It’s hard to eloquently describe what the best protein bars have in common. The category is remarkably diverse: Some are oat-based and chewy, some fruit-forward and dense, and some crunchy and puffy. And because there are so many different forms, people’s preferences vary wildly—what one person loves for flavor and nutritional goals might not work for the next. Some people want a protein bar in their gym bag for post-workout fuel, while others are reaching for a filling snack to tide them over when those 3 p.m. hunger pangs strike.
Our top picks
- The bar with the simplest ingredients: RxBar
- The bar with the most protein: David
- The most filling protein bar: Quest Protein Bar
- The best vegan protein bar: Aloha
- The best low-carb protein bar: IQBar
- The best high-carb protein bar: GoMacro MacroBar
- For those seeking a superfood kick: Send
- For people who’d rather be eating a candy bar: Barebells Protein Bar
- The best snack bar that happens to have protein: Truvani The Only Bar
- The bar for nut butter lovers: KiZE
- The bar with the best texture: NuGo
- For dessert lovers: Trubar
- The bar that’s a high-protein crispy treat: Promix
That variety is precisely why we set out to find the best protein bars for every type of protein bar eater. We tasted our way through bars of all kinds, and in so doing found over a dozen we can vouch for. And while the texture and taste of even the best protein bars is not entirely…natural, the category has come a long way from the stereotypical PowerBar of the ’90s. The taste profiles of protein bars in 2026 are so varied that even the most epicurean among us can find an option we like. Whether you’re into bars full of whole foods that taste practically homemade, or you’d rather your protein bar look and taste as much like a candy bar as possible, we’ve got you covered.
Read on for the 13 bars we recommend, which include a variety of protein sources that will keep you full. Most have upward of 10 grams of protein, and we’ve included bars with varying amounts of fat and carbohydrates—because while some prefer a high-fat diet for that good ketosis, others need more carbs to literally keep us running.
New in this update: We tried four new protein bars. The KiZE bars won us over with their nut butter-forward flavor and simple ingredient list, earning a spot on our list of top picks. We liked the Rise, Power Crunch Pro, and Pure Protein bars, but they ultimately didn't wow us.
The bar with the simplest ingredients: RxBar
Founded in 2012, RxBar revolutionized the protein bar industry with its emphasis on simple ingredients and packaging. Every bar in the brand’s original line has the same base of whole foods: egg whites for protein; dates for sweetness; peanuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, or walnuts; and a touch of sea salt. A few years ago the brand released a line of Nut Butter and Oat bars that have a similar whole-foods-based ingredient list, but sub out the dates for honey, nut butter, and oats.
What we love: These dairy-free bars are a longtime favorite because they taste like real whole foods and lack any weird aftertaste. They’re also quite balanced, with a good mix of protein, carbs, and fats to keep you fueled. The original bars have a sticky-chewy texture and come in seven flavors, all of which have 12 grams of protein.
While the original bars are a forever favorite of mine, I actually prefer the Nut Butter and Oat bars these days. I’m partial to the Honey Cinnamon Peanut Butter, but the Lemon Honey Cashew Butter is a close second. These are worth a try if you’re into the idea of the brand’s simple ingredient lists but prefer a less sticky texture. The addition of oats makes them firmer and more satisfying in my opinion.
What we’d leave: The original Rx bars are some of the chewiest bars we’ve tried because of the inclusion of dates. Be prepared for about 90% of each bite to get stuck in your teeth.
| Nutrition and ingredients | |
|---|---|
| Protein source: | Egg white, nuts |
| Nutrition info: | 200 cal, 12 g protein, 7 g fat, 25 g total carb |
| Ingredients (peanut butter flavor): | dates, peanuts, egg whites, peanut flour, natural flavors, sea salt. Honey Cinnamon Peanut Butter flavor: oats, honey, peanut butter, egg whites, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, brown rice, avocado and/or high oleic sunflower oil, coconut sugar, oat fiber, sea salt, cinnamon, natural flavors |
The bar with the most protein: David
These bars from the founder of RxBar took the internet by storm when they launched in 2024 because they promised to do the impossible: deliver a whopping 28 grams of protein in a 150 calorie package that actually tastes good.
