Protein Powder And/or Protein Snack Bars

[lisa922]

I'm trying to balance my carbs with protein, but am getting sick and tired of eating meat with my snacks. I can't eat nuts or peanut butter (I think they mess me up since I had my gallbladder removed) and I can't eat cheese/dairy. So...I was thinking maybe a protein powder added to water might help. Or, if anyone knows of any protein snack bars that are also casein free, I would appreciate some advice. Thanks!

Lisa in NC

[EddieJP125]

hi i am not sure if this is gluten-free but i red the label and all of the ingredients seemed it...itz called Nitro tech...and protein supplement for weight lifters...i have began takin again and feel fine, but obviously it can be doin damage and might not even know...but if u wanna look into further that would be kool and if u do know for sure if its gluten-free then could u email me back thankx

Eddie

eddiejp125@aol.com

[tarnalberry]

If it's for hypoglycemic issues, you can use fat instead of protein (mmm... avocados and rice), but beans are also a good choice, as they're inherently balanced. You note that nuts cause problems, but what about soy nuts? They're not actually nuts at all, but a legume like the beans.

[lisa922]

Thanks, Eddie - I will check into that and let you know if I can find out more about it's gluten-free status...I definitely won't try it unless it is given the stamp of approval!!

Tiffany - yes, it is for blood sugar issues...I'm being tested for diabetes in November. I've had blood sugar issues for years (had gestational diabetes with both pregnancies). It's weird - I had been having higher blood sugars, but then they seemed to suddenly go lower. Every time I've tested at home with my monitor, it's been fine (of course, I'm sure I make sure it is fine because I don't eat poorly if I have the pressure of knowing I'm going to test myself...I should have tested the time I ate the M&Ms, but I was out of tester strips : ) The last two times the doctor has done bloodwork and checked my fasting blood sugar, it has been elevated, so I can't figure it out. The endocrinologist wants me to do the Glucose Tolerance Test in November, but I'm skeptical it will show anything accurate. I kind of think since I'm not absorbing properly, that it won't be accurate because the food won't get a chance to elevate my sugar level and I think that is one reason why mine have been either good or low lately - I think that Celiac is causing it. I guess I'll ask her more about it after the test, but for now, I am trying to follow my diet and I have 3 meals with snacks in between and the nutritionist said to have a protein with everything and I'm just so sick of it. Do you think the fat would be ok in this instance instead of the protein??? Thanks for any advice

Lisa in NC

[tarnalberry]

My doc said protein and/or fat. The nutritionist probably didn't say fat because she doesn't want to encourage a high fat diet, but you should eat as makes your body happy. (20% fat was too low and tended to make me feel worse, I need closer to 25-30% fat in my diet - it varies by person). The fat will help slow down the release of sugar into the blood stream.

[EddieJP125]

Thanks, Eddie - I will check into that and let you know if I can find out more about it's gluten-free status...I definitely won't try it unless it is given the stamp of approval!!

so did u find out anything with the Nitro-Tech?

i hope so for the both of us....

[lisa922]

Well...I guess I didn't find out much...I just noticed that it has "artificial and natural flavors" and I know we're supposed to be careful with those, plus it has aspartame and I don't use anything with that in it. So...I guess it is out for me!!

LISA in NC

[gf4life]

Lisa,

I don't do artificial sweeteners either. And you need to check protein powders for dairy. They usually have whey protein in them. I have tried a rice protein powder that I got at Whole Foods, but it tastes awful. I don't recommend it.

I like the Gluten Solutions Chocolate Mint bars. They are gluten-free/cf and they have 15 grams of protein per bar. I don't know if the almond nut butter would bother you, but they tast more like a thick chewy candy bar. Here is the nutritional info:

Calories 230

Fat calories 60

15g protein

25g total carbs

8g fiber

6g sugar

7g fat

Ingredients: FruitTrim[TM](rice syrup, white grape juice), Almond Nut Butter, Rice Protein, Kosher Chocolate, gluten-free Pure MInt Flavoring, Crispy Brown Rice, Rice Bran, Salt.

