Need some recommendations for breakfast bar

I'm a really late riser, and just barely make it to work on time.  So I always eat breakfast at my desk.  I was having granola bars, but the granola wasn't holding me through til lunch.  So I realized I needed more protein.  So I bought some Special K Protein Bars and they taste like Cardboard.  Could I please get some recommendations, so I don't have to buy several $6 boxes of cardboard to find one I can stand?  Any suggestions will be appreciated.

Not wishing to sidestep your question but if you prepared yourself a nice breakfast the night before and set your alarm to get up 10 or 20 minutes earlier than normal you could have a huge range of options that are more likely to fill you up until lunchtime.... eggs, toast, yoghurt, fruit smoothie, oatmeal ... world is your oyster.   A relaxed breakfast is going to be more filling and sustaining, which will help your weight loss more than a three-bites-big granola bar...  and it'll be cheaper too.

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You know I actually like the Walmart brand ones - Sam's Choice I think. I don't normally like off-brand stuff either. Think you could wake up in time for instant oatmeal? That's my weapon of choice.

I would love to get up earlier, but I just don't think it's a realistic option.  I'm on several medications for bi-polar disorder, and they knock me out so completely, that some mornings I don't even hear the alarm clock.  I have scheduled when I take my medications so that I'm starting to revive enough to make it to work.  If I took them earlier, so that I could get up earlier, then I'd be going to sleep at 8:00 or 8:30 at night, and that's the only time I have to spend with my family.  I appreciate that you're giving me good advice though.

Quaker Oats just came out with this new "Breakfast Cookie", 170 cals each. There are a few different kinds but I love Oatmeal Raisin. They're soft and can be microwaved for a "warm" breakfast. I usually eat it along with some yogurt or something to get my calorie count higher for the morning.

I also take breakfast to work with me.  Here are somethings I bring with me:

1. Greek yogurt with thawed frozen berries to sweeten it.  Lots of protein & fiber.
2. Kashi waffles with greek yogurt on top (if you have a toaster at work).
3. Egg whites, fruit & some almonds
4. Amy's frozen breakfast burrito (you can find them in the organic section)
5. Whole grain bread with 2 Tbsp of PB spread on top
6. Cottage cheese with fruit

There are tons of things that you can bring with you to work that will keep you full.  I try to think of something different for every week so I don't get bored.

I eat the Fiber one bars when in a pinch.  I find they will hold me almost to lunch or at least till a fruit snack.

Luna Bars.  Yum yum yum.  180 or 190 calories, depending on what kind you get.  Usually about 9 grams protein plus lots of vitamins, minerals and fiber.  I'm the same as you.  Can't eat first thing in the morning and absolutely refuse to wake up earlier.  Every morning at work I have a Luna bar and a banana.

My favorites are Lemon Zest, Chai Tea, Caramel Nut Brownie.  Their new Macadamie Nut one is pretty good too.  Love them.  Look forward to them every day - and I've been eating them for at least a couple years.

I special order them at my local health food store and get a case discount.  You can also go to amazon and buy them at a pretty good price.  A lot of grocery stores carry them too now, so you can go and try a bunch of different ones before you commit to a whole box.

I second the fiber one bars..they also come in Sam's choice brand which taste the same to me. I wouldn't say they fill me up till lunch either. I bring some fruit as well. I try to have my bar or oatmeal and then some fruit mid morning. Also, are you drinking any water? That seems to help me out a lot. 

I also like either a fiber one, or  a fiberplus bar along with a glass of low sodium V8, just the V8 is very filling, the combo makes it enough until my normally later lunch break.... that said, at lunch I have a V8 fruit n veggie  drink and yogurt and am fine until I start making dinner, while that cooks, I have a small snack of muli-grain crackers, or fruit or now and again cheese and crackers....

Quick, relatively filling, grab-and-go breakfast that you can make the night before:

• glass of milk (just get a plastic cup with a lid that seals; this is the one part you probably don't want to make the night before)
• serving of fruit (I like mine chopped up in a tupperware, but just grabbing an apple or pear would work too)
• homemade oatmeal or bran muffin (a small one should come in under 200 cals; make them at the weekend or on a weeknight and they'll last all week)

You could also substitute half a whole grain bagel or a slice of whole grain toast for the muffin.  Or have your granola bar, but adding the milk will go a long way to keeping you full.  (Sometimes, I turn mine into chocolate milk with a small scoop of protein powder.)

