# Question about Balance Bars **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 22, 2002, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-balance-bars/125093 "2002-08-22T16:27:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![THespos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@THespos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/THespos)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-balance-bars/125093/1 "2002-08-22T16:27:17Z")
Following some advice from a friend, I’ve been trying to cut out between-meal snacking. The same friend advised me to keep a supply of Balance Bars around the house and eat one if I absolutely need something in between meals. Balance Bars tout something called “40-30-30 nutrition” on their packaging. That is, 40 percent of calories from carbohydrates and 30 percent apiece from protein and dietary fat. Another friend of mine has followed this 40-30-30 rule and lost nearly 40 pounds over the course of six months or so. So I’m looking at the nutrition labeling of the “Yogurt Honey Peanut” Balance Bar I just ate, and here’s what I’m seeing… Total Carbohydrate - 22g Protein - 15g Total fat - 6g Seems to me that the proportions are out of whack. Am I missing something here? ---
**Author:** ![jb\_farley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9d8465/32.png) [@jb\_farley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jb_farley)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-balance-bars/125093/2 "2002-08-22T16:30:26Z")
fat and protein pack more calories per gram than carbohydrates. simple as that. jb ---
**Author:** ![NotMrKnowItAll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6bbea6/32.png) [@NotMrKnowItAll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NotMrKnowItAll)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-balance-bars/125093/3 "2002-08-22T16:31:11Z")
1gm carbohydrate = 4 kcal 1gm protein = 4 kcal 1gm fat = 9 kcal The proportions for your bar in Calories: 88:60:54 That’s pretty close to 40:30:30 ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-balance-bars/125093/4 "2002-08-22T16:34:31Z")
Yes. Fat has about 9 Calories per gram, as opposed to 4 for carbohydrates and protein. 4x22 = 88, 4x15 = 60, 9x6 = 54, for a ratio of about 44:30:27 – close enough? ---
**Author:** ![JFMichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/aeb1de/32.png) [@JFMichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JFMichael)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-balance-bars/125093/5 "2002-08-22T21:22:06Z")
Balance Bars rock! It sounds like you’re eating the old type though (honey peanut, yogurt honey peanut, etc.) You’ve GOT to try the new kind! They’re called Balance Bar Gold and have caramel, chocolate, fudge, nuts, and all sorts of other goodies. Plus, they only have 10 more calories (210) than regular BB’s (200). I ate the old BB’s for about a year, and after eating the new ones I will never go back. Depending on flavor, they taste just like a snickers or other _real_ candy bars, yet the calorie distribution is the same as the old ones. Plus, Sam’s Club just started carrying carrying them for around $12.00 a box, compared to $15.00 or so at Walmart. Or you can order from the website, though you’ll take a hit on shipping: [www.balancebar.com](http://www.balancebar.com) Good luck, and remember that weight loss is as simple as calories in, calories out. ---
**Author:** ![BillWelter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@BillWelter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BillWelter)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2002, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/question-about-balance-bars/125093/6 "2002-08-22T21:22:47Z")
The 40-30-30 plan was popularized by Barry Sears (sp?), his studies showed that people need these percentages in order for their bodies to metabolize the food efficiently. The high protein content supposedly enables the body to burn the fat and carbos correctly. Most people snack on tasty food (cupcakes, donuts, Zingers, chips, etc) which is high in fat and carbos, but low in protein. Sears also says that high protein levels in food reduces hunger, so your body is getting what it needs, and no excess calories from fat and carbos.