WHAT'S IN AN ATKINS MEAL BAR?
ATKINS MEAL BARS - FAR FROM HOMEMADE™
Information updated April 2025
Atkins is based on the plan created by Dr. Robert Atkins (1930-2003), a Cardiologist who “Saw that eating right, not less, improved his patients’ health.”
Q: WHAT IS ATKINS NUTRITIONALS, INC. IDEA OF EATING RIGHT? Let’s look at what’s in some of the Atkins Meal Bars. (Source: Atkins Web site 4/25)
ATKINS CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER PRETZEL BARS ARE FAR FROM HOMEMADE™ with multiple commercial ingredients we never use at home.
Note that Soy Protein Isolate is the second ingredient in this and many Atkins products >> an ingredient which Harvard Medical School advises we stay away from. (Source: Harvard Health Publishing of Harvard Medical School September 2021)
ALL ATKINS MEAL BARS ARE BANNED AT WHOLE FOODS MARKET: Below is a look at Atkins Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Bar. Whole Foods has a list of banned ingredients which they cite as “unacceptable in food”. This Atkins bar has two ingredients which have been banned by Whole Foods >> Polydextroes and Sucralose. (Source for banned ingredients: Amazon Whole Foods Web site 4/25)
Q: Even if you know nothing about him, does this seem like a meal replacement option that Dr. Atkins — or any doctor — would acknowledge as “eating right”?
Q: WHAT DID DR. ATKINS MEAN BY ‘HIGH QUALITY PROTEIN’?
A: Dr. Atkins promoted a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet. In his book, Age-Defying Diet Revolution, Dr. Atkins describes what he means by 'High Quality Protein' >> "such as red meat, poultry, seafood and eggs.”
The protein in Atkins Bars comes, not from sources which Dr. Atkins cited as High Quality, but from commercial-grade, processed ingredients like Soy Protein Isolate and Whey Protein Isolate. According to the FDA 2025, 94% of U.S. Soybeans are GMO.
Dr. Atkins also touted the benefits of eating as many vegetables as possible and avoiding things which require detoxification.
Q: WHY DO ATKINS’ MAIN MEAL REPLACEMENT BARS HAVE DESSERT FEATURES? Atkins Nutritionals makes Meal Bars with flavor profiles like Double Fudge Brownie and Vanilla Caramel Pretzel.
Q: Do you think Dr. Atkins would design main meal replacement bars that were analogs of indulgent dessert treats?
Q: Are the ingredients in this product a reflection of the consumers' needs or the corporation's needs?
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