What we love: Lifting weights is a regular part of my workout routine, so I consider consuming an adequate amount of protein every day a priority, so I was immediately intrigued by these bars. They have a pleasant texture—sort of doughy and far less chewy than an RxBar or Quest Bar, with chunks of chocolate and crispy bits strewn throughout (depending on the flavor). As a genuine enjoyer of protein bars who doesn’t mind the use of sweeteners, I’ve quite liked all five flavors I’ve tried of the David bars.
What we’d leave: The taste itself might not convert anyone who’s typically averse to classic protein bars. At the end of the day, we see this primarily as a utilitarian pick for people looking to maximize their protein intake in an easy and relatively enjoyable way.
| Nutrition and ingredients | |
|---|---|
| Protein source: | Milk Protein Isolate, Collagen, Whey Protein Concentrate, Egg White |
| Nutrition info: | 150 cal, 28 g protein, 1.5–2.5 g fat, 13–14 g total carb |
| Ingredients: | Protein System: milk protein isolate, collagen, whey protein concentrate, egg white; Binding System: maltitol, glycerin, allulose, tapioca starch, soy lecithin; Fat System: modified plant fat (EPG), coconut oil; Flavor System: unsweetened chocolate, natural flavor, salt, cocoa powder (processed with alkali), sucralose, acesulfame potassium |
The most filling protein bar: Quest Protein Bar
Quest Bars have long been ubiquitous bars—you’d be hard-pressed not to find at least one flavor at a grocery or convenience store. Available in flavors like S’Mores and Blueberry Muffin, they remind us of the three-course chewing gum from Willy Wonka, because they taste freakishly like whatever food they’re trying to imitate.
What we love: Because they’re both high-protein and easy to find, Quest Bars are a great option for when you’re at the airport and want a snack that has a bit more substance than a bag of Cheez-Its. They have more protein per serving than almost any bar on this list at 20 grams, and because more than half of the total carbs are from fiber, they’ll keep you full for a long time.
Contributor Elaheh Nozari has sampled almost every Quest Bar flavor, and though she’s had brief obsessions with the chocolate sprinkled doughnut and mint chocolate chunk varieties, she returned regularly to the double chocolate chunk.
What we’d leave: Quest Bars have a chewy texture that might not be everyone’s cup of tea. They also don’t have the purest ingredients (they do contain 2–8 grams of sugar alcohols), but if your vice of choice is artificial sweeteners, then there’s a lot to love here.
| Nutrition and ingredients | |
|---|---|
| Protein source: | Whey |
| Nutrition info: | 180 cal, 20 g protein, 7 g fat, 24 g total carb |
| Ingredients: | A protein blend made of milk and whey protein isolates; polydextrose (prebiotic fiber); almonds; water; erythritol; unsweetened chocolate; cocoa processed using alkali; glycerin; and cocoa butter; natural flavors; sodium caseinate; sea salt; lecithin (sunflower and/or soy lecithin); stevia sweetener |
The best vegan protein bar: Aloha
Truthfully, it’d be hard to pick an unwrapped peanut butter dark chocolate chip Aloha Bar from a lineup of other similarly flavored protein snack bars. But Aloha Bars are vegan and very tasty, making them a great option for plant-based eaters and omnivores alike.
What we love: Aloha Bars get their protein from pumpkin seeds, which are packed full of healthy fats and minerals like magnesium, manganese, iron, zinc, and copper. They’re also organic, non-GMO, and low sugar, sweetened with tapioca syrup and monk fruit instead of stevia or erythritol. Sure, there are plenty of other vegan bars out there (including on this list); but these have a particularly high protein content, and we like their natural ingredients.
