The 3 Best Tasting Protein Bars That Are Easy to Eat
Do you struggle to find a protein bar that actually tastes good and is easy to eat? We’ve all had those cardboard protein bars where after the first bite we wished we hadn’t even bought it. But you don’t need to go through life suffering from bad-tasting protein bars, because, in this blog post, I’m sharing the top 3 best tasting protein bars that are super easy to eat.
Read on for information about these three delicious and nutritious snack options and ways they can fit into your routine no matter your dietary lifestyle!
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Best Tasting Protein Bars
Our Pick
Nutrition Facts:
Calories: 190-210
Protein: 16g
Carbs: 13-16g
Fats: 8-11g
Sugar: 3-5g
Protein Source: Whey Protein Isolate
1. FitCrunch
This is my personal go-to protein bar. With 16 grams of whey proteins, only 3 grams of sugar, and only 190 calories, you can’t go wrong with Robert Irvine’s protein bars.
Robert Irvine is a British celebrity chef, restaurateur, author, and television personality.
He has a great variety of flavors: Mint Chocolate chip, apple pie, chocolate chip cookie dough, chocolate coconut almond, chocolate peanut butter, cinnamon, lemon cake, milk and cookies, peanut butter and jelly, and strawberry strudel.
Each bar has 6 layers of different textures and flavors that taste great together.
Each bar has 6 layers of different textures and flavors that taste great together.
Soft Cookie bar (Gives it the chewy texture)
Some form of Cream, Carmel, or even Jelly (Typically the most dominant flavor)
Some pieces of toppings depending on the flavor (chocolate chip, peanuts, etc.)
1st layer of coating (chocolate, peanut butter, etc.)
Protein Crisps (gives great crunch)
2nd layer of coating and drizzle
Pros
-Low Sugar
-Low Carb protein bar
-Gluten-free
-Can find in most major retailers (Target, Krogers, Walmart, 7-11, and more)
-Can buy the chocolate peanut butter flavor in bulk with a Costco membership
Cons
-A bit pricey
-Average amount of protein (16g)
Overall my favorite protein bar because I enjoy the flavors and they’re easy to eat. My favorite flavors are caramel peanut and peanut butter and jelly.
runner up
Nutrition Facts:
Calories: 200
Protein: 15-20g
Carbs: 18-27g
Fats: 7-10g
Sugar: 0g
Protein Source: Whey Protein Isolate
2. Barebells
Barebells Protein Bars are a delicious and nutritious snack that provides the energy you need to power through a workout or busy day. The bars boast high-quality ingredients like almonds, oats, and whey protein for added energy that lasts for hours. Each delicious bar contains at least 20 grams of protein, so you’ll be able to refuel and satisfy your sweet tooth in one go!
With flavors like Hazelnut & Nougat and Coconut & Caramel, Barebells Protein Bars offer you an indulgent treat without having to break your healthy diet routine. They also do have planted-based protein bar options.
Pros
-No added sugar
-Good amount of protein (20g or more)
-Plant Based options
-Variety Pack option
Cons
-Not Gluten free
-A bit pricey
Overall a good choice of protein bars with great macros and amazing flavor.
honorable mention
Nutrition Facts:
Calories: 215-220
Protein: 13-14g
Carbs: 10-12g
Fats: 13-15g
Sugar: 5-7g
Protein Source: Whey Protein Isolate
3. Power Crunch
Compared to most protein bars, power crunch has its own unique taste and textures. Rather than a normal chewy texture, the power crunch is a wafer (similar to a kit-kat). These bars also carry a decent amount of protein, are low carb, and low in sugar.
The bars come in a range of flavors including chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, and mint; allowing variety in your snacking experience. Packed with Vitamin B12, Iron, and Calcium the Power Crunch Wafer Bar is perfect for health-conscious people who need a quick pick-me-up between meals.
