Protein bars are a great way to supply protein for your muscle-building and recovery needs. Not only are these snacks packed full of energy, but they also have enough protein to help you boost your gym results. If you do not have time to eat a full meal three times a day, consider some protein bars to make up for that.
While similar to granola and energy bars, protein bars contain a much higher ratio of protein to carbohydrates and fats. They are designed to serve as a convenient primary source of protein that you don’t need to prepare or cook. Protein bars can even serve as meal replacements.
For some great nutritional bars, check out our list of the 10 best protein bars to keep you healthy and your body fuelled.
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1. RXBAR Chocolate Sea Salt Protein Bar
RXBAR is a popular protein bar brand that prides itself on high protein and healthy ingredients. The Chocolate Sea Salt Protein Bar uses almonds, cashews, egg whites, and dates for the protein fix. It also includes 100% chocolate cacao, which gives it its natural chocolate flavor, and some sea salt to balance out its flavors.
Each bar weighs 50 grams and contains 12 grams of protein. This is a very high ratio of protein to carbohydrates and fats compared to most meals, snacks, and even energy and granola bars. For context, an average person will need about 45 to 55 grams of protein per day.
RXBAR offers packs of 12 or 24 bars so you can get enough for a couple of weeks. They are great for taking on family or friend camping trips or vacations due to the large number of bars you get in a pack.
Each bar is completely gluten-free and guilt-free. This paleo, whole 30, and ketogenic snack is perfect for most lifestyle choices. There are no added sugars, no gluten, and no unnecessary ingredients in each bar. You can take them as pre-workout snacks or as meal replacements in the office if you do not have time to sit down for a full meal.
2. Zing Plant-Based Protein Bars
The Zing Plant-Based Protein Bar is probably one of the most underrated protein bars on our list. These vegan, gluten-free, GMO-free, and nutritious snacks contain about 10 grams of protein in each bar. They also contain about seven grams of fiber to help with your digestion and satiety.
There are 10 different flavors, with cherry almond, coconut, peanut butter chocolate chip, and mint being some of the top favorites for customers. Created by professional nutritionists, the Zing Plant-Based Protein Bars are meant to provide you with enough protein to make up for a missing meal.
These protein bars also make for good pre-workout snacks. They can help you get on that grind longer and with a quicker recovery time after. Proper nutrition plays a major role in fitness and muscle building, so having a good protein bar will help you achieve that.
Zing Plant-Based Protein bars are filled with good protein, a healthy amount of carbs and fats, and fiber for clean energy. For instance, the dark chocolate coconut flavor uses macaroon coconut and almond butter covered in healthy, low sugar dark chocolate.
3. PROBAR Cookie Dough
PROBAR Cookie Dough is one of the most delicious snacks you can find, even outside protein and energy bars. They are completely non-GMO, gluten-free, plant-based, and use only whole food ingredients to give you that healthy dose of protein.
Each 70-gram bar contains around 20 grams of protein, which is more than you typically need for a single meal. This makes it a good meal replacement in the office if you are working long hours. You can also bring them when camping, hiking, and on long drives. With four grams of fiber per bar, you will feel satiated for quite a while.
Its ingredients include soy protein isolate, organic tapioca and agave syrup, dried cane syrup, glycerin, safflower oil, unsweetened chocolate, rice protein concentrate, and tapioca starch. There are six different flavors offered by PROBAR but their cookie dough option is our favorite.
You can even substitute one of these bars for dessert. It is a good way to avoid sugar while still having a satisfying and delicious cookie dough bar after a good meal.
4. Gatorade Whey Protein Bars
Gatorade is best known for its delicious and energy-packed sports drinks. Recently, however, they have also released whey protein bars to complement their iconic drinks and complete your fitness experience. There are seven different flavors to choose from, with the most popular ones being chocolate, mint chocolate crunch, and cookies and cream.
Each 80-gram bar contains 20 grams of protein to help you build muscle and recover quickly after intense workouts or team practices. There are also 42 grams of carbohydrates in each bar to give you quick energy, making it an ideal pre-game or pre-workout snack.
Gatorade Whey Protein Bars provide you with 350 calories per bar. This is quite low for the number of proteins and carbohydrates you get from the bar. Its ingredients include whey protein crisp, chocolate cookie pieces, caramel, semisweet chocolate chips, salt, and corn syrup. If you are a fan of Gatorade’s iconic sports drinks, you will want to try out these protein bars.
5. BSN Protein Bars
BSN is another popular brand that produces protein bars. With seven different flavors to choose from, you can have a different bar for each day of the week so it doesn’t get repetitive. Each 57-gram bar contains 20 grams of protein, enough to replace a regular-sized meal.
