Although many will argue that the best protein bar is a homemade protein bar, we all know that there are great commercial products available to us today. Sure, you can always just go out and buy some whey and create your own bars at home, but who has time for that? Sometimes it’s nice to enjoy a good-tasting bar without any of the hassles.
Protein bars are one of the best supplements you can find on the market. Whether you need to gain muscles, lose weight, or just don’t have anything healthy to eat around, protein bars are ideal for your situation. They can help you get back on track and start building muscle mass or burning calories again. But not all protein bars are created equal, different brands offer different things and some might be healthier than others.
Shown below, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite brands so you don’t have to do any work!
Quest Nutrition Protein Bars
‘Chewy’ Texture with no artificial sweeteners (Ranked #1) Quest Bars come in an incredible 20+ flavors and really hit the spot when craving something sweet. While this may be due to the use of sucralose, these bars are delicious and have a very satisfying texture.
In fact, this is one of the few “chewy” protein bars on the market that doesn’t include maltitol or glycerin to improve mouthfeel – a telltale sign you’re eating a real bar! They’re also extremely low in net carbs (under 2g), which means they taste delicious without all those unwanted calories from sugar alcohols, starches, or fiber.
What are the Benefits of Quest Nutrition Protein Bars?
Each bar contains 20g of protein from a blend of whey and milk proteins. In fact, each serving is equivalent in protein to 4 eggs or 3oz of chicken!
This makes these bars ideal for anyone watching their calorie intake or looking to add more protein into their diet, especially since protein adds satiety compared to other macronutrients. This means that they’ll keep you satisfied between meals and potentially reduce snacking in general.
The added BCAA’s provide benefits such as enhanced recovery which will help ensure consistent gains over time when combined with a consistent resistance training program. In addition, Quest Bars can also be used pre-workout as an intra-workout supplement when you need some carbs from food after a workout, or even before.
Usually, some people might even use Quest Bars as meal replacements due to their high protein/low carbohydrate content. If you need a quick meal on the go or simply don’t have time for a sit-down meal – having a Quest Bar handy can be a lifesaver.
Hero Bars
Another great option is Hero Bars ($1/bar), an organic protein bar manufactured by vegan bodybuilders Jason Allen and Aaron Gram. These guys know their stuff when it comes to building muscle and staying healthy (they’ve been vegan for over 10+ years), and their bars are no exception.
Each bar contains 15-16g of protein, 4-5g fiber, and only 3-4g sugar (1g sugar alcohol). The bars include both branched and straight-chain amino acids and the company boasts that every batch they make is tested to ensure it’s toxin-free before sending off to customers. The Hero Bars come in a ton of different flavors including vanilla almond crunch, chocolate brownie, lemon cream pie, cinnamon roll, smores, honey peanut butter cup, s’mores supreme, strawberry cheesecake, salted caramel pretzel.
What are the Benefits of Hero Protein Bars?
Hero bars help boost the body’s protein levels and provide a healthy dose of dietary fiber and amino acids, all while tasting great. A nutritive sweetener blend made from maltitol syrup, erythritol, stevia leaf extract, soy lecithin (an emulsifier). The honey-like texture of this unique blend creates an excellent soft chew. It is responsible for the taste of Hero Bars’ incredible flavor combinations while also adding to its nutritional value. Erythritol is a white crystalline substance that looks and tastes like sugar but has almost zero calories per gram.1
Clif Bars
The Clif Bar was created by Gary Erickson, founder of the CLIF bar company, in 1990 while he was still attending UC Berkeley. The idea came to him when he wanted to create healthier snack bars for his rock climbing trips instead of eating sweets or candy on the rocks. The original name was KLIF bars” but because “K of a naming conflict, the name was changed to CLIF bars. The “CLIFF” in Clif Bar stands for “Climb (on) Life.”2
Clif Bars contain carbohydrates that can be found in soybeans or oats, mature whole grains and/or fruit purees, proteins that are derived from milk or soybeans, healthy fats like peanuts, natural sweeteners like cane syrup and organic brown rice syrup, and other ingredients. For the most part, they’re easy enough to read! Some ingredients do need to be looked up though if you aren’t familiar with them but this website has an extensive list of common food items along with Clif bars are our go-to pick when it comes to convenience.
They come in all kinds of flavors, including chocolate chip, peanut butter, double chocolate chunk, oatmeal raisin walnut, and s’mores, to name a few. The bars contain from 200-260 kcal per bar and from 12 to 20 g of protein. Some flavors also include caffeine for an extra boost. Clif Bars provide our body with long-lasting energy and they’re vegan friendly!
