Which 40-30-30 Bars do you recommend?
That's entirely up to you! This has been a hotly debated topic with no end in sight and the answers that you get will depend on who you ask. Here are the facts that you need to know first:
Balance is produced by Balance Foods and provides 2 blocks of each macronutrient. It is the least expensive bar, priced between $ .89 and $1.29 at most health food stores.
PR Ironman is produced by PR*Nutrition and provides about 2.5 blocks of each macronutrient. It costs somewhere in the $1.20 neighborhood and is a new formulation of the older PR*Bar.
BioZone is produced and marketed by Envion International (an MLM) and unlike the above two bars, I've never seen it available in health food stores. It provides 2 blocks of each macronutrient. BioZone is a bit more expensive than the others.
ZonePerfect is Barry Sear's latest bar, marketed by Eicotech it is also a pricey bar but it is "what the doctor ordered".
So should you spend the money on a more expensive bar? That's up to you. Though all the bars listed here adhere closely to the 40-30-30 macronutrient balance, many believe that the "finer points" of the latter two bars outweigh the cost difference. The debate continues with comparasins of how long each bar can keep a person satisfied, how they rate on the glycemic index and which ingredients are used.
My opinion? I don't think it matters that much. Straight from Barry Sear's lips comes the assertation that 40-30-30 bars are NOT the key to the Zone. Your diet is! Planning the way you eat on a regular basis has everything to do with how well the 40-30-30 concepts will work for you. Furthermore, it is generally agreed that 40-30-30 bars, though convenient, are not the best foods that one could use for a meal or snack.
My advice is to try all four and decide for yourself which you like better and then go on with your meal planning.
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