Are energy snacks any better than chocolate?

do ENERGY-BooSTING snacks live up to their promise? Jeanette Crosland, spokesperson for the British dietetic Association, assesses popular choices. We then rated them out of ten.

TREK BANANA BREAD PROTEIN FLAPJACK

90p from ocado Per 50g bar: calories, 208; sugar, 12.4g; protein, 10.2g; sat fat, 3.2g; fibre, 2.1g. ‘FOR lasting energy’. This crunchy bar contains 10g of added protein.

EXPERT VERDICT: All food gives you energy, which is essentially calories. But the energy from some calories, eg, carbs, is more readily available. And with nearly 20g of carbs, this bar provides lots of energy — the brain and muscles use carbs as an energy source.

As well as oats there’s 10 per cent dried banana, a good energy source. Meanwhile, the high protein content will help keep you fuller longer because it breaks down slowly. The protein is in the form of soya, which may help protect the heart.

But the sugar is the highest of the five bars here. And the total fat content — from vegetable oil — is 9.5g. A typical cereal bar could have just 2g. 4/10

LOVERAW ROSEHIP AND LEMON ORGANIC BAR

£2.75, Planet organic Per 48g bar: calories, 234; sugar, 9.8g; protein 7.2g; sat fat, 2.9g; fibre 3.6g. THIS ‘energy bar’ contains almonds, dates, sultanas, cashews and brazil nuts, and is free from dairy, gluten, wheat and soy.

EXPERT VERDICT: There’s a lot of fat, though it’s healthy fat from nuts. Rosehip is added for vitamin C — but this contains just 0.8mg. You could get what you need from an orange. 7/10

BOUNCE ENERGY BALLS, PEANUT

£1.79, hollandandbarrett.com Per 49g ball: calories, 210; sugar, 12g; protein, 14g; sat fat, 1.5g; fibre 2g. THESE ‘natural energy balls’ are paste-like, with added crunch from peanuts.

EXPERT VERDICT: While this will give you energy, so will a chocolate bar. It’s twice the price, yet has just a little more nutrition. However, nuts contain healthier fats than saturated fat in chocolate. And this bar is also high in protein, so will keep you fuller longer. 5/10

9BAR, PUMPKIN

99p, hollandandbarrett.com Per 50g bar: calories, 255; sugar, 11.7g; protein, 10.8g; sat fat, 3.3g; fibre, 3.2g. ‘GREAT tasting, nutritious mixed seed energy bar!’ — contains pumpkin seeds, sunflower, sesame, poppy and hemp.

EXPERT VERDICT: This almost replaces a meal in energy terms. But as with all bars, it’s a lot of calories for a person leading a sedentary life. And while the seeds are a source of omega-3 fatty acids, beneficial for the heart, this bar has added sugar as well — two teaspoons in one bar. 7/10

PULSIN MAPLE AND WHEY CRISP PROTEIN SNACK

£1.59, ocado.com; Per 50g bar: calories, 209; sugar, 9.1g; protein, 15g; sat fat, 1.9g; fibre, 4g. THE ‘perfect post-exercise snack or meal replacement’ offers ‘sustained energy release’, with a crispy bite.

EXPERT VERDICT: This claims to have a low glycaemic index, which means it releases its energy slowly. It is also high in protein, which is good for repairing muscles after workouts. Whey — a milk protein — may aid recovery faster than other protein sources. The protein makes it more filling than the other bars. 6/10