You know the feeling. Your stomach growls and you just know you need to fill it up. But you're in the office, stuck with loads of work on your table and can't prepare a meal to save your life. Or you're rushing to work only to realize that you don't have time for a quick breakfast. You don't want to skip the most important meal of the day because you know doing so would wreck havoc on your metabolism and cause you to gain weight. What do you do in both cases? You reach for your bag and get that bar to satisfy your hunger or eat in place of breakfast. A high-protein, low-carbohydrate protein bar just saved your day!

Protein is necessary to optimum functioning and good health. If protein is lacking in the diet, growth gets stunted, the immune system gets compromised and a weakened cardiovascular and respiratory system results. To get your quick protein fix, you resort to protein bars.

Protein bars are nutritional supplements usually taken by bodybuilders or athletes to satisfy their protein needs all throughout the day. Usually made of soy or whey, protein bars also have peanuts, oats, milk and eggs as part of its ingredients. While they satisfy the body's protein needs, their high-sugar and saturated fat content makes them inappropriate as full meal replacement alternatives. For those who seek to gain muscle mass without the worry of ingesting too many calories, protein bars provide the solution.

Protein bars are best eaten an hour before and an hour after each workout. Your body needs the energy boost it gets before you do your routine. Your muscles could also use that much-needed protein these bars give for repair and recovery after your workout

Aside from athletes, protein bars also make good snack alternatives for our growing children. Giving them protein-rich snacks aid in their physical growth and development. And because our kids don't have to mix these, protein bars have gained popularity if only for their convenience. Unlike pre-packaged powdered protein drinks that need a little preparation, protein bars don't require anything else other than opening the pack and gobbling it down. Homemade protein bars are better, especially where your kids are concerned.

Most commercial protein bar preparations are chockfull of sugar. If you still want to get the same benefits minus the sugar, you can make your own protein bar at home. Start by grounding whole oats in a food processor. If you want to save yourself the hassle of this process, just buy protein powders and use them in place of the oats. Add cinnamon and nutmeg, some chopped nuts and dried fruits to the mixture. Then, add about a cup of peanut butter to the mix, making your batter resemble sticky dough. Line a 6 by 8 inch baking pan with wax paper and spoon the protein mixture into the pan. Freeze for a couple of hours. Cut into desired pieces and enjoy them wherever you go! This homemade protein bar alternative is cheap, natural and nutritious.

For nutrition on the go, protein bars are an excellent choice.