The Benefits Of Incorporating Paleo Bars Into Your Diet

By Bethany

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When it comes to the Paleo diet, you might find it difficult find a snack that you can keep in your purse, your car, or even in your desk for those instances where you need something to snack on.

Instead of trying to fight the urge to pick up some overly processed, fatty food from a fast food joint or a convenience shop, Paleo bars can be exactly what you need to stave off those cravings until it’s time for a nutritious meal.

What Is Paleo?

You might be wondering what is Paleo. In short, Paleo basically means you are eating the way our ancestors ate way before everything became overly processed and doused in sugar. This means you’re going to eat anything that can be hunted or gathered, foods like:

Meat
Seafood
Nuts

Leafy Greens
Vegetables
Seeds

Notice what isn’t on this list? Anything made from grain, sugar, or has been processed. Many folks on a paleo diet tend to stay away from dairy as well. However, you can eat dairy products from time to time whenever you need to add some extra calories into your diet.

Benefits Of Paleo Diet Bars

Much like other bars, you can find a variety of Paleo snack bars, Paleo Breakfast Bars, and even Paleo Energy Bars. These bars can be a lifesaver for when you’re really hungry but you don’t have Paleo friendly food on hand.

Let’s not forget that it’s a lot easier toting around a simple bar or two rather than carrying around an insulated lunchbox with a chicken breast or a grass-fed steak just to have a healthy snack. These bars will help you stay Paleo, regardless of where you are and what the circumstances may that that are preventing you from getting a nutritious, Paleo meal.

With Paleo bars, you’re eating something with a denser nutritional profile than the majority of other bars that are available on the market. Since these bars are gluten- and dairy-free, they aren’t going to tip you off that precarious healthy path you’re trying to stay on. Also, as more and more people practice a Paleo diet, these bars are going to be more accessible and in a larger array of flavors.

What To Look For On The Labels Of Paleo Protein Bars

A protein bar is a great source of protein for when you’re on the go and don’t have the time to sit down and enjoy a meal. Many of these bars are able to provide you with a large portion of your daily protein requirements. If you’re practicing a Paleo diet, a Paleo protein bar is going give you the necessary protein all from a healthy source.

Unfortunately, not all protein bars are created the same—many of which have so much sugar in them they resemble candy bars more than a Paleo snack. Some of these bars may even contain allergens that you may not know about because the label has been mislabeled.

So, what should you do to make sure that you’re choosing the good Paleo bars?

Always Read The Labels – You should pay close attention to the ingredients. Some ingredients that are unhealthy may have different names that’ll make them appear harmless. For example, there are some Paleo snack bars that have hidden sugars in them that’ll actually cause more weight gain.
Make Sure It Is Organic – For many people going Paleo, it’s easier to go organic because the ingredients are made from sources that haven’t been exposed to synthetic chemicals that can be harmful to people.
Check For Possible Allergens - There are some Paleo products that contain peanuts, gluten, and other tree nuts. Some products may not contain these allergens but were made in the same manufacturing facility where they could have come in contact with allergens.
Check Nutritional Value – When you’re trying to choose the best paleo protein bars, you’ll want to check out what sort of nutritional value the bar has. Some bars will contain vitamins and minerals that your body needs, while others may not.
Check The Carb Impact or GI – Most protein bars will contain a lot of protein, there are some bars that will still contain a lot of carbs. You’ll want to check to see how many carbs are in the bar, as they could cause your insulin and blood sugar levels to fluctuate rapidly.

Protein Bar Products

Now, we move on to the individual brand recommendation. These fan favorites offer a completely different take on the classic protein bar formula. They contain grass-fed beef – making them much closer to a portable steak than a protein bar!

How Do EPIC Bars Stack Up Nutritionally?

The EPIC Bars company describes the bars like this:

The EPIC bar is a 100% grass fed animal based protein bar designed as nature intended. Paleo friendly, gluten free, and low in sugar, we believe that EPIC foods should inspire EPIC health.

So what’s actually in these things? Well, here are the ingredients.

Beef

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Ingredients: Organic Beef, Walnuts, Dried Cherries, Lactic Acid, Salt Celery Powder, Fine Black Pepper, Crushed Habanero.

Lamb

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Ingredients: Organic Lamb, Organic Currants, Sea Salt, Lactic Acid, Celery Powder, Spices (Basil, Marjoram, Oregon, Rosemary, Red Pepper, Black Pepper), Sesame Seeds, Dehydrated Spearmint Leaves, Dehydrated Lemon Peel.

Turkey

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Ingredients: Turkey, Almonds, Dried Cranberries (Cranberries, Apple Juice Concentrate), Lactic Acid, Seasoning (Coriander, Cumin, Nutmeg, Red Pepper, Dehydrated Garlic, Paprika, Dehydrated Onion). Salt, Celery Powder.

Bison

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Ingredients: Bsion, Uncured Bacon – No Nitrites or Nitrates Added (Pork, Water, Brown Sugar, Salt, Vinegar, Celery Powder, Sea Salt), Dried Cranberries (Cranberries, Apple Juice Concentrate), Lactic Acid, Celery Powder, Sea Salt.

The big standout is the 8g of sugar, which is higher than we’d like it to be, but beside that (we’ll let it slide), EPIC Bars seem to be up to snuff from an ingredient standpoint. No long ingredient lists and no unpronounceable names. Win.

How Do EPIC Bars Taste?

In terms of taste, these bars are similar to beef jerky, only softer. The bacon flavor is by far my personal favorite. Recently, EPIC has come out with EPIC bites, EPIC bits and a ‘hunt and harvest’ mix – giving you even more delicious options when traveling. If you’re looking for a protein bar that’s lower in sugar – and a little more strict Paleo – EPIC Bar is definitely the right choice for you.

Get Epic Bars Here

(especially the bison one)

Paleo Bars Wrap Up

Paleo bars can be the perfect thing to tide you over when you aren’t able to have a nutritious, Paleo meal. These bars can be tucked in your purse, glove box, desk, or backpack.

When you’re trying to decide what is going to be the best bar for you, you have to look at the ingredients and make sure they use ingredients that aren’t processed and haven’t come in contact with allergens. When you do find a bar that you enjoy, you’ll feel satiated in between meals, but also rest assured that you’re sticking with your diet.