The "old" Atkins bars

[Georgiana]

Does anyone know how the "old" Atkins bars... the ones sold in 2003 or so... were different from the current ones?

[atkinsgal08]

Re: The "old" Atkins bars

There were more sugar alcohols in some of the "old" ones I believe.

I know the Advantage caramel line now doesn't use sugar alcohols at all.

[Georgiana]

Re: The "old" Atkins bars

Do you know if the total carbs were on average the same (so... less glycerin, if you say the "old" ones had more sugar alcohols)?

The reason why I am asking is because there are some studies on Atkins that were done using total carbs (so <20 g carbohydrate)... and the people from ANI are saying that the subjects were allowed to have two Atkins products per day. No where in the nutritional intervention are Atkins products mentioned... plus I am wondering how the subjects could have consumed these bars if they were counting total carbs.

[liv]

Re: The &quot;old&quot; Atkins bars

Here is some info someone posted on a message board in 2002 quoting from the webpage on the official ATkins page I think

The nutritional information on Atkins food products is intended to help consumers understand exactly how we formulate our products so that the consumer has the knowledge necessary to follow a controlled carbohydrate nutritional approach and eat healthy foods. Thus, for Atkins Advantage™ Bars, the "net" carb count listed in the Total Carbohydrate statement is completely accurate for Atkins followers, and the "gross" carb count matters very little.
... which wasn't exactly what I remember reading! but there's more:
Example: Atkins Chocolate Mocha Crunch Advantage Bar
Total Carbohydrate (as defined by the FDA) 19 grams
Non-Caloric and/or Non-blood sugar impacting Carbs 15.5 grams
Polydextrose/Fiber 11 grams
Glycerine 4.5 grams
Net Carbohydrates of interest to consumers who do Atkins 3.5 grams
(Mainly from the soy nuggets, cocoa and residual carbs found in the sources for the protein blend)

Atkins Bars - actual carb count? : Low-Carb Products : Active Low-Carber Forums

[atkinsgal08]

Re: The &quot;old&quot; Atkins bars

>>Do you know if the total carbs were on average the same (so... less glycerin, if you say the "old" ones had more sugar alcohols)?>>

I never ate the "old" ones ... I do remember the comment on Atkins.com that the sugar alcohols had been taken out when the "new" Caramel line was reformulated.

I would suspect the carb counts were the same, but I have no solid information on that ... except what would be in DANDR or Atkins Essentials ... or maybe even Atkins for Life (if they're mentioned there at all).

[Georgiana]

Re: The &quot;old&quot; Atkins bars

Thanks!

Atkins Essentials ... or maybe even Atkins for Life

I ordered them from Amazon a few days ago. Can't wait to get them!

[jsminer]

Re: The &quot;old&quot; Atkins bars

I'm on day 10 of induction and have been eating 1-2 Atkins bars per day (2 net carbs per bar) and as of this morning I have lost 20.5 pounds. I'm new to the site and see you poo-pooing the bars as junk food, but they are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and protein. They taste okay--better cold. I use them as a late morning and early evening snack. And, I'm definitelty in a ketotonic state.

[Georgiana]

Re: The &quot;old&quot; Atkins bars

I'm on day 10 of induction and have been eating 1-2 Atkins bars per day (2 net carbs per bar) and as of this morning I have lost 20.5 pounds.

Congratulations for the 20+ lbs lost!

see you poo-pooing the bars as junk food

Does this have anything to do with the question I've asked in this thread?

Bars are processed food. Atkins is about eating whole, minimally processed foods.

but they are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and protein.

The only bars "loaded" with vitamins and minerals are those containing a vitamin & mineral mix among the ingredients. I have my multivitamin for that... I don't need the bars.

It is better to get your vitamins and minerals from real food. One-two Atkins bars at 2-3 net carbs each mean 2-6 net carbs that could have been used on "real", whole, minimally processed foods.

The bars that do not contain this vitamin & mineral mix are

• the Caramel Creme Coffee Bar, with 8% iron and 32% calcium;
• the Mocha Crisp Coffee Bar, with 10% iron and 32% calcium;
• the Sweet and Salty Almond Crunch Bar, with 6% iron and 4% calcium.

No vitamins are listed (above 0%) and no other minerals.

The RDA for iron is 8 mg for men and postmenopausal women, and 18 mg for premenopausal women. The RDA for calcium is 1000 mg for persons under 50 and 1200 mg for 50+.

A large egg has 0.92 g iron. For men, this is 11.5% of the RDA, while for women it is 5.1% of the RDA. It comes with 0.39 net carbs and 72 kcal.

