Passing the Bar On Nutrition

· Skip the Bars With Unhealthy Trans Fat. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines advises that consumption of trans fat should be as low as possible. Many food companies are working to eliminate trans fat, but the General Mills bars (Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cocoa Puffs, Honey Nut Cheerios and Trix) each contain one gram of trans fat per bar. Individually, that's a small amount, but eat several bars and the numbers add up.

· Skimpy on Protein. If protein is your goal, get an energy bar, not a breakfast bar. The exception: the South Beach bar, which packed 10 grams of protein. (As one tester asked, "What's it got in it, meat?") Most other cereal bars provide one or two grams of protein.

· Nutritional Benefits. Besides being fortified with vitamins and minerals, the All Bran bars have five grams of fiber, which helps meet the 25-gram daily goal recommended for women (38 for men). Many of our testers also liked their taste.

· Plan on More Than One. The bars will help take the edge off your hunger, but they probably don't have enough calories to hold you until lunch. So either eat more than one bar or have a bar as part of breakfast that includes milk or a cup of low-fat yogurt and some fruit. Or even better, just have the real thing: a bowl of cereal with low-fat milk and fruit, which can match or exceed the nutritional value of a cereal bar. · Share your tips or ask questions about nutrition and activity when Sally Squires hosts the Lean Plate Club online chat, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. today, on www.washingtonpost.com. Can't join live? E-mailleanplateclub@washpost.comanytime. To learn more, and subscribe to our free e-newsletter, visithttp://www.leanplateclub.com.