Summer and winter, do you love organic cereal bars? Attention. If these seduce with their health promises (“natural snacks”, “rich in fiber”, “healthy” bar …) they sometimes prove to be just as sweet and calorie as their non-organic counterparts.
What does the organic label mean?
The organic label does not automatically mean that the product is less caloric or perfectly balanced.
“What he guarantees above all is the absence of synthetic pesticides and agriculture more respectful of the environment”, Recalls Julie Boët.
Thus, on the nutritional level“An organic bar can contain the same amounts of sugars or fats as a conventional bar. It will often be made with better quality ingredients, but that does not systematically make it light”, she reveals.
In reality, some cereal bars, even organic, are very rich in added sugars or syrups, and sometimes quite poor in fiber or protein. Result: they are very much satisfied and their regular consumption can promote blood sugar peaks followed by cravings.
“This is where the quality of sugar makes all the difference. A sweet bar with dates, for example, of course brings sugars, but also fibers, minerals and an interesting natural sweet power. Conversely, a bar containing glucose-fructose syrup, even organic, will have a more marked glycemic impact and less nutritional interest”, warns the expert.
Cereal bars: How to choose them well?
At the supermarket, the trap is to trust only the mention “organic” or the image of natural and health that these products convey. To choose them well, it is therefore useful to take a look at the label.
“Favor a bar that contains a list of simple, recognizable, low -processed ingredients. The ideal is to find a balance: full cereals for fibers, oilseeds for good fatty acids and proteins, a natural sweetening in reasonable quantity. Some bars fully fulfill this role and can become a practical ally in the event of a little hollow or before a sports session”, underlines the specialist.
Finally, cereal bars can quite have their place, provided they are carefully chosen and consumed without excess.
“Yes, they are often more calorie than you imagine, but a balanced snack is not just a simple figure. If the bar is of good quality, that it brings energy at the right time and it fits into a varied diet, it is not” guilty “. The important thing lies in the regularity of eating habits and not in the punctual consumption of a cereal bar, whether it is organic or not“Concludes the dietician.