Flavor and texture-wise, these bars really hit the mark. They’re chewy without getting stuck in your teeth, and don’t have that weird artificial aftertaste that so many others on the market can’t seem to escape. Reese’s fans will love the Peanut Butter Cup flavor, which truly scratches that candy bar itch.
What we’d leave: While these bars have a pretty impressive 14 grams of protein, they don’t come close to the 20-plus gram amounts you might see in animal-protein-based bars.
| Nutrition and ingredients | |
|---|---|
| Protein source: | Brown rice, pumpkin seed |
| Nutrition info: | 230 cal, 14 g protein, 10 g fat, 26 g total carb |
| Ingredients: | peanuts; tapioca fiber; a protein blend made of brown rice and pumpkin seed protein; dark chocolate made with chocolate, cane sugar, and cocoa butter; tapioca syrup; vegetable glycerin; sea salt; monk fruit; sunflower lecithin |
The best low-carb protein bar: IQBar
If you’re looking for the best low-carb (go ahead and call them keto if that’s your thing) protein bar, IQBars are worth trying. Made with pea protein, these bars are vegan and paleo-friendly.
What we love: IGBars have a slight crumble to them, which we found much more appetizing consistency than the stereotypical protein bar. The matcha chai flavor has strong almond, coconut, and cinnamon flavors that might trick you into thinking you’re eating cookie dough—very lightly sweetened cookie dough, that is. If you’re a sucker for power foods, you’ll appreciate that curcumin (of turmeric fame) and brain-boosting lion’s mane mushroom are on the ingredient list.
What we’d leave: This bar only has 1 gram of sugar, and it’s noticeable when you bite into it.
| Nutrition and ingredients | |
|---|---|
| Protein source: | Pea |
| Nutrition info: | 180 cal, 12 g protein, 15 g fat, 10 g total carb |
| Ingredients: | almonds; tapioca fiber; plant-based protein crisps including pea protein and tapioca starch; flaxseed; natural flavors; pea protein; coconut oil; water; sunflower lecithin; vanilla extract; matcha; sea salt; cinnamon; ginger; cardamom; clove; curcumin; non-GMO steviol glycosides; lion’s mane mushroom; Vitamin E allergens including almonds and coconut |
The best high-carb protein bar: GoMacro MacroBar
GoMacro bars are another common grocery store or bodega find. They’re certified organic and vegan, made with a wholesome blend of things like brown rice and pea proteins, puffed brown rice, and nut butter.
What we love: The addition of puffed brown rice and brown rice syrup makes GoMacro bars taste sort of like healthy cereal. We mean that in a good way—they taste natural, which makes sense given the ingredient list. They’re satisfyingly chewy and sweet without being cloying. Their overall carb content is quite high, which actually makes them a great option for runners or other endurance athletes looking for a snack or meal replacement that will keep them full and energized. If you can’t eat your usual pre-run bread-and-peanut-butter, this is a sound alternative.
What we’d leave: The relatively high-carb content and added sugar is a plus for endurance athletes, but could be a negative for some (especially given that the protein amount is on the low to medium end of the spectrum).
| Nutrition and ingredients | |
|---|---|
| Protein source: | Brown rice, pea |
| Nutrition info: | 280 cal, 11 g protein, 10 g fat, 36 g total carb |
| Ingredients: | brown rice syrup; peanut butter; peanut butter chips made of peanut flour, coconut sugar, cocoa butter, and salt; a protein blend that uses sprouted brown rice protein and pea protein; puffed brown rice; cacao powder; fair-trade chocolate chips that include coconut sugar, cocoa, and cocoa butter; coconut sugar; natural flavor; sunflower oil; sea salt |
For those seeking a superfood kick: Send
Send’s gluten-and-dairy-free superfood protein bars have secured their place as a steady staple in editorial operations manager Kate Kassin’s office desk drawer.
