It’s pretty difficult to find any food that doesn’t contain added sugar. From peanut butter to your favorite pasta sauce, it can be found in even the most unexpected products.
Did you know that the average American consumes 77g of added sugar per day? 1
Unfortunately, there is no exact measure of the amount of sugar a person can eat in a day. Some can eat a lot of sugar without harm, while others can’t.
However, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that the maximum amount of added sugars you should eat in a day are 37.5 grams for men and 25 grams for women. 2
If you’re concerned about your sugar intake and are looking for a low-sugar protein bar, we have you covered.
Here are some of our favorite, low-sugar protein bars:
Quest Protein Bar
1g sugar (200 calories, 21 g protein, 8g fat, 24g carbs, 14g fiber)
When to eat it: When you’re craving a sweet treat
Why we love them:
What’s not to love about a Quest protein bar? These bars are widely available and come in a huge range of great flavors including Birthday Cake, Chocolate Sprinkled Donut, and S’mores. The sweet candy bar taste satisfies your sweet tooth but comes in at only 1g of sugar. And as a bonus, the high protein and fiber content will keep you full between meals.
ZingBar
7g sugar (210 calories, 13g protein, 11g fat, 22g carbs, 10g fiber)
When to eat it: When you need something in between meals
Why we love them:
These great-tasting protein bars were created by dieticians as a healthy but great tasting snack for everyone to enjoy. Not only is it filled with delicious, healthy ingredients like almond butter, dark chocolate, and fruit but it’s packed with fiber too, which makes it the perfect filling snack between meals.
Gatorade Whey Protein Bar With Almond Butter
9g sugar (220 calories, 20g protein, 7g fat, 24g carbs, 1g fiber)
When to eat it: After a workout
Why we love them:
Gatorade protein bars were designed for athletes. Their almond butter variety contains half the sugar of the traditional Gatorade protein bar while providing a serious protein boost at 20g of protein. They’re the perfect snack right after a workout.
GoMacro Bar
12g sugar (260 calories, 12g protein, 3g fiber)
When to eat it: When you want protein from non-animal sources
Why we love them:
Made from just 5 simple ingredients, these bars are perfect for vegans. They contain protein from non-animal sources and are also soy-free and gluten-free. What’s more, all the sugar in the bar comes from natural sources.
KIND Protein Bar
8g sugar (250 calories, 12g protein, 17g fat, 18g carbs, 5g fiber)
When to eat it: When you need a healthy snack on the go
Why we love them:
With so many great flavors, it’s hard to believe that KIND bars are made entirely from natural ingredients, but they are. Their wide availability in most stores makes them the perfect snack to pick up on the go, without ruining your diet.
Primal Kitchen Protein Bar
2g sugar (200 calories, 9g protein, 16g fat, 9g carbs, 1g fiber)
When to eat it: You’re following a specific diet
Why we love them:
Primal Kitchen Protein Bars are gluten-free, dairy-free, and paleo-friendly, which make them perfect for any diet. These bars are infused with spices, giving them a great, natural taste and contain healthy unsaturated fat from plants and seeds, making them heart-healthy.
ONE Bar
1g sugar (220 calories, 20g protein, 8g fat, 23g carbs, 10g fiber)
When to eat it: When you’re craving dessert
Why we love them:
These great-tasting bars feel like you’re eating dessert, but contain only 1g of sugar. Their wide range of flavors like Pumpkin Pie and Glazed Donut are enough to satisfy any dessert cravings and the high protein and fiber content will keep you full between meals.
Health Warriors Organic Bar
7g sugar (170 calories, 8g protein, 12g fat, 12g carbs, 2g fiber)
When to eat it: Breakfast on the move
Why we love them:
Health Warriors are another brand delivering a great tasting bar made from whole ingredients. These bars are sweetened with honey and coconut oil rather than sugar. They’re also gluten-free and non-GMO.
Perfect Keto Bar
1g sugar (230 calories, 13g Protein, 17g fat, 11g carbs, 8g fiber)
When to eat it: On a restricted diet
Why we love them:
These bars are the perfect treat for those on a restrictive diet. They contain no artificial sweeteners, dairy, or soy and won’t kick you out of ketosis. Their great range of flavors, including Almond Butter Brownie, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Salted Caramel, and Lemon Poppy Seed have no added sugar, so you can enjoy them no matter what diet you’re following.
Garden Of Life Bar
8g sugar (270 calories, 20g protein, 8g fat, 32g carbs, 7g fiber)
When to eat it: When you’re avoiding trans-fats
Why we love them:
Trying to avoid trans-fats? Garden of Life has got you covered with their great range of low-sugar plant-based bars. They contain no trans-fats and only 0.5g of saturated fat. Their high protein and fiber content help keep you fuller for longer.
1 Welsh JA, Sharma AJ, Grellinger L, Vos MB. Consumption of added sugars is decreasing in the United States. Am J Clin Nutr. 2011;94(3):726‐734. doi:10.3945/ajcn.111.018366
2 Johnson RK, Appel LJ, Brands M, et al. Dietary sugars intake and cardiovascular health: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2009;120(11):1011‐1020. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.109.192627
