Procuring a proper diet while watching out for your weight is quite a difficult task. Regularly providing your body with nutritious meals and snacks is crucial for your health. However, it’s not always easy to have a proper meal plan. Cooking up healthy meals can also be a hassle.
This is where snack bars come in handy. They are filled with various types of nutritional elements. They have different amounts of proteins, carbs, and fats that cater to the consumer’s needs. But these dietary bars usually focus on weight loss.
Medifast bars are one of the leading brands consumed by weight watchers all around the world. It’s famous for its lucrative nutritional stats. However, these bars might have elements that might not be suitable for everyone. Thus, we are here discussing substitute for Medifast bars.
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Medifast Bars: Nutritional facts
Medifast nutritional bars come in various flavors, including peanut butter, oatmeal raisin, caramel, chocolate, cinnamon roll, fruit & nut, BBQ bites, and many more.
The calorie count of these bars ranges from 60 calories to 200 calories per bar. The average calorie count for these bars is 110 calories per serving. The Medifast bars are famous for their high protein content. They also have a low carbohydrate content which is effective for weight loss.
On average, the total fat content is 3.0 grams. The bars only contain 0.5 grams of saturated fats. It doesn’t have any polyunsaturated fats or monounsaturated fats. The bars are free of cholesterol as well.
It does have a significant amount of sodium (140-mg on average). It also has a good amount of potassium content, around 310 mg. The total carbohydrate content is 24 grams. This includes 1 gram of dietary fiber.
But the reason why Medi fast bars are widely known is for their high protein content. On average, the Medifast bars contain 10 grams of protein. The bars are also rich in vitamin A, vitamin B complex, and vitamin D. They also have a significant amount of calcium, copper, and Iron.
All in all, they provide a good amount of nutrition for alternatives for meals. They are easily consumable, easily digestible, and convenient to carry around. However, it might not be suitable for everyone.
Problems with the Medifast diet
The Medifast diet is popular, containing its range of snack bars and shakes. However, it’s not suitable for everyone. A whole lot of consumers complain of constipation. Harvard Health Publishing had released an article stating that the Medifast bars pose a risk of increased gallbladder diseases.
Apart from the abnormal bowel movement, the Medifast diet also affects the overall body condition. The consumers complain of lightheadedness, dizziness, dry skin, constantly feeling hungry, hypothermia, and other conditions.
According to the National Academies Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, the Medifast diet focuses on low-calorie intake. It can not be taken by people who have less than 30% excess body weight. It is also not suitable for teens who are still undergoing their period of growth.
The Medifast diet is also not suitable for women who are pregnant. It also should be avoided by people with autoimmune diseases as well as malignant conditions. People with diabetes, heart disease, kidney diseases, and liver diseases should also avoid the Medifast diets.
Commercial weight-loss programs may be expensive, but that does not necessarily mean that they would be 100% effective. The best option would be to consult your doctor. Your doctor might refer you to a nutritionist who would provide you with a meal plan along with consultations.
7 Substitute For Medifast Bars
If Medifast bars are not catering to your needs, then don’t be alarmed. There are several options in the market with similar nutritional values. Some may have even better nutritional content with a wide range of flavors.
Here we have discussed a few substitute for Medifast bars:
Special K Protein Snack Bars
These snacking bars are pretty similar to that of Medifast Bars. They have the same average calorie count of 110 calories per serving with 3.5 grams of fat. It loses its charm when you observe its sugar content. It has a very high amount of sugar but not so much protein.
It has 11 grams of sugar. On the other hand, the protein content is only 4 grams. It has a total carbohydrate content of 15 grams.
Kashi’s Go Lean Protein bar
Kashi’s protein bars have a pretty large amount of calories-180 calories per serving to be exact. It has a high carbohydrate content of 30 grams. The sugar content is 13 grams. The total fat content is 5 grams, and the fat content is 9 grams.
So you see that the sugar and the fat content of Kashi’s bars are higher than necessary. However, the protein content is relatively low. It has the lowest fat content compared to the other nutritional bars in the market.
The Simply Bar
The simple bar has a slightly higher calorie content than the Medifast bars. It has a calorie content of 150 calories per serving with a fat concentration of 2.5 grams. However, the good side of these bars is that they have a pretty high protein content of 17 grams per serving.
Its primary protein source is soy protein isolate. This bar is a good choice for consumers who have an intolerance for Maltitol. And you use it as substitute for medifast bars.
Sans Meals bar
The Sans meals bars are one of the best meal replacement bars out there in the market. Each bar is made of egg whites, nuts, fruits, and seeds. They are also a gluten-free, dairy-free, and sugar-free alternative.
They have a higher calorie content than most bars. As a result, they make a great replacement bar for meals. They contain a swooping 390 calories on an average serving. They also have a high protein content of 15 grams.
These bars have a carb content of 36 grams which is a little higher than you would like. All in all, these bars are one of the best substitute for Medifast bars.
Thunderbird bar
These bars are paleo-friendly bars. They use dense nutrition ingredients like nuts and seeds. One of the best things about these bars is that they are sweetened by dates and not by sugar. As a result, they provide a natural alternative for sugar. This deems it to be diabetic-friendly.
However, these bars have a low amount of calories. So, it is best taken with eggs or other protein elements.
The Good Lovin Bar
These bars are perfect for having on the go. They have a high-calorie content and provide quick energy. Also, they are naturally sweetened by berries, dates, and fruits. These are good for travelers and hikers as they have a long shelf life. These can stay fresh outside the fridge for more than one week.
Weight loss supplements
If you are trying to quit supplement bars and want to go for another product, you can opt for supplement solutions or drinks. Pure life organics, Meticore, and Leptitox are some excellent supplements that you can try out.
But you should consult your nutritionist to get the best results.
FAQ
What diet is similar to Medifast?
The Optiva diet is similar to the Medifast diet. The same company formulates both the Medifast diet and the Optiva diet. As a result, they have identical constituents.
What is the best meal replacement?
Sans Meals Bars are the best meal replacement bars. They have quite a high-calorie content. Also, it has a high protein content which makes it a perfect meal replacement bar.
Can you replace a meal with a protein bar?
Protein bars are often used as replacements for meals, especially breakfast. However, they usually can’t compete with properly prepared nutritious meals.
Final Thoughts
There is a various substitute for Medifast bars available in the market. However, you should know about your dietary needs and choose wisely. You should also keep in mind that a proper nutritious meal can never be substituted by a protein bar.
But, a protein bar indeed provides the essential nutrients for meal replacement. You should also watch out for vitamin and mineral deficiencies and take necessary supplements.