What we love: Kassin loves that Send bars are sweetened with dates and have real ingredients that you could find in your pantry: Think nuts, seeds, and spices. “The bars have 8–10 grams of protein (thanks to pea protein), so they actually provide me sustenance for a midafternoon hunger pang. Plus, I love how the brand adds in functional mushrooms like reishi and cordyceps and an added dose of nutrients from ingredients like cacao and spinach (which makes the bar taste more savory). You can’t go wrong with any of the flavors, but my go-to is a tie between the banana bread and peanut cacao crunch,” Kassin says.
What we’d leave: These are for the people who want their protein bars to taste like whole foods—not for those looking for pseudo candy bars. If you fall into the latter camp, you’ll probably want to look elsewhere.
| Nutrition and ingredients | |
|---|---|
| Protein source: | Pea protein |
| Nutrition info: | 230–240 cal, 8–10 g protein, 9–12 g fat, 26–30 g total carb |
| Ingredients: | Zahidi dates, cashews, bananas, pea protein, hemp seeds, walnuts, cacao nibs (cacao, coconut sugar), ceylon cinnamon, spinach, coconut, sunflower lecithin, organic reishi mushroom powder, cordyceps, kosher salt, turmeric |
For people who’d rather be eating a candy bar: Barebells Protein Bar
Barebells are whey protein-based and look like candy bars. They’re at the higher end of the protein spectrum at 20 grams, and they come in a range of flavors, including Caramel Cashew, Salty Peanut, and Birthday Cake.
What we love: The thing we love most about Barebells is their texture. While the interior is chewy like most other high-protein bars, they’ve got a crunchy coating covered in a delectable layer of milk chocolate. The Cookies and Cream is particularly good, coated in “crunchy cookie crispies” reminiscent of the chocolate crunchies you might have gotten on ice cream truck soft-serve while growing up.
What we’d leave: It’s worth noting that some of the sweetness in Barebells is courtesy of sugar alcohols, which might upset some people’s stomachs.
| Nutrition and ingredients | |
|---|---|
| Protein source: | whey, milk |
| Nutrition info: | 200 cal, 20 g protein, 7 g fat, 20 g total carb |
| Ingredients (cookies and cream flavor): | A milk protein blend made with calcium caseinate, whey protein concentrate, and whey protein isolate; glycerin; maltitol; bovine collagen hydrolysate; polydextrose; cocoa butter; water; soy protein isolate; dry whole milk; sunflower oil; unsweetened chocolate; tapioca starch; natural and artificial flavors; cocoa processed with alkali; sunflower lecithin; sucralose |
The best snack bar that happens to have protein: Truvani The Only Bar
Kassin, who has eaten her share of Truvani bars, says the company “brands The Only Bar as a snack bar rather than a protein bar. That’s because they choose to forego adding protein powder (which the brand also sells a few plant-based varieties of) to their bars and instead focus on organic nuts like almonds and cashews plus dates as the bar’s main ingredients.”
What we love: Kassin loves Truvani’s The Only Bars’ smooth texture, and finds they can be easier to digest than bars that include protein powder. “That being said, the bars still boast five to eight grams of protein while also fulfilling a midafternoon craving for a sweet treat,” she says. “They’re sweetened with organic dates and maple syrup, but the addition of sea salt creates a well-balanced flavor. The brand offers a tasting collection to try all 12 flavors, but I like to go all in on the chocolate brownie, mint chocolate, and peanut butter chocolate chip.”
What we’d leave: We call these more of a snack bar because the protein content is quite low compared to some of the other options on this list. Depending on your goals, you may want to look for something higher in protein.
| Nutrition and ingredients | |
|---|---|
| Protein source: | Nuts |
| Nutrition info: | 210–240 cal, 5–8 g protein, 11–15 g fat, 21–24 g total carb |
| Ingredients (chocolate brownie flavor): | almonds, dates, maple syrup, cocoa, cacao nibs, coconut |
The bar for nut butter lovers: KiZE
KiZE’s tagline is “Life Changing Bars,” and while I’d typically scoff at such a phrase, I must admit I was blown away by how good these bars taste. They’ve got a short list of just 6–8 ingredients depending on the flavor and use a combination of nut butter and either pea protein or egg whites (or both) to lend their 7–10 grams of protein.
