Protein bars can be a convenient protein boost, but unfortunately, not all store-bought brands are healthy. This post will share the Best Protein Bars available -- why they've made the cut and which I'd choose.
If you feel like this Best Protein Bars post helped you then try checking out my other posts on Best Kombucha Brands, Best Deli Meats, Best Pasta Sauces.
In This Post You'll Find:
I love a good protein bar and often make my own with this Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars. Sometimes, though, it's necessary to buy one from the store when I'm on a trip or just need a quick snack. I’m pretty particular about what ingredients make up the product, and I've found so many "healthy" protein bars to be full of refined ingredients and processed sugars.
With so many options nowadays for protein bars, choosing the best bar can be tricky. Which one has the most protein? Is it a good post-workout bar? Is a plant-based protein bar the best? How about dairy-free? How much protein should it have?
There are so many questions to be answered!
Let’s dive into the world of th best protein bars and I’ll let you know which bars I think are best.
7 Best Protein Bars
Ultimately, you want to choose bars that have a balance of nutrients and that can be called “clean” as far as packaged products go. I like to choose a bar with somewhere between 200 and 400 calories. I’ll make a decision on which bar to eat based on my intermittent fasting regimen and how much exercise I am getting that day.
I've also recently shared a review of all the healthy protein bars at my grocery store, which you can watch here:
1. Dang Protein Bar
If you are on the Keto Diet, for example, this is the ideal bar for you to pack in your snack bag when on the go. It’s high fat, with fats from plant-based sources like coconut and almond butter. This mint chocolate flavored bar, pictured here, is a little bit of decadence (kinda like a chocolate brownie) along with 10 grams of protein.
2. Paleonola Protein Bar
Looking for the best tasting protein bars? This is one of them. Gotta love the almond butter and jelly flavor! Ingredients like pumpkin seeds and raspberries give it an amazing taste. It’s got 9 grams of protein and 9 grams of sugar. And obviously, it’s Paleo Diet friendly!
3. Oatmega Protein Bar
This company’s claim to fame is grass-fed whey protein as its protein source. With 14 grams of protein and only 5 grams of sugar, it’s a popular bar for after-workout protein replenishment. With delicious flavors like Chocolate Coconut and Cinnamon Bun, this bar is hard to resist. It's a terrific post-workout snack for when you're not at home.
4. Epic Protein Bar
Epic bars are based on the hunter and gatherer diet—meat, fruit, nuts, seeds, and veggies. I’ve pictured a meat bar here, it's gluten-free and has 11 grams of protein. They have meatless bars as well (peanut butter being one) and state they use cage-free sourced egg whites.
5. RXBAR Protein Bar
Simplicity is their mode of production and it’s really cool how the main ingredients are right on the front of the RXBAR package. The chocolate sea salt bar shown here has 13 grams of sugar and 12 grams of protein. The dietary fiber content is 5 grams. This bar has a chewy texture and is definitely one of the top store-bought high protein bars.
6. Larabar Protein Bar
Cherry pie in a bar! Yep, and just 3 ingredients in this yummy protein source, too. This Larabar has unsweetened cherries, dates, and almonds. The sugars are a little high at 20 grams in this particular bar and the protein count is 4 grams. Still, with minimal ingredients, it’s a much better choice than a bar with sugar made from processed ingredients.
7. Thunderbird Protein Bar
I like the almond, apricot, vanilla flavor shown here. It’s both paleo and vegan, and has just a few ingredients also. The sugar content is 18 grams but it comes from the natural fruit source only (no added sugar). If you're looking for a tasty vegan protein bar, this may be the one for you.
FAQs
The Benefits of Protein
Protein does so much good for you. When it comes to muscle building, protein is a key component. Protein is crucial to our health and if you don’t get enough, your body will let you know!
- Protein is one of the 3 macronutrients needed for health (carbs, fat, and protein - learn more about macros, even how to calculate them!)
- It helps muscle recovery
- Protein helps you feel full
- It is good for the bones
Because protein is so important, Dustin and I created cleanish Plant-Based Protein Powder. It's another excellent way to get the benefits of protein. With no artificial sweeteners, this protein powder does have chia seeds, milled flaxseed and pea protein.
Which Protein Bars Are The Healthiest?
The healthiest protein bars have a good protein count and a low sugar content. To go into a bit more detail, watch out for these on the label.
Protein source
This is pretty important because you want a healthy amount of protein in your bar, right? I always try to go for a bar that has 8 grams of protein or more to get the nutrition and the satiety factor. A few examples of great sources to look for are:
- Seeds, like hemp seeds
- Nuts, like almond nuts
- Antibiotic-free beef (BTW, if you like beef jerky, I’ve got an informative best beef jerky post on that)
- Egg whites
Avoid bars with soy protein isolate
It’s highly processed from soybeans and may cause headaches and digestive issues in some people.
Sugar content
For sure, the best protein bars have no added sugars. And you definitely want to steer clear of anything that has tons of Hidden Sugar (for example ingredients that you may not know are sugar → ethyl maltol, barley malt, caramel, evaporated cane juice).
I try to look for bars that have less than 15 grams per bar, but if a bar has other great attributes, I’ll treat myself to it and watch my sugar intake that day. Natural sweeteners that are best in bars include:
- Pure maple syrup
- Raw honey
- Coconut sugar
- Fruit like dates and apricots
You also want to avoid sugar alcohols if you have a sensitivity that can cause bloating. That includes xylitol, mannitol, and erythritol in that case.
Homemade Versus Store-Bought Protein Bars
I cover this in much more detail in my post “Are Protein Bars Good For You?”. I will say as long as you are not making bars that are full of sugar like a candy bar, you're likely able to make a great version at home. Read my post on Homemade Granola Bars, too, and try these also. Your stomach will thank you!
Fiber content
Fiber is so important to our health. Read Top Foods High In FIber for just how essential it is to a healthy digestive system. The best protein bars will have a healthy balance of fiber, somewhere between a minimum of 3 grams and a maximum of 10 grams of fiber per bar. You'll want to look for high-quality fiber sources:
- Fruits
- Vegetables
- Oats
- Nuts
- Dates