Open Original Shared Link

ANDI bars are similar, but they have other flavors like blueberry, vanilla, chocolate, peanut-butter & jelly, and tahini. Personally I like the chocolate mint the best, but I still get the PB & J and the Chocolate ANDI bars for my family. I buy them at the Gluten Free Pantry.

God bless,

Mariann

[tarnalberry]

There is a protein powder made from grains - quinoa, amaranth, rice, and so on, with a bunch of greens that appears to be Gluten-free Casein-free. It's alright tasting, with enough fruit in the smoothie you mix it with. ;-) I forget the name of it, but next time I'm at the store, I'll note it.

[jools]

Hi, Lisa. I am always on the go and find that the Organic Food Bars are great protein bars. They aren't junk food, like a lot of energy bars, and they are gluten-free. I prefer the "Active Greens Chocolate", a little weird to grasp at first, cold pressed greens with a chocolate chip in every bite. My advice, don't just take one bite. When I am turning someone onto them, by the end of the bar they realized that they actually like it and in the end it is a healthy treat!

So far the only places that I have seen them are at Whole Foods and local health food stores.

Good luck!

Jools

PS - I just found the link to their site: Open Original Shared Link

You can actually get downloadable PDFs of ingredient listings of each bar.

[lisa922]

Thanks, everyone for your responses and suggestions!! I need to plan a trip out of town so I can get to the Whole Foods and look around. Usually, when I am there, I am racing the clock to get back to town to pick my kids up from school, so I just grab the usuals.

Lisa in NC

[lisa922]

Jools -

I just went to the website for those bars and it has "wheat grass juice powder" and "barley grass juice powder" in the ingredients. That doesn't sound gluten-free to me...how can they claim they are gluten-free?? Thanks

Lisa in NC

[dmbaird1230]

Premier Protein Bar, Chocolate Peanut Butter*

[tarnalberry]

Organic Foods Bars make five gluten-free bars and two that aren't gluten-free (well, as far as I've seen at stores anyway). The Omega-3, Original, Chocolate Chip, Vegan, Almon-Flax ones are gluten-free. The Active Greens and Active Greens Chocolate are not. Well, not necessarily technically. I see "Gluten-Free" on the wrappers on the website, but they weren't on the more recent wrappers I saw at the store. (The "technically" comes from the fact that - in theory - one could grow and harvest wheat grass in a way as to have essentially no gluten in it, but it's not an exact science and there's so much room for error, we generally avoid wheat grass as well.)

I like the Omega-3 bar. For this type of bar food, it's not bad. All that almond butter helps, of course! ;-) Great for plane trips where you really don't want a hypoglycemic episode! :-D

[celiac3270]

Lisa,

I believe that wheat and barley grasses are gluten-free....I think Tiffany explained it recently--something about the harmful seeds or something that should fall out at a certain point. However, they're all picked at the same time, even if some contain the harmful thing in the plant, or whatever, so therefore the barley/wheat grasses are technically gluten-free, but contamination is so likely that it is not really safe--so I wouldn't eat it.

I tried some Omega-3 bar--the first I tried and it was absolutely disgusting--probably not the same one that Tiffany tried, cause mine was pretty gross. I also had some Boomi Bar, which I actually disliked more than the Omega bar--it looked tastier, but was not good at all -- maybe it was just that flavor...anyway, somebody posted a gluten-free Atkins list, which contains a list of the gluten-free flavors of the "Advantage" bars -- if this Atkins craze is really serious, they have to have relatively tasty bars, I guess......I've never tried them and don't know how much protein is in them or anything. Genisoy makes a very good southern style PB chocolate chunk bar or something -- something like 14 grams of soy protein....I think...don't quote me on that. The only other gluten-free bar is a honey pb flavor, which I don't think is quite as good......same protein...not sure if it's 7 grams or 14.........