What we love: As someone averse to certain sweeteners, I love that KiZE uses just honey and dates to sweeten its bars. Nut butter (either almond or peanut) is the first ingredient listed, and that flavor is front and center. The Brownie Batter flavor (my personal favorite) tastes like a homemade brownie that's been swirled with almond butter, chock full of those roasty toasty dark chocolate notes you’d expect from a brownie. Senior commerce editor Olivia Tarantino was partial to the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip in our taste test because of how much it reminded her of a Reese’s peanut butter cup.
What we’d leave: These bars are on the lower end of the protein spectrum compared to some other options on this list, at just 7–10 grams. They’re also quite small in size—and taste so good you may find yourself wanting to eat a second if you’re anything like me.
| Nutrition and ingredients | |
|---|---|
| Protein source: | Nut butter and egg whites and/or pea protein |
| Nutrition info: | 200–210 cal, 7–10 g protein, 10–13 g fat, 18–20 g total carb |
| Ingredients (brownie batter flavor): | Almond butter, honey, chocolate chips, pea protein, organic dates, cocoa powder, cocoa extract, sea salt |
The bar with the best texture: NuGo
I recognized NuGo before trying it, which makes sense: The company’s been around for over two decades and has long been a staple on grocery store and bodega shelves. With seven different product lines (think Fiber, Slim, Protein Powder, and Organic), there’s truly a NuGo bar for everyone.
What we love: If the idea of eating a sticky, protein-filled glob is something you just can’t get behind, these are the bars for you. I tried bars from both the Slim and Dark collections and thoroughly enjoyed both because they taste great and, importantly, have a satisfying chewy-meets-crunchy texture.
The Crunchy Peanut Butter Slim bar has an impressive 16 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber, and tastes like a candy bar in the best way. My favorite, though, was the Chocolate Almond bar from the Dark line. It’s coated in real dark chocolate and tastes like a crispy, crunchy Almond Joy—a little puzzling given there’s no coconut listed in the ingredients, but I certainly wasn’t complaining.
What we’d leave: Depending on the flavor and collection, NuGo bars often have more added sugar than some of the other options on this list (the Dark Chocolate Almond, for instance, has 14 grams). Depending on your activity level and goals, this may or may not be a downside.
| Nutrition and ingredients (Dark Chocolate Almond) | |
|---|---|
| Protein source: | Soy protein, rice protein |
| Nutrition info: | 200 cal, 12 g protein, 8 g fat, 22 g total carb |
| Ingredients: | dark chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, cane sugar, cocoa butter), soy crisp (soy protein, tapioca starch, salt), tapioca syrup, agave syrup, almonds, brown rice crisp, soy protein, sea salt, natural flavor, gum acacia, soy lecithin |
| Nutrition and ingredients (Crunchy Peanut Butter Slim) | |
|---|---|
| Protein source: | Soy protein, rice protein |
| Nutrition info: | 180 cal, 16 g protein, 8 g fat, 17 g total carb |
| Ingredients: | protein blend [soy crisp (soy protein, tapioca, salt), soy protein, rice protein], dark chocolate (unsweetened chocolate, cane sugar, cocoa butter), vegetable fiber (inulin), vegetable glycerin, peanuts, sunflower oil, peanut flour, natural flavors, soy lecithin, almonds, peanut extract, salt |
For dessert lovers: Trubar
Sweet treat lovers, this one’s for you. If you’re looking to branch out from classic protein bar flavors like chocolate peanut butter and fudge brownie, meet Trubar. The brand makes protein- and fiber-packed bars in enticing flavors like Daydreaming About Donuts, Whipped for Key Lime, and Whole Lotta Macchiato.
