Five protein bars to ease holiday hunger

I didn’t taste butter until I was ten. You see, I grew up in a margarine household, one of many families hoodwinked by anti-cholesterol zealots into believing fake butter made in a lab is better for you than the stuff that comes from a cow.

Today I denounce margarine, along with the seed oils that compose it. The anti-seed-oil position has become a bit of meme these days. Of course it’s also become politicized as a “right-wing” obsession, leading both conservatives and liberals to chalk it up to hysteria. But all of these “well, actually …” pieces use a lot of words without contradicting the fundamental premise: Seed oils – oils extracted chemically from soybean, corn, sunflower, safflower, and cotton seed, to name a few – are better avoided. They’ve been linked to chronic inflammation, obesity, diabetes, and autoimmune conditions. You can delve into the science if you like, or you can just use a simple rule of thumb: Always go with simple, unprocessed foods people have been eating for thousands of years.

Our distant ancestors probably didn’t eat protein bars, but not all modern innovations are bad. Consider the holiday travel many of us undertake at this time of year. A stash of filling, portable protein bars can save time and money and limit your intake of the usual convenient junk. These are a few of the brands we recommend:

• RXBARs are known for their minimal ingredient list, usually consisting of egg whites, nuts, and dates. They are free from soy and often do not contain seed oils.
• Perfect Bars are made with a nut butter base, honey, and other whole food ingredients. They are often free from soy and typically do not contain seed oils.
• Primal Kitchen Collagen Bars are made with collagen protein and are free from soy and seed oils. They often use nut butters and coconut oil for a source of healthy fats.
• EPIC Meat Bars use high-quality animal-based proteins like chicken or beef, along with nuts and dried fruits. They are soy-free and typically do not contain seed oils.
• Dang Bars are made with minimal, whole-food ingredients and are free from soy and seed oils. They often include almond or peanut butter as a protein source.