Question: Is a Snickers bar a healthy snack?
Answer: Arguably, yes and no.
Yes, for two reasons: 1.) It’s a ‘balanced’ snack, and 2.) Sugar is sugar is sugar. I tell people that all the time. A Snickers bar contains peanuts, nougat, caramel and chocolate, and a 2 oz. bar contains 282 calories, 14 grams fat, 35 grams carbohydrate and 4 grams protein. So, that candy bar is approximately 45% fat, 50% carbohydrate and 5% protein. The 50% carbohydrate doesn’t have me sweating, but the high fat and low protein content certainly don’t do it any favors in the health department.
First, I’ll speak to the ‘balanced’ snack argument. Ideally, your snack would be approximately 50% carbohydrate, 20% fat and 30% protein, give or take. While a Snickers doesn’t exactly fit that profile, it does include carbs, fat and protein, which is more than can be said about, say, an apple by itself. (Gasp!) Second, let’s not forget that sugar is sugar. Honey = Maple Syrup = Table Sugar. It all turns to glucose in our bodies, which triggers the Krebs cycle and eventually gets used as energy or stored as muscle glycogen or fat. So, let’s not get all high and mighty over one man’s Snickers bar as you gobble down honey-sweetened granola.
Now, let’s compare it to another ‘healthier’ snack. You could bring a totally fitness-magazine-approved apple/almonds/dark chocolate combo to work and feel pretty proud of yourself. You’ll consume 413 calories, 23.3 grams fat, 34.1 grams carbohydrate and 7.9 grams protein (51% fat, 46% carbohydrate and 3% protein, approximately). Wowza! I bet you weren’t expecting those numbers. Now which one looks like the better snack?
BUT. While the Snickers bar has fewer calories and seems a bit more balanced, is a candy bar REALLY your best choice? I think not.
No, and here’s why: A highly processed, fat-laden, added-sugar-sweetened crash-waiting-to-happen ‘food’ item wrapped in plastic is never going to be a better choice than real food.
First, the apple is full of fiber, vitamins and minerals and even water for hydration. You aren’t getting any of that in your candy bar. Second, by pairing your apple with some almonds, a source of monounsaturated fat and a whopping 6 grams of protein, you’re promoting satiety and better able to absorb the vitamins and minerals found in the apple. Throwing in the dark chocolate at this point is a bit gratuitous, and I’d rather you save it for after dinner and allow it to replace a larger treat or the mindless snacking you’ve been doing in front of the TV. If you do that, the nutrition profile of your afternoon snack looks a lot more reasonable: 284 calories, 15.3 grams fat (almost of that unsaturated), 30 grams sugar and 6.2 grams protein, which is approximately 49% fat, 42% carbohydrate and 9% protein. Now doesn’t that seem like something you can feel a little better about eating on the regular?
So, what have we learned? First, things aren’t always what they seem; that Snickers bar isn’t as devoid of nutrition as perhaps you thought it was. Second, ‘healthy’ food can still pack in a lot of calories and is often where we get ourselves in trouble by over consuming—trail mix, I’m looking at you. While one ounce of dark chocolate is a great choice to satisfy a sweet tooth because it’s lower in saturated fat, added sugar (usually) and higher in antioxidants, it’s still a treat that should be moderated in your diet.
Did I surprise you? In my opinion, opting for fresh, whole foods and avoiding processed foods is your best bet all the time, but it’s also OK to eat a few Oreos every once in awhile. Bottom line: don’t make those Oreos a habit and always pair your sources of sugar (like an apple) with sources of protein and fat (like nuts) for a balanced snack that will give you lasting energy and promote a feeling of fullness until your next meal.
FAQs
bar contains 282 calories, 14 grams fat, 35 grams carbohydrate and 4 grams protein. So, that candy bar is approximately 45% fat, 50% carbohydrate and 5% protein. The 50% carbohydrate doesn't have me sweating, but the high fat and low protein content certainly don't do it any favors in the health department.
Can I eat Snickers before bed? ›
Candy, in general, is a bad idea right before bed. The high sugar amounts in candy introduce that blood sugar spike right as you're trying to wind down. It's also common for candy to contain chocolate, so you're risking consuming caffeine right before bed. Saturated and trans-fats are also common in candy.
