Fiber One Oats and Chocolate Bar Review
It seems like there's been quite a surge lately in the amount of "healthy" snacks like granola bars, protein bars, even cookies.
A lot of these products have added fiber, which has been proven to be heart-healthy and reduce cholesterol.
The Fiber One brand makes some great cereals with plenty of fiber that are easy to eat. I have the plain Fiber One cereal every morning with my protein powder, which only has 60 calories and almost 15 grams of fiber.
So, I expected good things from Fiber One Chewy Oat Bars.
Fiber One Bar's Taste
When I opened the package and took a bite, I noticed how good it tasted right away - sweet, chocolatey, and not too chewy.The oats are held together with something that tastes vaguely like honey, and there is a drizzle of milk chocolate over the top of the bar. It reminded me of other granola bars I'd had as a kid.
I couldn't really taste the fiber - it was more like eating a candy bar.
I ended up eating all 5 of these bars in one sitting, they were so addictive - which is why there's not a picture of them (the box got thrown out).
Something about the taste made me crave them.
The Nutrition
The nutritional information was pretty much what I expected - 140 calories, 9 grams of fiber (chicory root), but Fiber One also has 10 grams of sugar.
I guess I should have been expecting that, given how sweet it was. But then I read the ingredient list - these bars contain high fructose corn syrup, as well as hydrogenated coconut oil (trans fat)!
What's healthy about that?
Sugar: Just like a candy bar, sugary foods spike insulin levels which often results in an energy crash shortly after. High insulin levels lead to fat storage.
Chicory: A lot of people have trouble digesting this type of fiber leading to painful gas.
Trans fat: This has been linked to heart disease, so any product with hydrogentared oils should be avoided. Even if they say zero trans fat, they could still legally have .5 grams/serving. (Fiber One has since removed all hydrogenated oils from their product.)
I see this bar as nothing but a glorified candy bar, and given the ingredients, I probably wouldn't eat them again.
If you're more interested in good taste and farting, Fiber One Oat Bars may be for you.
NOTE: This is NOT a paid product endorsement. In fact it's not an endorsement at all :-)
Read More
- Almond Butter: The New Peanut Butter? (Diet Blog)
- Smart Halloween Candy Removal Tips (Diet Blog)
- Meet Greg, 155 Pounds Down! (DailySpark)
- 2012 Super Bowl Commercial Winners: Oikos and Belvita [VIDEOS] (Diets in Review)
366 Comments
Add Your Comment
Created / Updated: January 21, 2012
Personally I think the HFCS and the transfats outweigh any possible benefit from a bar like this.
Think maybe the HFCS caused the craving?
ReplyCindy,
I agree, when you look at the ingredients you'll find this bar is anything but healthy.
From the ingredients of the Chocolate Chip Fiber One bar:
These two ingredients are the primary reason this toxic waste bar is causing gastrointestinal disturbances.
Ethanol:
Ethanol within the human body is converted into acetaldehyde by alcohol dehydrogenase and then into acetic acid by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. The product of the first step of this breakdown, acetaldehyde, is more toxic than ethanol. Acetaldehyde has been shown to increase the risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver, multiple forms of cancer, and alcoholism.
Shellac:
Shellac is a brittle or flaky secretion of the insect Kerria lacca, found in the forests of Assam and Thailand. Shellac is considered edible and it is sometimes used as a glazing agent on pills and candies. This coating may not be considered as vegetarian as it may, and probably does, contain crushed insects. In the tablet manufacture trade, it is sometimes referred to as "beetlejuice" for this reason. Shellac is known to cause allergies on contact, resulting in skin irritations.
This ingrediant is why you people report eating 5 bars in one sitting.
Chicory Root Extract:
Chicory Root Extract is used herbally as a tonic and appetite stimulant. However, long-term use of chicory (Root chicory - Cichorium intybus var. sativum) has been shown to damage human retinal tissue, with dimming of vision over time and other long term effects. Although small amounts of root chicory consumed medicinally or as a seasoning can be harmless, root chicory contains volatile oils that can be metabolized in the liver and digestive tract into toxic by-products that damage retinal nerve cells and cause dimming of vision if regularly consumed in large quantities as a coffee substitute. All parts of the plant contain these volatile oils, with the majority of the toxic components concentrated in the plants root.
