There are many types of bars to sample these days, and not just the kind that college students are notorious for frequenting.
The growing popularity of bars - energy, low-carb and protein - has left some wondering whether and in what way they will affect their health.
"I think they just took everything and put it in there and then coated it with chocolate," said Ivan Anamaria, a freshman aerospace engineering major. "They taste like crap, and they usually don't work."
Janice Cochran, a dietician and nutritionist in the Center for Student Health, said that energy bars can be a great boost for someone on the run, but any kind of food will fare just as well.
"Calories are energy, so just about any food can act as an energy bar," said Cochran. "Most of these bars are high in calories, and therefore, are high in energy."
According to Cochran, people use these bars as supplements to meet their daily requirement of essential elements. Some bars are used for specific nutrients.
"Met-Rx, for example, contains 30 grams of protein, which is more than one-half the daily need," said Cochran. "This can be important because some students who do not eat enough meat or consume a lot of dairy products, a protein bar can be useful."
For students who participate in athletics, as well as those who work out daily, bars that are high in carbohydrates can be beneficial as an extra energy boost.
"Power bar and Clif bar contain 45 grams of carbohydrates, which is equal to three bread servings," said Cochran. "This is fine to take if you're active, especially more than one hour per day. They can also be convenient as a mini meal several hours before or after a workout."
More recently, some students have adopted diets that are low in carbohydrates to lose weight. To complement these fad diets, low-carb bars have become in vogue.
By using the low-carb bars, Amy Zielinski, a freshman biochemistry major, said she feels an extra boost of energy can be attained without carbs.
"I normally eat low-carb or Atkins brand protein bars. They are high in lean forms of protein, such as soy, and low in sugar," said Zielinski. "Low-carb protein bars make you feel fuller for longer, without all of the carbohydrates."
Many students who work out frequently realize the importance for their bodies to get some type of supplement for what they are burning off.
Pat Meier, a junior accounting major, said that energy bars help him in more ways than one.
"Being a serious weight-lifter, the best thing I can do for my body is get an adequate amount of protein," Meier said. "I usually eat Powerbar's Protein Plus bars. The bars make it really convenient throughout the day to get the protein that I need."
Sometimes gender may influence what type of bar a student chooses.
Samantha Frishman, a junior psychology major, said that the brand of bar students eat might be dependent on both gender and what kind of results they are looking for.
"When guys and girls work out, it is usually for different reasons. Guys might eat higher carb bars because they want to bulk up, and girls might eat lower carb bars because they want to lose weight."
If used as a dietary supplement, there are certain things to look for in finding the bar that is right for each individual, said Cochran.
"If using for a meal replacement, which is about 300 calories, 10 grams of fat is reasonable," said Cochran. "If using for a snack, try to find a bar with only 5 grams of fat."
"Choose bars that are high in fiber, because most students tend to not get enough. Fiber helps to keep us full." Cochran added.
While these bars are a mainstay for some students, Cochran says there are many problems that can result in a reliance on them.
"They can be expensive, and may have unnecessary fortification for your diet," said Cochran. "They may contribute to excess protein, carbs, or calories, depending on the rest of your diet. You could also potentially miss out on the beneficial phytochemicals of a whole food snack, such as a sandwich with whole grain bread, or a piece of fruit."
Other students site the poor taste of the bars as their main reason for avoiding them.
Grant Lingel, a junior psychology major and weight lifter, said that he wishes for a little more in an energy bar.
"When I am weight lifting, it is hard to find a good supplement because most of the bars taste like dirt."
Justin Sondel, a sophomore English major, may be the harshest critic of an energy bars' ability to please the palate.
"Power bars taste like soft, semi-chocolate particle board."
