Most convenience, grocery and health-food stores carry dozens of different types of bars, including candy bars, protein bars and granola bars. Looking at the nutritional value and ingredients of these bars can help you determine how they can fit into your diet, depending on your individual goals. Some of these bars make convenient and relatively healthy snacks or supplements, while others should be kept as a treat for special occasions because of their poor nutritional value.

Calories

Most regular-sized 2-ounce candy bars contain between 260 and 280 calories, while protein bars can contain anywhere from 130 to 280 calories. The nutrition value of candy and protein bars is very different and varies widely between brands. Always look at the nutrition facts label for more precise values. If you are on a calorie-restricted diet or trying to lose weight, consuming either candy or protein bars could prevent you from reaching your goal. If you are at a healthy weight or very active, or trying to put on muscle mass, these extra calories could be a important addition to your diet, as long as the bar you choose also provides nutrients your body needs.

Candy bars

Looking at the breakdown of macronutrients can help you determine whether the calories in a candy bar come mainly from protein, carbohydrates or fat. Carbohydrates, specifically sugar, are the main source of calories in candy bars, with an average of 35 to 37 grams, corresponding to about 50 to 56 percent of the calories. The rest of the calories come from 13 to 14 grams of fat, or 44 to 45 percent of the calories, and about 4 grams of protein, or less than 5 percent of the calories. The main ingredients in candy bars are derived from sugars and sweeteners, which do not supply any important nutrients for your health.

Protein Bars

On average, more of the calories in protein bars come from protein, while this macronutrient is almost non-existent in candy bars. For example, most protein bars have 10 to 30 grams of protein, corresponding to about 22 to 43 percent of the calories. The rest of the calories come from 2 to 46 grams of carbohydrates and 2 to 12 grams of fat. These numbers correspond to a wide range of 5 to 63 percent of the calories coming from carbohydrates and 9 to 51 percent of the calories from fat. Pick the protein bar that will help you get the nutrients you need most.

Ingredients