These gluten-free, low sugar, yet delicious protein bars contain about 230 calories with only four grams of sugar. This ratio of macronutrients is healthy enough for both athletes and non-athletes.
Its ingredients include dairy protein blend, soy protein isolate, cocoa powder, dried egg whites, and vegetable oil. Whether you want to eat them as a pre-workout meal, recovery meal, meal replacement, or simply as a light snack, BSN Protein Bars will provide you with enough nutrients, all while being one of the most delicious snacks you can find.
We recommend trying out their chocolate, birthday cake remix, and salted toffee pretzel flavors. Their taste will appeal to adults and kids alike, but athletes will benefit the most from the high protein content.
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6. Quest Bar Cookies & Cream
These bars look more like a dessert than a protein bar but do not let that deter you. The Quest Nutrition Protein Bars contain enough protein to get you through an intense workout so you can maximize those muscle gains. Made with all-natural ingredients, each bar is completely gluten-free and soy-free.
There are no added sugars, and Quest Nutrition uses high-quality whey and milk protein isolates to give you a healthy boost in macronutrients. Try it for a pre-workout or recovery meal, whichever you prefer. You can also replace your dessert with these delicious cookies and cream bars for a healthier option.
Each pack comes with 12 bars so you can get it for the whole family. You can also bring it on camping trips or long drives with friends in case you can’t find a place to eat.
7. Aloha Organic Plant-Based Protein Bars
Another popular protein bar brand, Aloha prides itself on having climate-friendly sources, production, and even distribution. Their plant-based bars are completely vegan, gluten-free, paleo-friendly, non-GMO, and soy-free. They also do not add sugar alcohols in their bars, making them low-sugar and stevia-free.
Coming in seven different flavors, you can try out their peanut butter chocolate chip, caramel sea salt, and chocolate mint options to start. For the peanut butter chocolate chip bars, the ingredients include peanuts, tapioca fiber, a protein blend, chocolate chips, cocoa butter, and sea salt.
Each pack contains twelve 56-gram bars that give you 14 grams of organic, plant-based protein with only five grams of sugar. The Aloha Organic Plant Based Protein Bars are a great option if you want to meet your daily protein needs while making sure you are buying from an environment-friendly company with sustainable practices.
8. Pure Protein Bar Chocolate Deluxe
The Pure Protein Chocolate Deluxe bars give you the most protein per bar on our list. Each 50-gram bar has 21 grams of protein, a little over three grams of sugar, and only 180 calories. This makes it a viable meal replacement option when you need one, but also light enough in calories to be a delicious snack.
Athletes and fitness enthusiasts will certainly love this gluten-free bar for its benefits in terms of post-workout recovery and quick energy boost during sports competitions. Its ingredients include a milk protein isolate and whey protein isolate blend, whey protein concentrate, cocoa powder, milk chocolate drops, and almond butter.
If you like hiking or camping, a pack of Pure Protein Chocolate Deluxe bars will save the day in case you don’t have time to eat a full meal. As a pre-workout snack, one bar should give you enough energy and protein to survive an intense day of physical activity. If you want to treat it as a recovery meal, the high protein will help your muscles recover and gain mass faster.
9. Think! High Protein Bars Chunky Peanut
The Think! High Protein Chunky Peanut Bars are arguably the healthiest protein bars on our list. They provide 20 grams of protein per bar while being completely sugar-free. These GMO-free and gluten-free protein bars are great for individuals that are sensitive to blood sugar spikes.
The ingredients include a protein blend of soy protein isolate, whey protein isolate, and calcium caseinate. It also has cocoa butter, chocolate, peanuts, and sea salt to give it that chunky peanut butter flavor.
Each pack has 10 bars in it, which will last you one to two weeks if you use it as a pre-workout snack. If you are an office worker, it can give you enough energy for long hours of overtime when you need it.
10. BodyTech Elite Food Protein Bar Peanut Chocolate Chip
The BodyTech Elite Food Protein Bars set the standard for protein-rich, low carbohydrate, and delicious protein bars. BodyTech Elite does not use any fillers, artificial ingredients, or sugar alcohols in its products. They provide 20 grams of protein per serving with only whole food ingredients to give you a lot of fiber as well.
For the Peanut Chocolate Chip flavor, the ingredients include famous protein and fiber-rich food like oats, nut butter, honey, and zero-sugar dark chocolate chips. Their protein blend is made of milk protein isolate and whey protein isolate to give you a boost in muscle recovery.
One of the heaviest bars on our list, each BodyTech Elite Food Protein Bar weighs about 75 grams. This helps in satiety and will keep you full for several hours at a time. If you are not a fan of heavy meals before working out, you can just eat one of these protein bars. They can also serve as a delicious and healthy dessert replacement for those seeking a healthier lifestyle.
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