One common grocery shopping mistake is that people often do not know the difference between a meal replacement bar, a high protein bar or a snack bar,when it comes to shopping for a healthy snack “on the go”.  "Healthy Grocery Girl" Megan Roosevelt, registered and licensed dietitian joined us to share some smarter ways to shop for snack bars.  She says most Americans do not need to buy a high protein or high calorie bar for a snack. "These type of bars are designed for athletes and high-intensity endurance activities. It’s not that you can not eat protein or meal replacement bars, but there is a time and a place for them, and that’s not at the office while working at your desk! And of course, you should always make sure to read your ingredients lists!" says Megan.

Follow these 4 Snacking Smart guidelines to help keep your weight & health in check:

1. A good snack bar choice should be between 150-250 calories. Your snack should tide you over in between meals, not be a meal.
2. Choose a snack bar that contains real ingredients you can pronounce such as:nuts, seeds, fruit and oats.
3. Avoid artificial ingredients of any kind! If you see the following in your ingredient list, put it back on the shelf: Sucralose, Aspartame, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Hydrogenated Oils, Soy Protein, Soy Protein Isolate, or Soy Protein Crisps. Unfermented genetically modified soy protein is not only chemically altered, soy’s isoflavones mimic estrogen, which can cause hormonal imbalance.
4. Do not be fooled by marketing that promotes certain bars to certain genders. You do not need to buy a different snack bar for every person in the family. We are all human beings that need good nutrition, the only difference should be in the quantity we consume!

For more information on snacking smart, visit Megan's website.