How We Calculated The Most Protein For Protein Bars
We reviewed over 200 protein bars to look at their calorie content, as well as protein, carbs and fat. For each bar we calculated how many grams of protein there were per serving compared with how many calories per serving:
For example, a protein bar with 22g of protein and 250 calories per serving would have 22g ÷ 250 calories = 0.088 grams of protein per calorie.Compared with a similar bar with 22g of protein and only 200 calories per serving , the first bar does not provide as many grams of protein per calorie.
Key Takeaway: If you were looking to maximize your protein intake while minimizing your calorie intake, the second bar would be a better choice. You could more easily hit your total daily protein target without exceeding your total daily calorie target.
Tips To Help You Pick The Healthiest Protein Bar
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Over Easy Peanut Butter Breakfast Bars
The Ingredients: Over Easy breakfast bars are made with just eight simple ingredients that pack a variety of nutrients and benefits. Organic oats are the first ingredient, providing antioxidants such as vitamin E and avenanthramides . These antioxidative compounds are unique to oats, and have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.
The Flavor: If youre a peanut butter lover, this bar is the one for you. A plus? It doesnt get crumby like other oat bars do.
The Nutrition Facts: In just 220 calories, the Peanut Butter Breakfast Bar provides 11g of protein, 220mg of potassium, 6g of fiber and healthy unsaturated fats.
$2.19 per bar, $29.95 for a box of 12, overeasyfoods.com
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Power Crunch Protein Energy Bar Mint Chocolate Protein Bar
The Power Crunch Protein Bar is a delicious, high-protein snack that can be enjoyed any time of the day. This bar was created with a perfect blend of all-natural ingredients and no artificial sweeteners or colors! One serving contains 20 grams of protein from whey isolate and casein, 5 grams of fiber from whole grains, oats, corn bran, and flaxseed meal, 130 calories per bar, and only 2 grams net carbs. With so many different flavors to choose from you are sure to find one that suits your taste buds!
Power Crunch Protein Energy Bars are a great way to stay energized throughout the day while still getting an adequate amount of nutrients in your diet. Their mint chocolate chip flavor tastes like a mint chocolate chip ice cream bar, yet is filled with the proper nutrients your body needs.
Is Protein Bar Or Powder Better
It depends on your individual needs. Protein bars are convenient and can provide a great source of protein and energy that can help keep you full and energized throughout the day. Protein powder is also easy to store and can be added to smoothies and other recipes.
If youre looking for a quick snack, a protein bar may be the better option. On the other hand, if you are looking for something more versatile and plan to include protein in more of your recipes and meals, a protein powder might be the best option.
Ultimately, you should choose the protein supplement that best fits your dietary lifestyle, goals, and needs.
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Vega Sport Protein Bar
Next, we have a bar from a brand that is 100% plant-based Vega.
This vega sport protein bar is the perfect post-workout bar. It is packed with 20g of protein, has tart cherry in it, and has 3.5g of BCAAs .
The tart cherry aids in exercise recovery, and dont worry, you cant even taste it in the bar.
Also, if you didnt know, BCAAs are a group of amino acids: leucine, isoleucine, and valine. They are the building blocks of protein, and they have been shown to aid in muscle recovery and decrease muscle fatigue and muscle soreness.
This bar is a little pricer at $2.49 in stores, but considering everything in the bar, I think its well worth the price.
The flavor I found is crunchy peanut butter, and Vega also offers crispy mint chocolate.
Here is the nutritional breakdown of the crunchy peanut butter:
What Nutritional And Ingredient Standards Should I Look For
Protein bars with minimal, natural ingredients will almost always be your best option because theyre typically free of artificial sweeteners, added sugars, fillers and other ingredients that may not be good for you in the long run. A simple rule of thumb to avoid potentially troublesome additives is to steer clear of ingredients you’ve never heard of or cant pronounce typically, those tend to be filler products or added sweeteners or sugars.
Instead, seek out brands with health certifications that use mostly whole food ingredients. Studies show that protein bars made with wheat or algae protein have the highest nutritional value, so keep an eye out for those ingredients while youre shopping around. Protein bars made with grass-fed sources are also great for your health, since a grass-fed diet helps give your body cancer-fighting antioxidants and increases your vitamin A and E levels.
Protein bars made with sunflower protein, on the other hand, contain the lowest nutritional value.
