I'm a believer in the protein bars. I eat the Zone Perfect Bars,(12 g Protein, 190 calories) usually for my mid-afternoon snack at work. Usually drop one in my purse if I'm going to be out and about on the weekends--saves me from the "I'm starving, what shall I eat?" issue. At my last appointment, my NP suggested I stop drinking protein shakes for breakfast. Said I'm not utillizing my band but relying solely on protein for hunger control doing this. So I ate one of the protein bars for breakfast this morning. (Like someone else said, I don't have time in the mornings for cooking.) It did keep me full longer than the shake usually does. I get them a lot cheaper at Sams's than Wal-mart or the drug stores sell them. I really like the taste of the chocolate Almond and the Double Dark Chocolate. My kids do too, but they don't get much candy... I haven't tried any of the other flavors.