What we love: This plant-based bar is dairy-, gluten-, and soy-free and packs 12 grams of protein and up to 13 grams of fiber. But most important, it’s one of the tastiest protein bar brands I’ve tried. My personal favorite is It's Mint to Be Chip, which reminds me of my favorite Girl Scout cookies, but you really can’t go wrong with any of the 12 flavors currently on offer. As someone who is averse to certain sweeteners, I also appreciate that each bar is sweetened with a relatively small amount of cane sugar—no monk fruit, stevia, or sugar alcohols here.
What we’d leave: I quite enjoy the chewy texture of these bars, but it’s worth noting there’s no crunchy element to be found here.
| Nutrition and ingredients | |
|---|---|
| Protein source: | Brown rice protein, pea protein |
| Nutrition info: | 190 cal, 12 g protein, 8 g fat, 23 g total carb |
| Ingredients: | It’s Mint to Be Chip flavor: tapioca fiber and cassava blend, plant-fueled protein blend (whole grain brown rice protein, organic pea protein), almonds, organic cane sugar, RSPO palm oil, fair traded cacao powder, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, cocoa powder, natural flavors, sunflower lecithin, sea salt, peppermint oil |
The bar that’s a high-protein crispy treat: Promix
Promix makes one of our favorite whey protein powders, and its take on a protein bar uses spherical whey-protein puffs as its base. The result is very reminiscent of a marshmallow cereal treat.
What we love: These bars are a great option for anyone who dislikes a typical dense protein bar. They’re crispy and light despite packing a hefty 15 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber, and they truly do evoke that familiar lunchbox goodie. They’re available in a wide range of flavors (think Snickerdoodle, Matcha, Banana Bread, Vanilla, and Chocolate Chip), so I’d recommend picking up a variety pack if it’s your first time trying them.
What we’d leave: If whey protein powders tend to give you tummy troubles, we’d recommend steering clear of these bars.
| Nutrition and ingredients | |
|---|---|
| Protein source: | Whey protein, eggs |
| Nutrition info: | 150 cal, 15 g protein, 3 g fat, 17 g total carb |
| Ingredients: | Vanilla flavor: Promix Whey Protein Puffs (whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, tapioca starch, calcium carbonate, sunflower lecithin), marshmallow (tapioca syrup, tapioca fiber, glycerin, filtered water, inulin, vanilla extract, agar, egg whites, sea salt), coconut oil |
How we tested protein bars
To test protein bars, we did what was necessary: tasted a lot of protein bars. To find those bars, we sourced recommendations from fellow BA staffers and browsed grocery store aisles to find new-to-us brands. We tried to taste multiple flavors of a given brand when possible and made notes on taste, texture, and nutritional content for each bar.
Other protein bars we’ve tried and liked
Most protein bars resemble a large eraser made up of thick, uniform paste. Gluten-free Kind Protein Bars, on the other hand, have actual texture and crunch. They’re quite similar to the original Kind bars in taste and appearance—they’re packed full of almonds and peanuts, but they have double the amount of protein and keep you full longer thanks to 5 grams of fiber from chicory roots. The main protein supplement here is soy protein isolate, so if you have any soy sensitivities, these should be avoided.
According to contributor Nicki Campo in her 2021 review, the Perfect Bar completely lives up to its name. Made by Perfect Snacks, it vaguely resembles a chewy candy bar and also kind of tastes like one. With a powdered blend of 20 superfoods that include things like tomato and carrot, the bar keeps things healthy with lots of vitamins and minerals that’s balanced with an addictively sweet taste reminiscent of a Reese’s peanut butter cup courtesy of some freshly ground nut butter—which Campo also calls one of the brand’s secrets to “perfect texture.”
