Protein bars have become synonymous with on-the-go, muscle-building snacking. Whether it's to fuel up before or after your workout or to get you through that afternoon slump, there are entire aisles at the grocery store now filled with countless options. When sorting through them all to find the healthiest protein bars, there are certain ingredients to look for to help up your protein count in a balanced, healthy way that doesn't taste like you're gnawing on a dog treat.
Can Protein Bars Be Healthy?
Protein bars are a popular snack food to get protein on-the-go or fill those in-between hunger pangs, but—as with most foods—not all are created equal.
Some are glorified candy bars, but natural protein bars pack a strong nutrition punch with clean ingredients. Here are some guidelines to look for:
- High-quality protein sources: Prioritize protein bars that source protein from high-quality isolates and concentrates such as grass-fed whey protein.
- Natural sweeteners: Choose bars with natural sources of sugar like cane sugar, honey, agave, or from real fruit like dates.
- Whole-food ingredients: The best protein bars only use whole foods or natural ingredients. Look for minimal or no artificial ingredients, if possible.
- Healthy fats: Fats are essential for your body to absorb certain nutrients and they also help to keep you full. Opt for protein bars that contain healthy fats from nuts and seeds rather than those that use vegetable or hydrogenated oils.
What to Avoid When Buying Protein Bars
There are countless options when it comes to protein bars. Some are so high in calories and added sugars. Look at the label and avoid bars with lots of added sugars, artificial ingredients, and processed ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oil.
Start with the ingredient list, where less is usually more, and whole-food ingredients outperform anything that looks overly complicated. The optimal clean protein bar will also depend on your specific goals. Are you using them to fuel up away from home, bridge the gap between meals, or support weight loss or muscle growth? The best choice will vary accordingly, but here are some good general criteria to aim for:
- Energy: Natural protein bars have a nice balance of healthy fats, protein, and fiber to keep you satisfied and between 100 to 400 calories per serving from real-food ingredients.
- Protein: at least 10g
- Fiber: at least 3g
Is It OK to Eat a Protein Bar Every Day?
Sure, you can enjoy a protein bar daily as long as it’s part of an overall balanced and healthy diet. There’s a time and a place for protein bars, just make sure you choose ones that are full of real, wholesome ingredients to provide some good nutrition and keep you feeling satiated. They're a great option in between meals, as a post-workout snack, or as on-the-go nutrition.
Now that we've got the basic fuel specs out of the way, unwrap the healthiest protein bars to nutritiously amp your next workout, adventure, or afternoon pick-me-up.
Can You Replace a Meal With a Protein Bar?
Clean protein bars are often used as a quick way to replace a meal, especially for breakfast. While a protein bar does not replace a wholesome, nutritious breakfast made with real foods, some protein bars can be a decent substitute in a time crunch. If this is the case, opt for bars that are low in sugar and low or void of hydrogenated oils for lasting energy.
Which Protein Bar Is Best for Weight Loss?
OverEasy Peanut Butter Minis are delicious and only 100 calories. They’re filled with 5g protein and 3g fiber to give you lots of extra energy. They also have an impressive clean Ingredient label: organic gluten-free oats, roasted peanuts, honey, dry-roasted peanut butter, tapioca fiber syrup, dried eggs, natural vanilla bourbon extract, and sea salt.
[$32.99; overeasyfoods.com]
Healthiest Protein Bars With Clean, Natural Ingredients
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Kize bars are clean and simple. Made with premium, healthy ingredients for nutritional quality and sustainable energy, they offer a combination of energy and protein, and make the perfect snack anytime, anywhere. These bars likely offer the cleanest ingredient label you’ll find, and since they’re nut butter-based, they have a perfectly soft, chewy texture.
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Every offering from Rise Bar has fewer than five ingredients. The base of each protein bar is nut butter, natural sweetener, and protein powder to give you that timely, reliable boost. They're delicious and have a great texture no matter what flavor you choose. These are suitable as a light breakfast since they're a bit more robust when it comes to macros.
Looking for something more savory than sweet? Epic protein bars are like jerky, but less tough, and in bar form. Made with grass-fed beef, these are full of high-quality protein to fill you up post-workout or hike. They have a simple list of ingredients and are virtually perfect for anyone with food allergies or sensitivities.
All-organic and vegan protein bars from GoMacro are a chewy delight. Made with high-quality, plant-based ingredients, they’re compatible with most diets since they’re certified organic, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, non-GMO, soy-free, and FODMAP-friendly. With a ton of delicious options, GoMacro is perfect to stock in your pantry when you have a hankering for something sweet.
Kion makes filling, real-food energy bars that pack a decent protein punch. It’s a delicious, on-the-go option for busy lifestyles. So far there's only one option that's chocolatey in flavor and nutty texture. You’ll appreciate its crunchiness and subtle sweetness.
This bar is great for post-workout nutrition and recovery as it provides slow-burning fuel throughout the day. You can even eat it as a quick, filling on-the-go breakfast. Slightly sweet thanks to a touch of honey, it’s a reliable pantry staple.
Made with a few simple ingredients—egg whites for protein, nuts for texture, and dates to bind it all together—these bars couldn't be simpler or tastier. The dates add a subtle, natural sweetness as well as a nice, chewy texture. Its maple sea salt flavor is a home run made with a touch of maple water reminiscent of waffles.
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Think of these as a healthified version of Rice Krispies Treats. They're chewy, satisfying and, best of all, clean! The Snickerdoodle flavor is a fan favorite with an ingredint list comprising grass-fed whey, Madagascar vanilla, Ceylon cinnamon, coconut oil, and tapioca (gluten-free source of carbs for energy). It's void of nuts and soy, two common allergens and irritants.
Perfect Bars might just be exactly that—especially their OG peanut butter bar (our favorite) packed with nutritious benefits from peanuts (fiber, protein, wholesome fats, magnesium, etc.) and a whopping 17 grams of protein per bar. It contains over 20 superfood ingredients, sweetened only with organic honey. Note: You have to keep these in the fridge since they're made of whole-food ingredients.
ALOHA's plant-based protein bars land on this list for a number of reasons. They're USDA organic, contain no artificial ingredients, and are vegan. Grab the peanut butter cup flavor for a delicious, clean, protein-rich bar that’s also pretty decadent tasting.
Transparent labs made this bar with a 2:1:1 ratio of carbs, protein, and fat for the perfect fuel blend when you need it most. They also use only high-quality, real ingredients free of soy, artificial sweeteners, unhealthy oils, and sugar alcohols. It's a nutritious, satisfying treat any time of day that’ll help you go the extra mile.
from Men's Journal https://ift.tt/TV8sjvF
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