Last week I wrote about protein and how important it is for our bodies and our health. I suggested that eating protein bars is a great way to squeeze in extra protein each day. There are so many different options so I figured I would share my favorites with you and break them down based on price, ingredient quality, taste/texture, where to find them, and protein type and amount. I know that there are literally 100s of protein bars to choose from but I am going to share my top picks and of course I welcome any suggestions that you may have. Just DM me on my instagram and I will gladly try what you like! I am going to go from my least favorite to my absolute favorite. Here we go!
Quest Bar
Price:
$24.99 for a box of 12 bars
Ingredient Quality:
Most of the ingredients are ok and can be pronounced but one is definitely suspect. Sucralose is definitely not my favorite artificial sweetener. I prefer to go with Stevia or something like honey or dates to sweeten my protein bars and I get headaches from sucralose, but that is a personal preference. It does contain milk and almonds so if you have known allergies to those definitely stay away. I do like, however, that they use actual vegetable and spice extracts for their colors instead of chemicals and that they are certified gluten free.
Taste and Texture:
There are 21 different flavors ranging from birthday cake to oatmeal chocolate chip. I have tried many of them and I have to say my favorite flavors are oatmeal chocolate chip, cinnamon roll, and chocolate chip cookie dough. The texture is kind of chewy so what I do for an after dinner dessert sometimes is heat them up for 10-15 seconds and it turns into a gooey delicious soft treat!
Where to find them:
Everywhere! I have seen them at gas stations, Publix, CVS, Amazon, Wal-Mart, and of course you can go to www.questnutrition.com.
Protein Type and Amount and other Macronutrients:
Whey and Casein based; 21g protein, 4g net carbs, 6g fat, 14g fiber (yes!)
Overall Rating (on a scale of 1-5; 1 being worst and 5 being best):
I rate quest bars with a 3 overall because they are easily accessible, they taste amazing, and you can heat them up and make a delicious dessert out of them. They do not get a 5 because of the sucralose and the texture can be kind of gummy.
ONE Protein Bar
Price:
$24.99 for a box of 12 bars
Ingredient Quality:
Not a fan of the way they sweeten this bar (sucralose again) but I just learned they have made a new bar called ONE Basix that is sweetened with Stevia. I haven’t seen these bars in the stores yet but I’d be curious to try them. They are certified gluten free and many of them contain milk and nuts for those with allergies.
Taste and Texture:
I absolutely love the taste of all of their bars! They are a quick treat between coaching for me sometimes and of course serve as a great dessert sometimes. There are 15 amazing flavors and my favorite is maple glazed donut. Duh! Texture is perfect. It is coated with a yummy layer of goodness and is nice and soft on the inside.
Where to find them:
Everywhere! Publix, gas stations, CVS, Planet Smoothie, GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, Target, Wal-Mart. and online at https://www.one1brands.com or Amazon.
Protein Type and Amount and other Macronutrients:
Whey based; 20g protein, 10g net carbs, 9g fat, 8g fiber
Overall Rating (on a scale of 1-5; 1 being worst and 5 being best):
I rate these a 4 only because they have sucralose in them and that doesn’t sit well with me. Now that I see they have a stevia sweetened bar I would probably give them a 5 if I had a chance to try those.
Rx Bar
Price:
$25.99 for a box of 12 bars
Ingredient Quality:
I LOVE the ingredients in this bar! Egg whites, dates, nuts, and whatever natural flavors they need for each bar flavor. Real ingredients and no B.S. as they say! Gluten free and Paleo friendly if that is what you prefer.
Taste and Texture:
Taste is amazing but the texture can be kind of rough. Be careful if you have any dental work that may come out because these bars are very chewy and sticky. They all taste incredible but the texture is a personal preference. There are 17 flavors and the most amazing flavor is the Maple Sea Salt. Highly recommend trying that flavor!
Where to find them:
Whole Foods, Amazon, Publix, Wal-Mart, Kangaroo gas stations, The Fresh Market, CVS, Lucky’s, Walgreens, Target, and https://www.rxbar.com.
Protein Type and Amount and other Macronutrients:
Egg White Protein based; 12g protein, 23g carbs with no added sugar, 9g fat, 5g fiber
Overall Rating (on a scale of 1-5; 1 being worst and 5 being best):
I rate these a 4 because they are too damn chewy for me. I used to swear by them because of their no B.S. marketing but now I prefer to also love the consistency of my bars. They are a great choice for on the go and you know you aren’t getting any fake bullshit in them.
Bulletproof Bar
Price:
$27.96 for a box of 12 bars
Ingredient Quality:
I LOVE the ingredients in this bar! Cashew butter is the base usually which is YUM and they use their Bulletproof™ XCT® oil powder and Bulletproof™ Brain Octane® oil which are really great fats for your body and brain. Depending on the flavor there are nothing but real organic ingredients in each bar AND they are sweetened with stevia leaf extract. Winning on all accounts!
Taste and Texture:
The taste and texture of these bars are incredible. You will not find a bar like this anywhere else. It tastes like dessert no matter what flavor you get. There are 6 flavors and my top two are Lemon Cookie and Mint Chocolate Chip. The texture is great and it does fall apart a bit so I like to store mine in the fridge before I eat them.
Where to find them:
Whole Foods, Amazon, and right now they are 20% off at https://www.bulletproof.com.
Protein Type and Amount and other Macronutrients:
Collagen protein based (great for skin, bones, and joints); 11-13g protein, 16g carbs with no added sugar, 12g fat, 1g fiber
Overall Rating (on a scale of 1-5; 1 being worst and 5 being best):
I rate these a 4.5 on my scale because they are so small!!! I wish they were a bit bigger so they weren’t gone so fast. They are also pretty pricey for the size. They are an amazing treat though and it is great that they are so good for you.
Perfect Bar
Price:
$24.00 for a box of 8
Ingredient Quality:
Duh! These ingredients are amazing. I cannot say enough about these bars and how great they are. All of the ingredients are non GMO, gluten free, and there are no artificial preservatives in these bars. They use whole food proteins and they are soy free. Also, there are 20 organic superfoods found in each bar. Click above to learn more. You won’t be disappointed. No, I am not being paid to say this!
Taste and Texture:
If you know me you know these are my absolute favorite bars in the entire world. I use them as a meal in between coaching classes daily and they all taste amazing. They are bound by honey so there is the perfect amount of sweetness in them and the texture is second to none! You have to keep them in the refrigerator due to the ingredients which is another great thing. No preservatives so they can expire! Every flavor I have ever had is amazing but my favorites are Maple Almond and the seasonal Pumpkin Spice. You cannot go wrong with any of them really.
Where to find them:
Publix, Wal-Mart, Fresh Market, Whole Foods, Lucky’s, Earth Origins, Target, Starbucks, Earth Fare, and https://www.perfectbar.com.
Protein Type and Amount and other Macronutrients:
Egg, Rice, and Whey protein; 15g protein, 25g carbs, 19g fat, 3g fiber
Overall Rating (on a scale of 1-5; 1 being worst and 5 being best):
These bars are a 5++++ for me and my all time favorite bar. Enough said!
Protein bars are not for everyone and I definitely think that actual whole foods are the primary way to go, but sometimes we need something quick and easy to grab on the go. I usually have one bar per day and fill the rest of my day with whole food meals and snacks. I do realize there are many more protein bars out there but I chose my top 5 for the sake of article length. If you have any suggestions on bars that I may not be aware of I’d love to hear about them on my instagram (linked above). Happy snacking!