll send you off with a collection of killer homemade protein bar recipes. Then we’ll talk about how homemade protein bars can help you avoid those drawbacks altogether and answer some common questions about making them. But since there are some potential pitfalls there, we’ll go over what you need to know so you can steer clear of them. If you want to stick to store-bought, awesome. Of course, store-bought protein bars do have their benefits too-namely, requiring zero time in the kitchen-and there are some excellent products out there that can certainly merit a place in your diet if you’re a fan. Need a bit more fiber and fat to help satiate you? Add some nuts and seeds.) Equally important, making your own bars means you get to leave out the ingredients you don’t love so much or need to avoid for health reasons. (Want carbohydrates that will provide a more gradual stream of energy? Throw in some fiber-rich dried fruit or whole grain cereal. “With homemade bars, it’s also easier to add more nutrition into each bite,” Ansari says. “Instead of buying two different bars that have pieces of what you enjoy eating, the one you make on your own is personalized to you and your favorite ingredients,” Ansari says.īeyond pleasing your palate, homemade protein bars can fit your nutritional needs to a T. Say you love the chewy texture of one store-bought protein bar and the chocolate drizzle on a different one. When you make your own bars, you never have to compromise on getting exactly what you’re looking for, Yasi Ansari, MS, RD, CSSD, a Los Angeles–based sports dietitian and national media spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, tells SELF. The main draw with going the homemade route is the infinite customizability.

If you’re looking to make homemade protein bars, though, then you’ve probably got an inkling that DIY’ing it has certain advantages. Who doesn’t love a good protein bar? They’re among the most tasty, filling, and convenient healthy snack ideas you can enjoy.

Fit crunch macros