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Battle Of The Protein Bars
Protein bars have become a go-to snack option for road trips, an afternoon slump, or even as a post-workout snack. Are they actually a beneficial addition to your diet? Or are they just filled with low-quality ingredients? And if you can’t give up your protein bar, what is the best option to choose when you need a protein boost?
I compiled a list of 12 of the most popular protein bars on the market to compare ingredients and nutrition facts to decide…which is the elite protein bar?
Method
I started by making a spreadsheet of all the protein bars to compare calories, protein, carbs, fiber, and fat ratios.
The best protein bar will be high in protein, high in fiber, and moderate in calories. Protein bars are not a meal replacements, so I tend to stick to protein bars that contain around 150-300 calories. The more protein and fiber you have in a small snack the better, as it will keep you full and happy until dinnertime comes around.
Once I had all of the bars in the Excel sheet, it was easier to start ordering them from the best to the worst. Once I picked the bars based on macronutrient values, then I checked the ingredients. It is important to keep in mind that protein bars are processed foods with supplemental ingredients. They are not advertised or marketed as “healthy,” so finding a protein bar with minimal ingredients can be tricky. As a dietitian, I will always recommend that you stick to consuming as many whole foods as possible, so the protein bar with ingredients as natural as possible is a win for me.
If you just want protein:
If protein is your main focus when purchasing a protein bar, whey-based protein bars will be your best bet. From this list, I would recommend the Barebells or a classic Quest bar to get you a minimum of 20 grams of protein in one bar.
The overall winner:
If I were to recommend a protein bar for anyone and everyone, I would recommend an RX bar. You can not beat the ingredients in this bar, with the protein source coming from natural sources of egg whites and nuts. They pack 12 grams of protein in a small bar and also contain 4 grams of fiber! They have high-quality natural sugars which make it the perfect post-workout or mid-day snack.
Here is the list ranked 1-12 (1 being the best option):
1.Rx bar chocolate sea salt
2.Aloha bar peanut butter chocolate chip
3.Kindbar caramel almond sea salt
4.Go macro bar peanut butter chocolate chip
5.Perfect bar peanut butter
6.Think! Creamy peanut butter
7.Misfit cookie butter
8.Barebells cookies and cream
9.Luna bar cookie dough
10. Quest cookies and cream
11.Power Crunch peanut butter fudge
12.Clif builder's bar chocolate peanut butter
High Protein Snack options other than protein bars:
If your goal is to ditch the bars and stick to whole foods, eating snacks like cheese sticks, almonds, apples and peanut butter, deli turkey roll ups, and toast with peanut butter are all options that carry a protein punch while sticking to more simple ingredients.
At the end of the day don’t stress too much about which bar you choose, as long as you are fueling your body with enough food and aiming to eat carbs, protein and fat in each meal you will be just fine!
Further Learning
For more insights into nutrition and healthy living, tune into my podcast RDs vs BS, available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and www.rdsvsbs.com. Stay tuned for more tips in the coming months!
I’m currently offering a free nutrition intro session to all new clients. If you’re interested in improving your nutrition in a way that lasts, sign up for a session through my website below.
Website: www.emilyzorn.com
Email: emilyrd@emilyzorn.com
Instagram: @emily_rd_
Written by: Gabby Romero
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