An ounce of cheddar has 204 mg calcium, which is ~20% of the RDA for under 50 and 17% of the RDA for 50+. It also contains 0.19 mg iron, which is 2.4% of the RDA for men and 1.1% of the RDA for women. All for 0.36 net carbs and 114 kcal.

Two ounces of roasted chicken, with skin on, have 0.61 mg of iron. For men this means 7.625% of the RDA, while for women it is 3.4% of the RDA. It also comes with 0 net carbs and 112 kcal.

A boiled egg and an ounce of cheddar, or an ounce of cheddar and two ounces of roasted chicken have similar iron, calcium and calorie contents as one Atkins Advantage bar. Plus, fewer net carbs.

As for protein... the Advantage bars contain between 7 and 17 g of protein. A large egg has 6.3 g of protein. An ounce of cheddar has 7.1 g of protein. Two ounces of roasted chicken breast, with skin on, have 17 g of protein.

Also, I have yet to hear of someone who is stalled by an egg, an ounce of cheddar or two ounces of roasted chicken. I can't say the same about Atkins bars.

And, I'm definitelty in a ketotonic state.

Being in a ketotic state does not tell the whole story. Some people are in ketosis without following the plan correctly, while others are in ketosis without losing any weight.

And being in ketosis says nothing about someone's eating habits.


If you want to use Atkins bars and they work for you, then go ahead. As you know, it is your choice. I will never recommend the bars to someone on Induction... but at the end of the day, if someone really wants to eat bars or whatever, they are going to do it no matter what anyone else says. All we do in the forums is give advice based on our knowledge/understanding of the plan and on our experience. One can take this advice or leave it.

[jsminer]

Re: The &quot;old&quot; Atkins bars

I just find it odd that you wave the Atkins banner so high and proud while espousing his plan, yet you wax critical of his very own bars that he recommends are safe/suitable (some of them, not all) for all phase of Atkins. I'm missing the logic here.

[RosieC]

Re: The &quot;old&quot; Atkins bars

The bars have changed since Dr Atkins died. That's what this thread was originally about. They are not "his very own bars" any more.

[Georgiana]

Re: The &quot;old&quot; Atkins bars

he recommends are safe/suitable (some of them, not all) for all phase of Atkins.

As I have said, the plan should be focused on whole foods. I believe we all agree on this. Bars are convenience foods meant to be consumed when "you are unable to find appropriate food, can't take time for a meal or need a quick snack."

The problem is that many people read this as, "some controlled carb foods can come in handy when you are too lazy to prepare a proper meal (after all, it's easier to tear open a wrapper), didn't bother planning your meals or want something sweet."

In my opinion, it is laziness and a spoiled sweet tooth that makes many Atkineers believe that choosing to eat two bars per day is a choice just as good as eating whole foods. Exactly the behavior that got most of us fat in the first place.

And, of course, then there are those who think that just because the Atkins logo is printed on the wrapper, the bars must be a good choice.

The book clearly states that whenever we have the choice between "appropriate food" and a bar, we should go for the "appropriate food". Bars are fine to use in emergencies. But no one has an emergency twice a day, every day of Induction.

[GRAPES]

Re: The &quot;old&quot; Atkins bars

Excuse my ignorant question here...are the new bars devoid of any of those nasty sorbitols, maltitols and the like? Is that what you are referring to by sugar alcohols? I have a terrible reaction to them, so I'd be very interested if they were now absent. TIA.

[Georgiana]

Re: The &quot;old&quot; Atkins bars

Excuse my ignorant question here...are the new bars devoid of any of those nasty sorbitols, maltitols and the like? Is that what you are referring to by sugar alcohols? I have a terrible reaction to them, so I'd be very interested if they were now absent. TIA.

Not all of them; some bars do have sugar alcohols. For example, the Caramel Chocolate Nut Roll Bar has 8 g of sugar alcohols.

The bars with zero sugar alcohols on the label are:

• Caramel Chocolate Peanut Nougat Bar
• Caramel Creme Coffee Bar
• Caramel Fudge Brownie Bar
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar
• Peanut Butter Granola Bar
• Peanut Fudge Granola Bar

The other 7 Atkins Advantage Bars have sugar alcohols.

Among the Atkins Day Break Bars, the Peanut Butter Fudge Crisp Bar does not have sugar alcohols. The others do.

You can check the nutritional info yourself on the ANI website: Atkins Product Families

[Georgiana]

Re: The &quot;old&quot; Atkins bars

Forgot to add... even the bars without SA listed still have polydextrose and glycerin.

[GRAPES]

Re: The &quot;old&quot; Atkins bars

Thanks Georgiana.