What are the Benefits of Cliff Protein Bars?
Clif Bars are specifically made for athletes and people who exercise regularly. They provide an excellent source of protein that can help in muscle growth and recovery. Clif Bars are a popular go-to snack for athletes and avid exercisers. The bars come in many flavors, but the most popular ones are chocolate chip, peanut butter cookie dough, oatmeal raisin walnut, white choc macadamia nut crunch.
Clif Bars provide an easy way to get fuel on the go without having to worry about what ingredients they may contain.
– They contain more than 20 vitamins and minerals
– Provide energy for up to half a day of activity
– Great source of protein. Each bar contains 15 grams which are more than most other bars on the market.
– Low in sugar at less than 10 grams per bar. Some bars may be around 20+grams of sugar, that’s almost 5 teaspoons.
Optimum Nutrition Protein Bars
Optimum Nutrition Protein Bars are a great source of protein and energy. They come in a variety of flavors to satisfy any sweet tooth! The bars have different sizes for those who want to keep them around for an extended period or need the extra caloric intake from smaller portions. With 16 grams of protein per bar, you can be sure that this is one snack you will not regret eating.3
These bars also contain fiber which helps with digestion and weight loss goals. If snacking on these at work sounds like your jam, they are shelf-stable so there’s no need to worry about refrigeration or spoilage!
While it is true that protein bars are not a healthy alternative to real food, they can be used as an occasional substitute. These bars are typically high in sugar and fats, but also contain nutrients like vitamin A, B vitamins, potassium, and calcium. Protein bars come in handy for those who need quick access to the nutrients these products provide. They are most often eaten before or after exercise sessions or during long work hours when there’s no time for breakfast or lunch.
What are the Benefits of Optimum Nutrition Protein Bars?
Protein bars are a great way to get your daily dose of protein. They are convenient for when you’re on the go, and they come in many different flavors so you can enjoy something new every day. We have reviewed Optimum Nutrition’s Protein Bars to see if these are the best option for you!
Optimum Nutrition is one of the most popular brands in sports nutrition supplements, with products including BCAAs, pre-workouts, amino acids, vitamins, and more!4 So it was no surprise that their protein bars were also very successful. These bars have an impressive ingredient list which includes 20 grams of plant-based proteins from brown rice and pea sources (rice concentrate), egg whites (pasteurized), soy flour (defatted soy), gluten-free oat fiber, whey isolate, and milk protein concentrate. The bars come in different flavors so you can pick your favorite one.
Chocolate Peanut Butter
The macronutrients of each bar are comparable to other leading brands with around 300 kcal per serving making it a great post-workout meal or just as a snack between two meals. They have 23 grams of proteins from brown rice sources which is more than most other bars on the market. The first three ingredients on the list are whey isolate, milk protein concentrate, and soy flour (defatted soy) and each bar contains 14 grams of protein.
Choosing the Best Protein Bar Brands
When choosing the best protein bar for kids, there are a few things you should consider. The first thing you should look for when searching for the best protein bars for kids is the list of ingredients. There are numerous kinds of protein bars out there today, but none of them are neurologically sound and can’t give your child the protein they require. Look for a bar that has soy protein, whey protein, casein protein, egg white, fish oil, coconut oil, flaxseed, and rice. All of these foods are known to contain high amounts of protein and can help your kid feel fuller for a longer period of time.
Another thing you should watch out for is fat content. Many protein bars have a g fat rating, which gives you an idea of how much fat is in a serving. If a bar has a rating of zero, it is free and great to use. This means that your kid will not feel heavy at any point while eating the bar. Be sure to read the label and look for healthy and low in fat protein bars to ensure that your kid eats a nutritious meal.
Image Credits
Food Future Strategies / Google Stock Images
Walmart / 2021
Sam’s Clubs / 2021
Bike24 / 2021
Amazon / 2021
Target / 2021
Wake Up Body Nutrition / 2021
1 “Erythritol: Uses, Benefits, and Risks – WebMD.” 21 Jun. 2020, https://www.webmd.com/diet/what-is-erythritol Accessed 17 Sep. 2021.
1 “Clif Bar & Company | Clif Bar.” https://www.clifbar.com/ Accessed 17 Sep. 2021.
1 “PROTEIN CRISP | Optimum Nutrition US.” 9 Mar. 2021, https://www.optimumnutrition.com/en-us/Products/Protein/Snacks/PROTEIN-CRISP/p/on-protein-crisp Accessed 17 Sep. 2021.
1 “What Are BCAAs And How Do They Work? | GNC.” https://www.gnc.com/fitness/what-are-bcaas.html Accessed 17 Sep. 2021.