So if you don't mind having severe gastrointestinal problems, cirrosis of the liver, and eventually going blind, than keep eating this garbage.
General Mills and their employees should be ashamed of themselves for using poison in their food products. And the FDA should be shut down for years of poor oversight.
ReplyI think that unless you are a nutritionist or a doctor, you should not be over examing the ingrediants.
ReplyFlood, I thinc yoo shood lern ow ta spell if yoo rite a replie.
ReplyUmm, MotleyMax, nice way to throw a personal attack fallacy. You pointed out spelling, which has nothing to do with his actual arguement. Not only do you make yourself look like an ass for attacking someone like a 3 year old would, but you added nothing as well. Great job winner.
Fiber One is like anything else, use in moderation. Unless you squeeze your own carrot juice or grown your veges, there's something to pick apart about everything you eat.
Oh, and do not USE scientific THEORIES alleged by hippies as actual "scientific fact." 1 or 2 studies on something is enough to get the media hyped up, but it's in no way considered eveidence by the science community. Most of this crap you read about online is based on 1-2 indepedent studies.
Reply~I'm an organic chemist. Does that make me qualified to analyze every ingredient in your pop tarts? No. So, shut up and ask a health care practitioner or just eat moderately....Eating an entire box of anything is ridiculous. Oh, and for the record: 10 grams of sugar is pretty low. In reality, your body needs and uses much more sugar in one day than the beef cakes at the gym could count.
If you did your research correctly you would have found this:
Confectionery - shellac is used to provide protective candy coatings or glazes on candy like jelly beans, because of its unique ability to provide a high gloss in relatively thin coatings (like a French Polish). It is approved by the FDA as a food safe coating when dissolved in pure ethanol (not denatured). Shellac in this form is called confectioners glaze.
Food Coatings - because of its FDA approval, shellac is used to coat apples and other fruits to make them shinier. It's also used as a moisture barrier to coat the inside of ice cream cones.
ReplyReally great info about the bars. I knew something wasn't right when they gave me such stomach aches, I was doubled over for hours!!!
Replythat's because you weren't used to the high dose of fiber in one sitting.
ReplyI thought it was just me--regarding the bloating and cramping ---So i didn't eat any of the bars for a week.
ReplyLast week I had one in the evening-and again in the morning. I was sick all day. It was aweful. There has to be something in these other than fiber to cause this much pain.
So my huband complained last week too.
So just for the heck of it I ate one this morning and here we go again. I will never by this junk again.
I can get my fiber other ways. No product should cause you to be in the bathroom all day. A laxative doesn't even do this. Dont buy these--its got to be poison of some kind.
LOL at you saying there is poison in the bars.
ReplyJust try adding some fibre to your diet. The first time I bought the Fibre One oats and chocolate bars they also gave me a little bit of a stomach ache, only because my body wasn't used to the fibre intake. After continuing eating them for about a week, I now have regular bowel movements with no stomach pains at all.
As for you being actually SICK off of these, that just shows you that you must have a poor diet, or a diet lacking of fibre at the least.
I just took a look at the ingredients of the bars (just bought a six pack of them) and the only ingredient you mentioned that is actually in the bar is Chicory Root Extract, which, if you actually took the time to research - is antihepatotoxic. Big word, I know; it means it PREVENTS damage to the liver. It is also helpful in eliminating intestinal worms.
Ethanol is not in the bar - are you seriously attempting to say that these fiber bars have alcohol in them? Your attempt to mislead is laughable.
And for those who report having stomach pains - that is normal if you are not used to consuming that much fiber. It will pass as your body gets used to the intake of so much fiber. You will get this type of effect with ANY high fiber product.
ReplyThe particular Fiber one bar that I have doesn't even have HFCS...they have HMCS.
ReplyHFCS definitely causes cravings for me at least. It's a vicious cycle. I feel better when I stay away from sweet stuff.
ReplyHa, what did those 45 grams of fiber do for you, Jim? I personally like All Bran, but only as a topping for yogurt or mixed in with other cereal because it tastes sort of like little cardboard sticks.
ReplyI just have to say they are tastey.....however the fiber has cause a major eveing of gas attack....
