Are protein bars supposed to be meal replacement or snack? Does it depend on calories?

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I assume just snack for protein if you don't want to get stuff like Beneprotein.

Just be wary of protein bars, there's been some health issues with them lately.. unsafe levels of lead being one.

I had RNY gastric bypass surgery 4 years ago. The three most important elements after gastric bypass surgery are to meet your daily protein, fluid and vitamin requirements. Food is secondary because your body is converting your stored fat into the energy that drives your body. Thus you lose weight. In the beginning, you are eating such an incredibly small amount of food that you will not be able to consume enough protein from your meals, thus you will need to supplement your protein intake. Generally this is done by using protein shakes. If you do not get in your protein bad things happen. Your body will scavenge protein from your muscles (such as your heart muscle), your hair, etc.

Protein is extremely important after surgery as its job in the body is to build, repair and maintain tissues including your body's major organs and skeletal muscles. Protein deficiency, when continued over a long period of time can cause a disease know as protein calorie malnutrition (PCM). Common symptoms are poor healing, fatigue, hair loss and muscle wasting. Immediately post-op, protein promotes healing of the staple line and incisions.

Right after surgery, this protein supplement will be in liquid form (protein shakes). This is because your stomach is in a heal mode. A protein bar is probably too dense at this point. But after a few months, you will be able to transition to protein bars for your protein supplement. Eventually as your meal volume increases, if you concentrate on consuming high protein meals, you can reduce your reliance on supplements.

Protein bars are good when you are on the go and can't drag along a blender in order to mix a protein shake.

But be careful, some protein bars are not much different than candy bars. They contain too much sugar and very little protein. I used Quest protein bars. These bars were good in that they had high protein, minimal sugar and also contained fiber. They also came in a lot of different flavors.

If you compare a protein bar with a protein shake, they are comparable. A Quest protein bar contains 220 calories and provides 21 grams of protein. A Muscle Milk Light protein [2 scoops of powder in a 16 ounce glass] contains 210 calories and provides 25 grams of protein.

You asked if a protein bar is a meal replacement or a snack. The answer is neither. Your protein requirement is separate requirement from your food volume allotment. But again don't go overboard with the calories.