Pros
-Low-sugar protein bar
-Low Carb
-Variety of flavors
-Unique wafer texture
Cons
-Can be dry
-Not the highest on protein (13-15g)
Overall not a bad choice since they’re not too filling and have a different texture than most protein bars.
What is a Protein Bar?
A protein bar is a nutritious and convenient snack option for those looking to increase their dietary intake of protein. Made from plant or animal-based ingredients, such as soy, nuts, dairy, and eggs, these bars offer a balanced source of carbohydrates and nutrients.
Additionally, many types of protein bars are fortified with essential vitamins and minerals. Allowing individuals to get more energy without the sugar rush that often comes from eating candy bars or other sweets.
How many protein bars should I eat a day?
There is no set limit or minimum when eating protein bars. If I had to give it a number, 1 or maybe even 2 a day is fine.
When it comes to building muscle, a common general rule of thumb is 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight per day, but if you want the specific numbers, The American College of Sports Medicine recommends 0.5 to 0.8g of protein per pound of body weight to build muscle.
Think of a protein bar as a convenient source of protein rather than a primary source.
Why is taste important in protein bars?
When it comes to any diet, palatability* is important. There’s no point in creating the ultimate food diet and not sticking to it. You need to be able to enjoy the food to at least some degree to ensure that you can stay on the diet/lifestyle change.
*Palatability- Basically how good something tastes or the level of pleasure you get from eating a particular food (the higher the palatability, the tastier the food)
It is better to choose the diet/lifestyle that you can stick with rather than the “superior” diet that may have better macros and health benefits.
In this case, choose a quality protein bar that fits your dietary needs (macros, calories, allergies, etc.) that is also something you can enjoy or at least maintain to consistently eat on a daily basis.
Benefits of protein bars
What to look for when choosing protein bars
The most important factor when choosing a protein bar aside from the taste would be your own personal needs as far as diets or macronutrients (macros). So here are a few things to look out for when picking one that works for you and your fitness goals.
Nutrition facts
When it comes to picking a good protein bar, nutrition facts will be your go-to information to look at. Here you will see how many carbs, fats, proteins, vitamins, sugars, etc. are inside each bar.
High Protein
Most protein bars will range from as low as 12 grams of protein to 25 grams of protein. Anything lower may not be an ideal protein bar and anything higher may be a larger bar that may be difficult for some to finish.
Low Sugar
Low sugar is a great thing to look for when it comes to picking a great protein bar. Try to stay under 10 grams of sugar when picking your protein bar to avoid unnecessary calories and overall sugar consumption.
Calories
Depending on your fitness goals, some of us may benefit from a low-calorie bar for cutting fat or losing weight, while others can benefit from a high-calorie bar for bulking/ gaining weight.
Your Dietary Needs
Many of us have certain allergies such as peanut allergies or gluten allergies. Some of us may be on particular diets like keto or vegan. So pick a bar that is safe for you to eat and or meets your dietary needs.
Things to avoid/ look out for
Don’t judge a book by its cover
Just because a box says “protein” in a big and bold print on the front of the box, does NOT mean it’s a protein bar. Always look to the nutrition facts to see what’s really in each bar.
Watch out for high-sugar
The point of a protein bar is to have a quick, efficient, and healthy source of protein, but many bars are not created equal. Watch out for high-sugar protein bars that may taste great, but defeat the purpose of a healthy snack.
Watch out for the “too good to be true”
Just like a great-tasting protein bar with bad macros, there are plenty of amazing macro protein bars that taste awful (not all are awful, but most). Going back to why taste is important, there’s no point in buying a box of fantastic macro protein bars that you’ll only eat once and eventually let expire in your pantry.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, like most supplements, they’re there to help fill in the gaps where you may be lacking in your diet or give you a convenient source. It can be difficult to get your daily protein intake sometimes.
Finding the best-tasting protein bars for you can help get in some extra protein while proving some additional macros for your daily nutrients. When it comes to picking the right one, make sure that it meets all your dietary needs, has a great number of macronutrients that fit your diet plan, and most of all tastes great.