Also look for protein bars high in grams of protein and low in grams of sugar. Avoid bars with a calorie count over 350, especially if theyre made with added sugar or fillers. Its important to consider your daily caloric intake before selecting a bar.
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When Should You Eat Protein Bars
Theres no right or wrong answer as to when you should eat a protein bar. Eating a high-quality protein bar can be a quick and easy source of fuel before or after a workout. You can also eat protein bars as a meal replacement or snack if youre on the go and dont have time for a whole meal. Eating protein before bed can assist with muscle growth and building strength, so if muscle gain is your goal, you may want to eat a protein bar after a dinner low in protein. Just be sure your pre-sleep protein bar is low in sugar, since eating sugar before bed can affect sleep quality.
How To Choose A Protein Bar
You may want to consider several factors when purchasing a protein bar, including:
- Ingredients: Check the label carefully and look for protein bars that are free of artificial ingredients, fillers, and preservatives whenever possible. Some people may also want to avoid certain ingredients, such as sugar alcohols, which can cause digestive issues like gas and bloating .
- Protein sources: Ideally, choose a protein bar made from high quality protein sources, such as whey or protein derived from whole foods like nuts, seeds, or egg whites.
- Dietary needs: Whether youre following a vegan, gluten-free, ketogenic, or low carb diet, its important to look for a protein bar that caters to any dietary restrictions or food allergies you have.
- Flavors: Protein bars are available in a wide range of flavors, so be sure to take your taste and personal preferences into account.
- Budget: Because protein bars can vary quite a bit in price, consider your budget before you start shopping.
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What Is Gluten Protein Made Of
Gluten is a protein made up of two different proteins: gliadin and glutenin. Gliadin is mainly found in wheat, and glutenin is mainly found in rye and barley. Glutenin gives the protein flexibility and helps make dough elastic, while gliadin is responsible for providing the cohesiveness needed to form a dough.
Together they form a 3-dimensional network of proteins found in wheat, rye, and barley. Gluten helps form a dough that can be leavened and enables doughs to rise while baking. When water is added to a wheat flour dough that contains gluten, the proteins interact to give a sticky, elastic texture.
Gluten protein is made up of two prolamin proteins, gliadin and glutenin, and is essential for providing structure and volume in bakery products like bread and rolls.
Best Vegan: Gomacro Macrobar Protein Paradise Cashew Caramel
Asche notes that “excellent option for athletes looking for a vegan protein bar.” You can thank the vegetarian dynamic duo of organic sprouted brown rice protein and organic pea protein for those 11 grams of protein. This bar is also loaded with healthy fats from cashews and flax seeds, which are a great plant-based source of anti-inflammatory omega-3s. Plus, it’s really one of the tastiest protein bars out there.
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What To Consider Before Buying Protein Bars
The best protein bar will not only taste great, but it should meet your daily dietary needs.
Whether your dietary needs are based on ingredients, macronutrients, or calories, were confident that theres a protein bar on the market that will match your wants and desires. When consumed mindfully, protein bars can be a great way to pack in extra protein.
The Best Protein Bars Weve Tried
Misfits focuses on producing protein snacks, protein powders and dietary supplements that are 100% vegan and planet-friendly. Packaging is also sustainable.
Misfits protein bars come in 11 different flavors and boast a great nutritional value. A single serving contains nearly 5mg of iron and 30mg of calcium , as well as 12g of chicory root and beet fiber, both known for their great prebiotic properties. Taste wise, they are outstanding, and our favorite of all the protein bars weve tried. The chocolate brownie flavor in particular is deliciously rich, and so moreish its hard to restrict ourselves to just one. The new mint choc chip flavor is also a must-try â even members of our team who arenât keen on mint chocolate were won over.
Misfits bars could be a great choice for those who want to lose weight too. Not only are they low in calories and sugar, they are enriched with green tea extract, which may promote fat burning and aid weight maintenance, according to one Cochrane review . Though relatively small in size, each protein bar provides a 15g dose of pea and soy protein. The only downside to Misfits bars is the relatively high price tag. Also, many may not like the fact that theyâre sweetened with xylitol and stevia, which can give a bit of a bitter aftertaste.
Frustratingly, itâs worth noting that Grenade bars are not suitable for vegetarians as they contain hydrolysed beef gelatine.
