Snickers vs Zing Bars: The Ultimate Halloween Chocolate-Coated Comparison

When your summertime cravings for fresh fruit and vegetables slowly give way to hankerings for little bite-sized, colorfully-wrapped morsels of chocolate and nougat, you know Halloween is approaching. Rather than reaching in that candy bowl you so efficiently have waiting by the door for trick-or-treaters, why not snack on something that makes you feel as good as it tastes? The combination of chocolate and peanuts isn’t just for Snickers bars anymore. Zing’s dark chocolate peanut butter bars fit the bill and won’t leave you with that sluggish sugar hangover we’ve all been familiar with this time of year.

Let’s Compare the Numbers

A brief look at the nutrition facts show some initial similarities but ultimately some stark differences. With chocolate and peanuts as key ingredients, both Snickers and Zing have about the same amount of fat. But the similarities end there. Zing has almost half the amount of sugar, five times the amount of fiber and more than triple the protein. In working with our clients, we always stress a minimum of 3g fiber per serving and 10g of protein. Our Chocolate Coated Zing Bar surpasses these recommendations while Snickers falls far short.

…And What About the Ingredients?

When reading labels, the nutritional guidelines only tell part of the story – the ingredient list rounds out the rest. Let’s start with the Snickers bar. We advise our clients to avoid — or at least minimize — the highlighted ingredients: Milk Chocolate (Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Chocolate, Skim Milk, Lactose, Milkfat, Soy Lecithin, Artificial Flavor), Peanuts, Corn Syrup, Sugar, Palm Oil, Skim Milk, Lactose, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Salt, Egg Whites, and Artificial Flavor. We strongly encourage our clients to steer clear of sugar, corn syrup, palm oil, milkfat, artificial flavors and especially partially hydrogenated soybean oil.

Why are we so down on hydrogenated soybean oil, you ask?

Well, partially hydrogenated oil (also known as trans fat) has many adverse health effects. The American Heart Association explains that, “Trans fats raise your bad (LDL) cholesterol levels and lower your good (HDL) cholesterol levels. Eating trans fats increases your risk of developing heart disease and stroke. It’s also associated with a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes.” Zing Bars, on the other hand, use the highest quality ingredients with no artificial colors, flavors, additives or fillers. Note the list below and you’ll see what is known as “clean” label: Organic Peanuts, Organic Agave Syrup, Dark Chocolate (Organic Cane Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Cocoa Butter), Whey Protein Blend (Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Whey Protein Hydrolysate), Chicory Root Fiber, Whey Protein Crisps (Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Tapioca Starch, Calcium Carbonate, Sunflower Lecithin), Peanut Extract, Vanilla Extract, Sea Salt and Sunflower Lecithin.

Organic Agave Nectar vs. Corn Syrup

Agave nectar is an all-natural sweetener and is low-glycemic, meaning it won’t spike your blood sugar. Instead, it releases slowly — over a 2-3 hour period — into the blood stream, helping you maintain steady energy levels and avoid the dreaded “sugar crash.” Regular sugar and corn syrup can spike blood sugars, resulting in this crash 1-2 hours after you eat something sugary. This “crash” is often associated with poor focus and fatigue, along with increased hunger and cravings as your body tries to bring the blood sugar back up. This in turn can lead to weight gain. We designed Zing Bars to provide a steady release of energy. The added fiber, protein and healthy fats from peanuts make it a nutritional powerhouse. Make this holiday delightfully spook-tacular by treating your tricksters big and small to a yummy snack that will make them happy and keep them healthy at the same time.