Don’t Worry About the “box” of Your Diet Bars
Men and women are of the same species and must eat basically the same food. So why are there “womens” diet bars? The answer is a tiny drop of science and a lot of marketing.
For example, women need more iron than men. Thus, the Luna blueberry bar contains 30% of your daily iron requirement, while the larger Clif bar contains only 10% . (Label percentages are always based on those with higher needs, in this case women.) But are you really at risk of iron deficiency if you buy “male” bars? Most likely not. Stephanie Coffin Plante writes in Racked:
Specialty formulations aim to address perceived gender-sensitive nutritional needs, but these brands are also working to find what they think women want: dessert minus hypothetical pounds.
… … …
“I consider them vitamin-based cookies,” says New York University nutritionist professor Marion Nestlé. “People who eat a variety of relatively unprocessed foods, including fruits and vegetables, and who consume enough calories don’t really need to worry about individual nutrients. The food will take care of them. “
This also goes both ways. Our own Whitson Gordon notes that ThinkThin Bars are actually excellent low sugar, high protein bars for people who aren’t trying to lose weight, no matter how they are marketed. Your best bet is to recognize girly packaging for what it is – marketing – and let the contents and nutritional label speak for themselves.
The Stereotypical Business of Selling Diet Bars to Women | Rack
Photo by theimpulsivebuy .
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