Nutritious snack or unhealthy treat? The truth about protein bars

Many products on the market today claim to provide us with a quick fix of the essential nutrient, but are they doing us more harm than good?

Experts say to treat protein bars as an occasional food and not a regular part of your diet. Picture posed

Arlene Harris

There was a time when people would look at you strangely if you said you were eating a protein bar, but these days they are so commonplace there are whole sections of supermarket aisles dedicated to various flavours and brands.

And while they might also vary in price, the one thing they have in common is they are not cheap and all purport to offer a significant source of vital nutrition and protein.