Weirdly enough, I don't like cabbage. I do like broccoli, though.

That certainly would be ideal, Lisa
But that takes time and we don't always have it...
Whenever I enter my meals into fitday, unless I make them much higher calorie than the equivalent bar, the bar usually beats the meal (nutrition-wise) hands down. Plus, ironically, they're usually lower in carbs than my meals are and therefore keep my blood sugar more stable (...and I count all the sugar in a bar. I do this as an estimate by first subtracting fat & protein cals, and from there I consider any cals left as sugar/carb calories, divide it by 4, and that is the carbohydrate count I use).
So it's not really fair to compare a meal with 400+ cals to a little bar with 200 and expect the nutrition to be the same. You could always eat 2 bars

Like today I grabbed a bar for lunch because I was job hunting. Better and more balanced than just grabbing a slice of cheese and some nuts like I also do time to time in a rush. I agree when time allows it's better to eat whole foods, even if for no other reason but to teach you how to prepare healthy food for the rest of your life, and not depend on manufactured food.

Balance is good. Not the bars (which I dislike), but balance in all things. DANDR says don't go 6 hours awake without eating. (I don't want to set off that tangent, however). So I will grab a bar here and then to keep my metabolism going when I can't stop for eggs and bacon. I'm not crazy about sugar free, sugar-alcohol enriched candy, but it beats the sugar-filled equivalent when I get a craving. Probably 80% of what I eat is meats, veggies and cheese.

And I'll take anyone's brussels sprouts, mmmm. I haven't roasted them yet. My DS will eat any extras. He's been eating green veggies since he was a "sprout" himself, LOL. "Little trees and little cabbages." I used to take him to the store and let him pick out the veggies he wanted. He still loves to grow things and taste what fresh from the garden really is.

I mean any food that is loaded with chemicals.

Remember the commercial for the icecream....Breyer's?? A little kid trying to read the label on his ice cream, loaded with chemicals....then the other kid reading his....cream, sugar, etc....all "natural" ingredients.

IF it's got chemicals and is highly processed, it's a frankenfood.

Jane - I soo agree. We even grew them fresh in our garden this year and I thought, they can't be so bad cause hubby gobbles them up. Ugh. Even the guinea pigs wouldn't eat them...lol

You can buy frozen "baby" brussel sprouts & if you don't overcook them, they have a buttery taste even without butter.

1/2 cup (raw/uncooked) have 3.937g carbs - 1.67g fiber or 2.267g net carbs.

I think I have some Frankenfoods lurking in the back of the fridge. They have been in there for years.

. . . IT'S ALIVE!!! . . .

Just kidding.

How about a top 10 list. Top 10 ways to know your food is "Frankenfood".

10. You need a degree in biochemistry to read the label.
9. Induction refers to electricity instead of ketosis.
8. After ingesting you get a rash around the bolts in your neck.
7. After eating you can't stop throwing little girls into the lake.
6. The label reads, "Manufactured at Frankenfood, Inc."
5. Warning label on package says "Do not put in microwave."
4. Food featured prominently on new FDA food pyramid.
3. You open the fridge and your house is surrounded by villagers with torches.
2. Commercials feature tall, pale guy in green sport coat.
1. TASTES LIKE CHICKEN!

I hope that clears things up for everyone.

Brett