Draft:Bar (food): Difference between revisions

A bar is a type of food. There are several popular types of bar, including confectionery bars, protein bars, energy bars, granola bars and fruit bars.

The majority of food bars are sweet, rather than savory.^[2]

Combination bars, including additional ingredients such as nuts or dried fruit, were developed in the 1910s. One of the most successful was the Clark Bar, introduced in 1917.^[4]

Food ration bars are commonly produced as field rations for armed services.^[5] Ration bars are more convenient and more nutritious than canned food.^[6] They vary in type between cereal-type bars and confectionery bars,^[7] and may include various freeze-dried and dehydrated ingredients, such as meat, fruits, vegetables, and grain.^[6]

Fruit bars are made of compressed dried fruit. Common additives include vegetable oil, sweeteners, and binders such as wheat or oat flour.

Granola bars, made of oat flakes, vegetable fats or oils, and some type of sweetener. Many granola bars contain additional ingredients such as nuts, dried fruits, and seeds. They become popular in the 1960s as part of the counterculture Hippie movement.^[9]

Protein bars are commonly consumed by athletes due to their nutritional density and high protein content, which provides energy quickly and assists in growing and repairing connective tissues.^[10] Weightlifter Bob Hoffman marketed Hi-Proteen Honey Fudge bars in the 1950s. Space Food Sticks were marketed by Pillsbury in 1969, based on the ration bars provided to astronauts in the American Space Program.^[11] They were popularized among amateur fitness enthusiasts after the introduction of the PowerBar in 1986.^[12]