7 TOP PROTEIN BARS

I decided to write this post because this is a common conversation that I have with retreat guests and lifestyle coaching clients. So many people are looking for a quick, easy yet healthy option to take as a snack. Whether you’re a busy mom or dad or you travel for work, protein bars can be an easy, convenient supplement to your daily food intake.

I also decided to write this post because I am always searching for the best protein bars that are healthy and don’t have a ton of junk in them. I like bars with just a few ingredients if possible, that are lower in sugar and have a good ratio of protein, carbohydrates and fat. So I tasted a bunch of bars (job perk) and studied the labels and came up with my 7 best protein bars. Here are my top 7 (in no particular order):

Rx Bars

PROS: Rx Bars are definitely one of my best protein bars for their ingredient list. They all have just a few ingredients that are all from whole foods. They have no grains, no added sugars and are gluten free, soy free and dairy free. They come in some great flavors like maple (pictured), chocolate coconut (my favorite), chocolate sea salt, blueberry and more. They also have a pretty good ratio of protein, carbohydrates and fat as well as fiber.

CONS: Some bars have a little too much sugar (from natural sources like dates) for my liking but they do vary by flavor so you can pick the flavors with less sugar if you’re concerned with it. Rx Bars are also a little chewy rather than crispy. So if you’re looking for crunch, keep reading below.

Power Crunch

PROS: I love these little crispy wafers of goodness! If you’re looking for a light, crisp protein bar, this is for you. Power Crunch bars low glycemic and have 14g of protein, 12g of fat and only 10g of carbs. The French Vanilla flavor is my favorite but they have a bunch of flavors like chocolate, peanut butter, berry and more.

CONS: They do have a few ingredients that I don’t love like dextrose and maltodextrin. And the only other thing I don’t love is that they have a slight “whey protein” aftertaste. It’s not overwhelming but if you’ve had other whey products that have this little aftertaste, you know what I mean. None the less, I still like them and order them occasionally.

Primal Kitchen

PROS: These bars are paleo and gluten free so if you don’t have to worry about grains! They are high in protein and low in sugar and carbs. They have collagen (which is great for joint health, hair, nails and skin) as well as 5g of fiber. I really like these bars. They taste great. The Macademia Sea Salt are a really good combination of sweet and salty. They aren’t crunchy but they aren’t super chewy either. I keep this in my pantry to grab and go.

CONS: They’re not quite as balanced in terms of macronutrients as I’d like them to be. That being said, the lack of carbs is made up for in added good fats so you’re likely to still get enough energy from them.

Bulletproof Collagen Protein Bars

PROS: Oh how I love these bars! They are kind of like a crumbly cookie in texture and really, really delicious. Bulletproof Collagen bars are probably one of the best tasting protein bars around. I love the chocolate chip cookie dough, lemon cookie and vanilla shortbread. I haven’t had the other flavors so I can’t speak on them but every one I’ve tried so far has been delicious. These bars also have collagen from grass fed cows which is a fantastic source of collagen. 12g Protein, 13g Carbs, 5g Fiber, 14g Fat

CONS: With the cookie crumbly texture comes a little bit of chalkiness to the bar. Chalkiness aside though, I absolutely love these bars and their flavor. They are a staple in my pantry. I’d love a little more protein in this bar but it’s hard to formulate the perfect bar that’s grain free, paleo and chemical free so I give it a pass.

Oatmega

PROS: Oatmega makes another one of my favorite protein bars. I love the fact that they are gluten free, have grass fed whey protein and omega-3s. They are soy free and each bar has 14g of protein and 7g of fiber. I particularly love the chocolate mint flavor and the chocolate peanut crisp.

CONS: I didn’t love the vanilla flavor and from time to time there is a slightly “fishy” aftertaste. This has to do with the omega-3s. It’s not very noticeable and I’m sensitive to smells and tastes. That being said, I still consume and enjoy them.

One Protein Bar

PROS: Here’s your protein! ONE bars are high in protein with approximately 22g per bar. They have only 1g of sugar and 24g of carbs. They do have 10g of fiber which is huge for a bar with only 210 calories. According to the ingredients, it is gluten free but it is not labeled gluten free. I tried the chocolate brownie and really liked the taste.

CONS: If you’re sensitive to sugar alcohols, the is not the bar for you. They do have 11g of sugar alcohols as well as milk and soy. Things to consider if you are trying to avoid dairy or soy. Also, this bar is pretty soft. I tend to like a bar thats a bit more dense but that’s all personal preference.

NuGo Vegan Protein Bar

PROS: BEST vegan protein bar I’ve had yet! Actually, this is one of the best protein bars I’ve ever had – vegan or not. I’ve only tried the chocolate pretzel with sea salt and it is sooooo good! The flavor is awesome. The sweet and salty is just right. It is also gluten free.

CONS: It does have some non-gmo soy in it so if you’re saying no to soy then you might have to pass on this bar. It has 10g of protein and I’d love for it to have a little more but like I said above for another bar – it’s hard to formulate the perfect bar and factor in taste, quality and everything in between.

SUMMING IT UP

Protein bars are a great way to supplement your daily food intake. Protein is always hard to come by especially if you’re having to grab and go. So a healthy protein bar can be a great option in many situations. I use bars for snacks here and there and an occasional breakfast. They shouldn’t be your mainstay for food (hence the word “supplement”) but on occasion, they’re the perfect addition.

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