Energy bars are designed to refuel the body during workouts that last longer than 60 minutes. These are usually high in calories that can range from 350-500 calories, but people don't see them as actual food, therefore, grabbing "an actual meal" after the workout.

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The idea of an empty or useless calorie is an oversimplified way to look at food. While it may sometimes be necessary to turn complex and imperfect nutrition science into something simple, the simplicity can be misleading and ineffective.

All calories are nutritiou...