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Fuel your goals and find your perfect fit with the top protein bars for every need.
PHOTO: Courtesy by Amazon
In This Article
Navigating the protein bar aisle can be a challenge.
After our in-depth review, here are the best protein bars on the market.
Protein bars are convenient but shouldnt replace whole foods.
PHOTO: Courtesy by Amazon
Use them to complement your diet.
Consult a registered dietitian to determine the correctamount of proteinfor your individual needs and goals.
Also, note its a bit sticky!
PHOTO: Honey Stinger
Each bar contains whole foods like egg whites and nuts, plus dates for sweetness.
Our dietitians love that RXBAR clearly and transparently labels its ingredients on the front of the packaging.
Plus, the bars are free of artificial flavors, preservatives, and added sugars.
PHOTO: BTR
Our testers love the flavor but noted that the bar can get stuck in your teeth.
People make the mistake of looking for more protein than carbs in a post-workout protein bar, says Boufounos.
To optimize muscle recovery, theInternational Society of Sports Nutritionrecommends combining protein and carbs.
PHOTO: Amazon
Honey Stinger achieves this by using whole-food ingredients that taste great.
It’s Worth Noting: The bars are sweetened with monk fruit extract, a naturally sourced artificial sweetener.
Finding a plant-based protein bar with a good texture and taste is no small feat.
PHOTO: Walmart
Plus, the clean ingredient list makes these indulgent bars almost too good to be true.
Each bar packs 10 grams of protein, 9 grams of fat, and 11 grams of carbohydrates.
Plus, sweetened with monk fruit, each bar delivers just 2 g of total sugar.
PHOTO: Amazon
Note that this bar is lower in calories and carbs than other options.
It’s Worth Noting: These come in mini sizes if you need a smaller bite on the go.
KIND has built a reputation for being slightly sweet, oh-so-delicious, and perfectly crunchy every time.
PHOTO: Amazon
Testers call this bar quintessentially KIND thanks to its crunchy, candy bar-esque texture and deliciously craveable taste.
It tastes exactly like the namecombining dark chocolate with roasted almonds and peanuts.
Testers noted the density of this barand yes, its chock full of energy.
PHOTO: Courtesy of Epic
It’s Worth Noting: They are sweetened with monk fruit.
The Perfect Bar earns its spot as the best meal replacement protein bar.
These bars require refrigeration but have no additives and are naturally sweetened with honey.
We love the variety of flavors, from simple peanut butter to lemon poppyseed.
One tester called this peanut butter heaven!
If you want a smaller snack-size option, try the Perfect Bar mini.
With 120 calories and 6g of protein per bar, this is an excellent protein-packed pick-me-up.
Unlike other bars on this list, there is no chocolate involved.
Even for the 20 grams of plant-based protein, the texture, taste, and sweeteners arent worth it.
They offered a nice variety to the typically dense, intense mouthfeel of comparable protein bars.
This means the quality and effectiveness can vary greatly.
To be completely honest, there are a lot of poorly made and potentially dangerous supplements on the market.
We cut through the noise and do the research to support evidence-based supplements.
We value certain attributes that we find to be associated with the highest quality products.
Our nutrition experts recommend avoiding certain artificial sweeteners as well.
Choosing a high-protein snack can help curb your appetite between meals and keep you feeling full for longer.
A pre- and post-workout bar should include carbohydrates and protein for optimal performance and recovery.
When possible, choose whole-food protein sources.
She coordinated with our testing staff and testers, to determine the best of the best protein bars.
