Protein bars are a great way to get your daily dose of protein. If you’re pressed for time or want to minimize your food prep, protein bars are a convenient way to ensure you don’t miss out on getting some quality protein in your diet. However, many people complain that protein bars taste bad and leave an unpleasant aftertaste in their mouth that can last for hours! But why do protein bars taste bad? It might seem like an odd question, but the answer can tell you quite a bit about what to look for in your next protein bar purchase, as well as why some of them taste downright awful!
Fat content
Protein bars contain more fat and sugar than any other bar. The average bar is 30% to 40% fat, which is why it tastes so good! That much fat makes for a very stable product. But why do protein bars taste bad? Because your body knows better. You’re only supposed to have 2%-3% of your calories from fat, and that’s not 2%-3% per meal that’s on an entire day’s worth of food. Many protein bars are also 150-250 calories each. If you eat three or four in one sitting, you’re well over 1/4 of your daily calories! Don’t let healthy fool you: Be skeptical of products that call themselves protein, especially if they’re high in fat or calories. An authentic protein bar will be 10g carbs and 10g fat. And yes, they don’t taste as good as your regular candy bar.
Taste profile
If you find yourself throwing away a lot of high-protein bars and wondering why protein bars taste so bad. It’s probably because you can’t digest and absorb all those extra proteins. The thing is, most people are just fine with eating whole foods that contain lots of protein like meat or fish, beans, or eggs. But when those same kinds of foods are made into a bar or powder form, they become highly indigestible. As many as 95% of people suffer from some level of Lactose Intolerance.
No one knows why exactly lactose intolerance happens. Perhaps we weren’t designed to eat so much dairy after all. Anyhow, our bodies break down lactose using an enzyme called Lactase, which breaks it down into glucose and galactose. When our bodies don’t produce enough Lactase in response to these foods, our large intestine begins to attack them, causing gas and pain.
Texture
Why do protein bars taste so bad? The biggest reason people find protein bars disgusting is their texture. These snacks tend to be chewy and chalky, with an unpleasant gumminess that few can stomach. To get rid of any grittiness, you’ll want to keep it simple. Don’t add too many different ingredients. Instead, create a single-ingredient snack. For example, you can bake some rolled oats or whole wheat flour into a bar and add some dates or peanut butter for sweetness. This will give you enough texture without going overboard. The same goes for adding dried fruit or nuts. Just don’t go crazy. The fewer ingredients you have, the better your protein bar will taste. You can also make sure they’re fresh.
Tiffany Scott is a freelance writer and Health & Lifestyle journalist. She has written over hundred articles on health, wellness, nutrition, and more.