What is the healthiest chocolate bar? ›
Of the three types of chocolate — dark, milk and white — dark chocolate is the healthiest, nutrition experts say.
Can I eat a Snickers before the gym? ›
But eating chocolate before a workout will do more harm than good in the long run, according to health experts. While you may feel a burst of energy because of the sugar content in the chocolate, this is short-lived, per Livestrong.
Can I eat a Snickers a day? ›
How many Snickers can you eat daily? Think again before having more than one Snickers bar a day. You may want to stick to one serving of Milk Chocolate Candy Bar, Chocolate Candy Bars, Almond Candy Bar, and Peanut Butter Candy Bar to avoid too much sugar, saturated fat, and calories.
What is the most unhealthy candy bar? ›
Here are the top five candy bars to avoid:
- 3 Musketeers.
- Milky Way.
- Baby Ruth.
- Chocolatey PayDay. They're like a normal PayDay bar wrapped in chocolate.
- Mr. Goodbar.
Eating chocolate in the morning may help burn body fat, decrease glucose levels, and improved microbiome health, thanks to the flavanol content, according to a new study. Food timing is a relevant factor in weight control.
What snack is OK before bed? ›
“Other tree nuts, like walnuts, pistachios, and cashews [also] offer good amounts of melatonin and magnesium,” says Van Buskirk. Oatmeal may be a popular breakfast food, but if you're looking to promote better sleep, oats may make an excellent bedtime snack, too.
What not to drink before bed? ›
Five drinks to avoid before going to bed
- Alcohol. It's no secret that alcohol makes you feel drowsy after a few drinks. ...
- Coffee. The caffeine in coffee can help wake you up in the morning. ...
- Energy Drinks. For obvious reasons, there is no use in having an energy drink before bed. ...
- Soda. ...
- Water.
12 Healthiest Snack Bars According to a Dietitian
- Kind Nut Bars. ...
- RxBar Protein Bars. ...
- GoMacro Protein Bars. ...
- LaraBar Original Fruit and Nut Bars. ...
- That's It Fruit Bars. ...
- Perfect Bars. ...
- Epic Protein Bars. ...
- 88 Acres Protein Bars.
How much chocolate can I eat a day? Experts say the recommended “dose” is approximately 1 to 2 ounces or 30-60g. Indulge in anything more than that, and you may be consuming too many calories. A 1.45-ounce (41 gram) Hershey's Special Dark Chocolate Bar has 190 calories.
What is a healthy candy? ›
What is the healthiest common candy? Dark chocolate with a high cocoa content (70% or more) is often considered one of the healthiest options. It contains less sugar and is rich in antioxidants called flavonoids, which may have heart-healthy benefits.
Is Snickers healthy? ›
As any candy and chocolate bar, snickers is high in sugars and fats. Although eating one once on a while is ok, over consumption of sugary snacks and beverage increase the risks of several illnesses including: diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, fatty liver, cancer, ischemic heart disease and cerebral infarctions.
Why do body builders eat Snickers? ›
Shorter, spicier workouts demand more readily available energy, for which carbs are key, Reed said. "Your body prefers to use carbs for fuel during moderate to high intensity exercise," Reed said. Candy can provide a quick fix of carbs in the form of sugar.
How long does a Snickers bar take to digest? ›
The quickest to digest are processed, sugary junk foods like candy bars. Your body tears through them in a matter of hours, quickly leaving you hungry again.
Can Snickers be a meal replacement? ›
With the snickers bar only 2 of the first 4 ingredients are sugars, and the almonds are actually healthy ingredient. So, am I recommending a snickers bar as a meal replacement for breakfast and lunch? Absolutely not!
Are Snickers high in sugar? ›
A regular-sized Snickers bar contains 27 grams of sugar (the equivalent of 7 teaspoons). Sugar, corn syrup, and lactose — three different types of sugar — are listed as ingredients.
Why is Snickers so addictive? ›
That comes by way of dopamine. According to the study, when someone eats UPFs they get a spike in dopamine, which makes them feel good.
Is Mars or Snickers healthier? ›
The healthier option also contains nearly twice as much protein (3.9g) compared to a classic Mars (2.2g). Snickers' reinvention is 29 per cent less calorific - 174 compared to 245. It also has 2.6g less saturated fat and a fifth less sugar.
