Are Health Snack Bars Economical?
Look, healthy snack bars can be a decent supplement between meals, but spending anything more than one dollar for one is just nuts. Some of the health bars sell for $2-3 dollars each and its not just because it is better, because it isn't, but it is for more profit.
In 2006, the market had only 226 health snack bars selling in stores, today, there are over 1000 because they are large profit margins. In 2006, the cost was $1, today, it is $2 or $3. Market studies show that these health bars are food for the rich, literally. A household with over $100,000 a year are consuming the most health bars because to them, what is $3? Nothing. Like many things in life, what you spend is related to how much you make. If you are earning only $10 an hour, then $3 is a good chunk, while earning $50 hr, not so much.
But the companies making these bars are reaping in serious profit because the cost of making that bar is only 25% of the retail price, the rest is profit. So, snack bars like Epic, Kind, Kashi and more, have a profit margin has high as 50%.
Snack bars are good food but beware that most snack bars, ounce for ounce, are actually more expensive than other sources of protein and high in calories. For instance, a Kind snack bar has around 6 grams of protein, 200 calories, 13 grams of fat. They sell for around $2, but the cost per ounce is $1.20. Now, when compared to a 3 ounce broiled sirloin steak, the steak has 23 grams of protein, 200 calories, 12 grams of fat. The cost for this is around $2.50, the cost per ounce only 94 cents. One of the better bars is made by Kashi. If you go to Big Lots, you can buy a box of six for only $2. Their Cranberry and lemon bar has only 130 calories, 1.5 grams of fat and 6 grams of protein. At only 25 cents a bar, they are a steal. Some households with kids spend over $150 a month just for health bar snacks.
While there are many other cheaper forms of protein, but the health snack bar has convenience and portable. I mean, you cannot carry a sirloin steak in your pocket. So, this is a major consideration to think about.