ReplyWell, gas is actually a good sign that your colon is working. So, "gas attacks" would be a good sign that fiber bars are doing their job.
ReplyDo these have trans fat in them? I see that is a bigger health issue than any amount of sugar. I noticed on the comments that someone mentioned trans fat though I didn't see that mentioned in the post.
ReplySame for me, Spectra. I eat Fiber One but only mixed half and half with granola on my yogurt. It is like cardboard to me. I couldn't eat as "real cereal" with milk.
Bryan, if they have hydrogenated oils, yes, they have trans fat.
ReplyCalories.. 140, from fat 35.
Total Fat: 4g, Saturated 1.5g Trans fat 0g.
Cholesterol 0mg Sodium 90mg Total Carbs 29g
Dietary Fiber 9g 35% dv. Sugars 10g & Protein 2g
Serving size: 1 bar, 40g
NO TRANS FAT. According to the Nutrition Facts from back of this costco box of Oats and chocolate.
ReplyDoes anyone know of a granola bar or snack bar that does not contain a lot of sugar, HFCS or trans fats that tastes decent? I haven't been able to find any, and although I don't miss them, my husband likes to take bars for breakfast (otherwise sometimes he doesn't eat!)
ReplyTry Kashi bars. I love them. No trans fat, no hfcs. and they are delicious!!
ReplyI love just about everything kashi makes, but those bars taste like cardboard. If that's what I need to eat to be healthy, I'll stick to my fruits & veggies.
ReplyThe Kashi GoLean Crunch bars are very tasty actually. Highly recommended.
ReplyI for one like Luna bars (especially the Chai Tea and Peanut Butter Cookie flavors). Here's the FAQ on their ingrediants.
ReplyI was kinda excited to see those bars on the shelf last week, but after looking at the ingredients, I decided they were not worth it. For years I have been making my own "Fiber One Bars". (I just mix until it looks good, no exact amounts) I mix egg whites, applesauce and/or mashed banana, baking powder, vanilla, Fiber One, and any spice (cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice, etc..), raisins, nuts, or chocolate chips. Bake at 350 for about 20 min, cut into bars!! Very healthy and taste great...plus it helps you to get in your daily fiber intake!
ReplyThe 45 g fiber was pretty taxing on my system Spectra...I had to run to the store to find something for gas and bloating!
ReplyThat's the last time I eat fiber in such large quantities.
These bars do not contain any Trans fats or cholestrol. They taste good and are filling, takes care of your chocolate craving without having a hot fudge sunday. Only 2 WW points for one bar.
ReplyThanks for everyone's ideas-I'll look for those brands at my store. Jessica-your recipe sounds yummy. I'll give it a whirl when I have some time. Have you ever frozen them?
ReplyRain, any form of hydrogenated fat is trans fat.
ReplyLots of people think high-fructose corn syrup is the new trans fat. It isn't. ... Biochemically, it is about the same as table sugar (both have about the same amount of fructose and calories) but it is in just about everything Americans eat. High-fructose corn syrup is not a poison, but eating less of any kind of sugar is a good idea these days.
The special harmfulness of high-fructose corn syrup has become one of those urban myths that sounds right, but is basically wrong. Nutritionally, high-fructose corn syrup and sucrose may be identical.
High-fructose corn syrup isn't unhealthy when consumed in moderation.
ReplyNo amount of HFCS is safe to ingest!
ReplyHFCS is not safe to eat. It is addictive, causes cravings, and your body does not recognize it as "filling" so you keep eating more and more. It's all wrong. Anyone who thinks HFCS is safe is believing the big corporation propaganda, which helps them make more money and keep America totally fat (obese) and "happy".
ReplyYes, I have frozen them. Just pop them in the microwave for 30 sec or so, and they are wonderful. I also forgot make sure to put sugar/splenda in them..they need a little added sweetness. After I pop one in the microwave, I love to drizzle a little maple syrup or honey over the top..mmmm
ReplyWe tried your 'Oats & Chocolate" NEW Fiber One Bars and the "Oats & Peanut Butter" bars and loved them.....
Will there be any more coupons in the near future or other flavors to try ? If there are coupons available, please mail them to me:
LORNA YANOW
38 CRAWFORD ST.RANDOLPH, MA. 02368
THANK YOU....
Reply