Think’s High Protein bars come in 13 flavors and have an impressive 15 or 20 grams of protein depending on which one you choose—plus they’re pretty easy to find out in the wild. These ranked in the middle of the pack in our taste test—not terrible, but they have a soy-protein-forward aftertaste we didn’t love. They’re a perfectly edible option should you come across them at a gas station or grocery store.
Misfits is similar to Barebells in that their bars read like high-protein candy bars. The flavors we tried were pretty tasty, but we ultimately liked Barebells flavor, texture, and protein content more and would opt for one over a Misfits bar if given the choice.
You may know Mush from their single-serving overnight oats, available in flavors like Blueberry, Apple Cinnamon, and Vanilla Bean in grocery stores next to the yogurt. The brand now has a line of protein bars with a similarly simple, whole-foods-focused ingredient list made up primarily of rolled oats. They’re bound with coconut oil, honey, and dates—no artificial sweeteners in sight. The protein comes from a milk protein concentrate and clocks in at a very solid 15 grams. We thoroughly enjoyed the taste and texture of these, though it is worth noting that like the brand’s other products, they need to be refrigerated. They come in three flavors: peanut butter chocolate chip, double chocolate chip, and maple cinnamon.
I was intrigued by these whey-based bars because of their incredibly short (3–5) ingredient list. They’re essentially whey protein isolate bound together by nuts and honey, and while that may sound gross, I was pleasantly surprised by the taste of these bars. That said, I wouldn’t necessarily reach for them over any of the top picks on this list—I found the flavor a bit flat and thought these could’ve benefitted from a dash of sea salt.
You’ll probably recognize these bars, which makes sense—the Power Crunch brand has been around since 1996 and is a staple on grocery store and bodega shelves. Each bar in the brand’s Pro line packs 20 grams of protein in the form of a layered wafer cookie. If you're averse to the glob-like form that protein bars typically take, you may want to give these a try. Texturally they were some of the best bars I’ve tried—but they lost their chance at being named a top pick because of their slightly off-putting aftertaste.
The best way I can describe Pure Protein bars is that they taste like a quintessential protein bar—you know, a chewy brick made up of protein and miscellaneous processed ingredients that’s relatively tasty (if very unnatural). I didn’t mind the flavor of these, but they were outperformed by the bars that made our top picks.
Answers to your protein bar questions
To answer some of our questions about protein bars, we spoke with registered dietitian nutritionist Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN, LDN, CLEC, CPT.
Why might someone want to incorporate protein bars into their diet?
According to Manaker, “protein bars can be a super convenient option for busy days when you need a quick snack or meal on the go.” She notes that they can be a great way to stay satisfied between meals or to fuel up for your workouts, but warns that protein bars should never be a replacement for whole foods entirely.
What should you look for in a protein bar?
“Look for a bar that feels balanced and satisfying. Ideally, it should have a good mix of protein, fiber, and healthy fats to keep you full and energized,” Manaker says. She also recommends thinking about taste and texture when selecting a bar. “If you don’t enjoy eating it, it’s not worth it,” she says.
In terms of nutritional content to look out for, Manaker says that 10–20 grams of protein is the sweet spot for most people, but that the exact amount will be dependent on your own body and goals. “If you’re using it as a snack, aim for the lower end. If it’s more of a meal replacement or post-workout fuel, the higher end might be better. But remember, there’s no “perfect” number—it’s about what works for you and your lifestyle,” Manaker says.
As for the other macronutrients, Manaker says that balance is key. “A little bit of everything (protein, carbs, fiber, and fats) can help keep you satisfied. Fiber is a bonus because it supports digestion and keeps you fuller longer. Watch out for bars that are super high in added sugars (a little is fine, but you don’t want it to feel like a candy bar in disguise). And don’t fear carbs or fats; they’re important for energy and satisfaction. Just aim for a bar that feels like it’s giving you a mix of nutrients, not just one thing,” she says.
Hungry for more protein?
- These are the best-tasting whey protein powders
- Read about our favorite vegan protein powders
- Looking for an alternative to bars? Here are our favorite high-protein snacks