Question about Quest Bars

Morning everyone!  Sometimes I just have trouble eating a meal with meat and I like a Quest Bar.  Here is my question, it ha 21g protein so that is good but it has 21g carbs!  (I am only 2 months out so not supposed to be eating carbs other than veggies and fruit per my surgeon's plan).  It does have 17g fiber.  Does the fiber cancel out any of the carbs for net carbs?  Or is it really 21g carbs I am eating?  If so that is probably not good :(

People seem to react to that particular fiber in different ways. In some it acts more as a starch and can spike blood sugars. If it were me, I would't bother with net carbs. You can start to sabotage your thinking by finagling like that.

I still prefer Quest bars over other protein bars, because overall I think the nutrition is better than any I've seen. Some have a ton of sugar or sugar alcohols (which is worse for me), and not as much protein.

Lots of people like them as an emergency snack, but they do seem to mess with my blood sugar and make me feel pretty awful.  I think I'm in the minority though.

Fiber will not directly affect your blood sugar so you needn't worry about that.  They do contain some sugar alcohols, which also don't affect blood sugar, but can have a "laxative effect" on some people.  It varies by individual; I can eat one without any problem but you may not.

So, yes, for the purposes of blood glucose, neither the fiber nor the sugar alcohols "count".

That said, I'm a strong proponent of real, whole food assuming you're far enough from surgery that you can meet your nutritional needs that way.  As a rule I do not take supplements (shakes, bars, etc.).

This is one area that I wish my doctor's office was a little clearer.  My manual states that it's okay to have a protein bar, as long as it's under 200 calories, 15+g protein, 2-4g sugar, and under 15g carbohydrates.  They then recommend Pure Protein, Atkins Advantage, Detour, and Premiere.  They don't say anything about net carbs.  The problem is, if you don't take net carbs, then none of these qualify, because they all have over 15g of carbs.  So I've counted only the net carbs, but if I have a bar (which is usually on weekdays for breakfast), I really try to limit my carbs the rest of the day.  I'm allowed 45-60 carbs for the day.

I haven't tried the Quest bars yet, but since you and others have talked about them, I think I need to try them.  I really like all the fiber they have.

Yes, the fiber does cancel out carbs for net carbs (21g carbs minus 17g fiber equal 4 net carbs).

I have a Quest bar every day as one of my snacks.

Please see my profile page if interested regarding my experience with RNY. I am a Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian.

Did you eat the Quest bars while you were losing or only after you started maintenance.  I have to say I am really struggling with all the meat I am supposed to eat and when I get up and try to gag down meat for breakfast some days it is just impossible.  For some reason I don't like eggs anymore after surgery and they really don't keep me full.  :(

 Gag down meat? Gag down meat? You take that back!

Sorry, LOL,  I feel like that's all I eat!  I was never a breakfast person and I am certainly not a meat for breakfast person!  What's your favorite kind of meat? (looking for new ideas) and what do you eat for breakfast?

A good ribeye is my favorite, but I usually get what's on sale. For breakfast I have sausage more often than not. I get several pounds of sweet Italian sausage and grill it outside, then refrigerate it. It's one of the few things I don't mind reheated in the microwave.