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The Bar With A Sustainable Protein Source: Exo
Protein source: Cricket
Nutrition info: 160 cal, 14g protein, 7g fat, 22g total carb
The foundation of Exos bars is acheta, otherwise known as cricket, a good-for-you and good-for-the-planet source of protein. According to the brands website, acheta powder has 40% more potassium than whey protein, the protein source found in many a bar, as well as three times the amount of iron as spinach. Exos bars have a soft and chewy texture, and though the chocolate fudge brownie flavor gives off some faux dessert vibes, with only two grams added sugar they dont taste overly sweet.
Health Warrior Organic Pumpkin Seed Protein Bars
Health Warriors Pumpkin Seed Protein Bars are the real deal. Each bar contains roughly 8 grams of protein and is made entirely of organic ingredients. Not to mention, this bars approximate 1:1:1: ratio of protein, carbohydrate and fat will keep your bloog sugar stable and hunger satisfied.
A great source of iron and magnesium, these bars are delicious and portable. What more could you ask for?
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Power Crunch Energy Bar
Most Candy-Like Protein Bar
Calories: 215, Protein: 13g, Carbs: 12g, Sugar: 5g, Fat: 13g, Fiber: 1g
Okay, we confess: If wed tasted this blindfolded, wed have mistaken it for a Little Debbie Nutty Bar . Fudgy, crispy, and peanut buttery, the only drawback in our opinion was the too-crumbly wafers. The fiber content is kind of low, too.
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Red Flag #: High Fructose Corn Syrup
Sad but true, the protein bars that taste the most like candy have that flavor profile for good reason- they are made with many of the same ingredients as your favorite candy!! The big mac daddy of them all? High Fructose Corn Syrup ! Honestly, we could create an entire post on the dangers of long term consumption of HFCS but here is a brief and totally simplified summary:
- HFCS is derived from corn syrup and it contains a mixture of glucose and fructose.
- HFCS is metabolized differently in the body compared to glucose. Our liver is the only organ that can metabolize small amounts of fructose and when fructose consumption is high, our liver is burdened and turns the fructose into fat.
- HFCS is a MAJOR driver of inflammation and therefore frequent consumption can lead to health issues such as obesity, fatty liver, insulin resistance and diabetes.
- Also, lets not forget that it contains zero essential nutrients!! In other words, HFCS does absolutely nothing for your health.
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Which Protein Bar Has The Most Protein Per 100 Calories
Only got a specific number of calories left in the day and still need to hit that protein mark? We have recently added the nutritional info of protein per 100 calories to the protein bars within our food discovery tool and database of over a thousand food items.
With this new nutritional metric we have answered the question of which protein bars have the most protein for the least amount of calories right here in the suggestion table below.
If you want to see a definitive and growing list of protein bars and their protein per 100 calories nutritional info, just scroll down the article.
What Is The Cheapest Way To Get Protein
One of the cheapest ways to get protein is to buy proteins in bulk, such as beans and lentils. These can be bought in large quantity, usually at discounted rates, and will still provide plenty of protein when cooked and eaten in a meal.
Additionally, buying in bulk can reduce the cost of items such as eggs, canned tuna, and canned salmon, which can all be good sources of protein when eaten in moderation. Eating foods of plant origins such as nuts and seeds, or complete grain toast can also be a cost-effective way to get higher amounts of protein.
Even popcorn can provide some amount of protein, and it can be made for relatively inexpensive. Fruits, vegetables, and dairy products, such as milk and cheese, do not contain as much protein but can still be beneficial when combined in a balanced and varied diet.
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How Much Protein Do We Need
How much protein you need depends on your goals and current activity level with your age, sex, height, and weight is also taken into consideration.
And we created a protein calculator to figure your daily recommended intake based off of these values.
But generally, the minimum recommended daily allowance for protein is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight. However, this is conservative and requirements are higher for active people, especially who weight train.
Theres a misunderstanding not only among the public, but also somewhat in our profession about the RDA,
explained Nancy Rodriguez, a registered dietitian, and professor of nutritional science at the University of Connecticut in Storrs.
People in general think we all eat too much protein.
The takeaway here is that protein is very necessary for many reasons. Although, that doesnt mean you should overdo it. Make sure to have a balanced diet for overall good health and gains!
Are Protein Bars Safe For Kids
Protein bars can be a healthy snack option for kids, but keep in mind that kids do not need as much protein as adults. Additionally, protein bars should be incorporated as part of a well-rounded diet and not used as a replacement for more nutritious meals and snacks.
Look for a bar thats low in added sugar and artificial additives and high in fiber.
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