The bars I find most filling/enjoyable are LUNA bars and Quaker Oatmeal to Go bars (the "bars" NOT the "squares") but I try to only have them once or twice a week.

I would third the recommendations for Luna bars, I love them!  I know a lot of people don't like the amount of sugar in them, but I find them fabulous and filling.  My personal favorite (at the moment! it changes from time to time) are the Chocolate Raspberry ones.  They also have Luna Sunrise bars that are geared more towards breakfasty flavors/ingredients.  They also work well for me since I'm a college student with a limited meal plan and little kitchen access or extra funds.

Another favorite is the Kashi Go Lean rolls, they are delish and really really filling, since they have a lot of fiber and protein.  I like the chewy texture too, they actually take a little bit to eat, rather than just chomping right through like other bars.

Hope thats somewhat useful!

The night before, put a cup of frozen berries in a container and put half a cup plain (not vanilla, plain) yogurt (I use silk soy) on top of them. Leave it in the fridge and by the next mornng it all melts together and tastes really good. You can add a pack of stevia/splenda if it isn't to your sweetness. I would pair that with a waffle and tablespoon of peanut butter, or maybe a slice of toast instead of the waffle. All the protein will keep you full much longer. I also second the homemade muffin idea. You could make "meal" muffins, throw some oats and peanut butter in them so they are filling, and sub out the eggs, oil, and some of the sugar with mashed bananas and applesauce to lower the cals! :)

Honestly? Atkins bars are pretty stellar nutrition wise. I like their Caramel Chocolate Peanut Nougat Bar (feels like I'm eating a snickers bar, but look at the nutrition stats), the Peanut Butter Granola Bar and the Apple Crisp bar.

They're surprisingly filling for such small things, and while they aren't organic, or full of natural ingredients, they're better nutrition wise for you than plain granola. They also have tons of vitamins and minerals. (and no, I don't adhere to Atkins, and I'm not employed by them either! I just like tasty things that are well rounded to eat).

If you don't have time to get up earlier, then you might try something else besides the meal replacement bars.  What about the lowfat cottage cheese packets out there that come with a little side of fruit?  You'll get some protein, dairy and fiber with that option, and they cost about the same as a meal bar.

I've also been known to take along a baggie of dry high-fiber cereal and a banana to nibble on during my drive to work when in a crunch. 

Even a peanut butter sandwich (on a good high-fiber bread) provides you with protein and fiber to get you going in the morning.  And it too can be prepared the night before.  I really enjoy a peanut butter sandwish in the morning with a little glass of skim milk.  Yum!

Just a few suggestions besides the meal bars.

Original Post by kaufmkk:

 I really enjoy a peanut butter sandwish in the morning with a little glass of skim milk.  Yum!

 

Not making fun of you at all, but that typo above made my day. It made me giggle so hard :D

A sand'wish'?   Hee hee!  Maybe that's because that's what they are half of the time!  Can only eat so much peanut butter ya' know.

Giggles back.

Thanks so much for all the ideas.  I'm going to look for some good muffin recipes.  I love anything with oatmeal, so that might work out great if I can find a muffin recipe with oatmeal and peanut butter.  I don't mind cooking something on the weekend, or mid-week to have available when needed.  My boyfriend actually does the regular dinner cooking.  I'm a lucky girl in that regard :)

My favorite bar is the strawberry something Slimfast bar. I like Kashi bars too. I don't know if Powerbars are meal replacement bars, and probably need an acquired taste, but I like all of them (they all taste similar).

Try these maybe? http://www.recipezaar.com/Vegan-Peanut-Butter -Oatmeal-Muffins-68410

I haven't tried the recipe but it looks pretty decent. Use 1/2 a mashed banana for the egg replacer and they come in under 200 cals each. If they work out, spend a weekend day making several batches and freeze them. :)