re: Protein bars as snacks

And I was more wondering if there was a better alternative than eating a protein bar as a late night snack during the week.

I know eating whatever and drinking once on the weekends isn’t doing me any good.

Just wondering if I can clean up my week eating a little.

I know the answer is probably to see real results to clean up the weekend.

But, I’m at a point in my life that I’m ok for the most part with my body composition through eating clean during the week and enjoying myself on the weekends.

Question was more to see if the protein bar is really that bad and if there was a more beneficial substitute.

As Rep said, whole food alternatives are most likely the better option, but you could do far worse than a protein bar. If you have a sweet tooth, look around for homemade or store bought (just check ingredients) desert items like dark chocolate, coconut milk (or real) whipped cream, Greek yogurt and some fruit and xylitol, a smoothie (try leafy greens, avocado, and frozen berries with a small dash of honey or stevia), nut butters (look at ingredients and make sure it says only the specific nut, no fillers), berries, and once in a while some halo type ice cream. Try to eat a lunch of a salad and protein or protein and veggies as well as the dinner choice you mentioned. This will help fill you up more than a low calorie protein shake and snacks. Eat within an 8-12 hour window, but besides that, meal frequency is up to you. It sounds like you are under nourished and lack of micronutrients can be detrimental in the long run. You have some room to increase cals from your 1300 to 1600 level and still lose weight.