Best Protein Bars For You
Protein bars are a great snack option for a handful of reasons. For starters, a mere bar packs a serious protein punch, which you may need after a gym session to help your muscles recover and grow. Depending on the bar you choose, it’s also generally a healthy option, with little to no sugar added and low carbs in many varieties. And possibly the best part of a protein bar besides its nutritional value is the fact that it is small and convenient, so it can be packed and brought along as a snack in your gym bag, your work briefcase or tote, or in your backpack on a plane ride when you’re traveling far and know you’ll need something to tide you over until your next meal. Long story short: If you’re not able to have a full meal, protein bars are a good option.
However, it is important to read the label or wrapper that your bar comes in. While some bars advertise themselves as protein bars, the protein is mixed with a ton of other unhealthy ingredients that can almost negate the whole point of choosing a good-for-you protein bar in the first place. You want to find a bar with an ingredient list that you can read and understand (generally, the less ingredients, the better!) and check the macros to see how much fat, sugar, and carbs are in the bar, too. It’s important not to sacrifice nutrition for taste. To help you out, we’ve rounded up some of the best protein bar options for you. Try any or all of the choices below.
Our Top Five Recommended Protein Bars
Model
Rating
Vegan
Gluten Free
Pricing
Reviews
Other Protein Bars to Consider
One Protein Bars
If you’re really looking to up your protein game, this bar will quickly add 20 grams to your macros with just a few bites. And you don’t have to worry about packing on a ton of extra calories—each bar is 230 or less, depending on the flavor). Did we mention that every variety only has one gram of sugar as well? Check the price.
1. Quest Protein Bars
With as little as one gram of sugar and four grams of net carbs, this bar is perfect for those sticking with a low carb diet, like keto (they’re actually keto-approved). And while you might think that would affect the taste, with flavors like chocolate chip cookie dough, mint chocolate chunk, and coconut cashew, they’re still tasty as can be. They taste good, too, and not chalky like some other protein bars.
2. GoMacro MacroBar
Calling all vegans! These bars, which are made by a mother-daughter duo, are also organic, gluten-free, soy-free and non-GMO certified. Each bar has at least 10 grams of plant-based protein, too. Whether you like oatmeal chocolate chip, cashew caramel, or dark chocolate almond, you’re sure to enjoy these treats.
3. RXBAR
No one wants a bar where you can’t understand half on the ingredients in the long list, printed in tiny font. RXBAR takes guessing out of the game by listing the minimal ingredients in big, bold letters right on the front of the wrapper so you know exactly what you’re putting in your body. Choose from over 19 flavors like chocolate sea salt, coffee chocolate, and even pumpkin spice!
4. Clif Builder’s Protein Bars
No matter which flavor you choose to eat first from the seven varieties in this pack, you’ll get 20 grams of protein, per bar, packed with essential amino acids. They’re the perfect bar to throw in your gym bag post-lift, or if you know you’re going out for a while and will need a snack at some point during the day.
5. Luna Bar
If you like variety, you’ll get two bars of six different flavors in this pack including chocolate peppermint stick, creamy dreamy peanut butter, nuts over chocolate, lemonzest, blueberry bliss and sea salt caramel. Each bar has about seven or eight grams of protein, so it’s a good option as a quick snack to hold you over until you can get in a full meal.
