Looks can be deceiving. All check the ingredients of your food, not just the claims.
So, why isn't an Oatball considered a protein ball? Let's dive deep into this one, shall we?
The body's main sources of energy come from carbohydrates, fats and proteins. It is important that your feed your body good clean food from all three sources for a better balanced, properly working body.
Carbohydrates are the the body's desired (and most efficient) energy source. Excellent sources of carbohydrates include grains like oats, fruits, vegetables and dairy. It's important to note that "carbs" are not just breads and pasta.
Fats are the body's next desired energy source when carbs are getting depleted. Foods that are considered "healthy" fats are: nuts, eggs, avocado, salmon and chia seeds. Healthy fats are unsaturated fats. Unhealthy fats are saturated fats.
Protein's main function is for muscle building, not for energy. Your body will break down proteins for energy, but it is not very efficient in doing so. This is why it's so important to eat a well-balanced diet of all energy sources.
Oatballs are considered energy balls because their main source of calories comes from carbs, not protein. Oatballs contain on average 5 grams of protein per ball. Each ball averages around 200 calories. Since protein provides 4 calories per gram, that equates to 20 calories (or 10% of the total calories).
In order for a food to be labeled "high in protein", it should provide at least 20% of it's energy from protein. Therefore, if a protein ball/bar is 200 calories, at least 40 calories should come from protein (equally 10 grams of protein per serving).
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