Store Bought Protein Bars

And Your Best Options

 

These are good options to keep in your desk, back- pack and car for when hunger strikes. Use these as options instead of processed food. Some of these bars are lower in protein but higher in natural carbs and may be a good choice pre-workout and for endurance events. 

Ideally if it is a snack, depending on your size, look for a bar that contains 7-12 grams of protein. If you are using it as a meal replacement, look for a bar that has closer to 15-20 grams of protein.

Some bars may be better for you than others depending on if you are raw, vegan, paleo, keto, or avoiding certain allergens.

There are constantly new protein bars on the market everyday!  It is difficult to keep up with all of them so if you are eating one that is not on this list, send me the front and back label and I will comment on it for you! 

I like to keep a few in my car in a cooler bag, for those “just in case” times.  Where do you keep a stash for “emergencies”? 

Always read the label as different flavors may contain ingredients you cannot safely eat!   

  • Lara Bars (only 5 g. protein)
    • Can find these at most grocery stores
    • They have dairy free, gluten free and soy free options, egg free
    • Can be higher in natural sugar due to the dates-good choice for pre workout
  • Epic Bison Bars
    • These can be found in most health stores and in some grocery stores or go to epicbar.com
    • Gluten free, soy free, dairy free, egg free
    • They also have other meat snack options as well.
    • 7 grams of protein per bar, 8 carb grams 
  • RX bars
    • These are nut, egg white and date bars as their base with several flavor options
    • These can be found in gyms, book stores, coffee shops and juice bars
    • rxbar.com
    • Gluten, soy, dairy free, contains EGG WHITES
    • Contains 12 grams of protein, can be used as a good recovery bar after a workout or as a snack.
  • Bullet Proof Collagen Protein
    • 12 grams of protein, low in sugar
    • Contains nuts, collagen from grass fed animals
    • Order from bulletproof.com
    • Gluten, soy, dairy and egg free
  • Primal Kitchen
    • Have 4 protein bar options
    • 15 grams’ protein and 6 grams fiber in each bar
    • Gluten, soy, dairy free, egg free, does not use canola oil
    • You can find these bars in local health food stores
    • Order online from primalkitchen.com
    • They also have other healthy product options such as salad dressing and mayonnaise.
  • Rise
    • These bars have 15 to 20 grams of protein and have several flavors.
    • You can order from ww.risebar.com and Whole Foods, Sprouts, and some other natural grocery stores.
    • Gluten, soy free, contains WHEY
  • Perfect Bars
    • Protein amounts range from 8-16 grams per bar
    • They have a variety of flavors
    • You can buy them at perfectbar.com or at your local grocery store or big box store.
    • Gluten, soy free, contains dairy and egg
  • Go Raw Protein Bars
    • These are plant based protein bars using sprouted watermelon seeds
    • These are good for those who eat only a raw diet or want to add more raw foods into their diet.
    • They have 4 flavors to choose from and they contain 12 grams of protein per bar.
    • You can buy these at goraw.com or on amazon
    • Gluten, soy, dairy, egg free
  • EXO protein bars
    • These are cricket protein bars
    • They have 10 grams of protein per bar and have several flavors
    • Purchase from Wegmans or call your local cross fit gym to see if they carry them. Order online from exoprotein.com
    • Gluten, soy, dairy and egg free
  • EVO hemp bars (not as much protein)
    • Order these from evohemp.com or they may be found in your local health grocery store.
    • These contain 7 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber.
    • They have 4 different bars to select from and they are all organic
    • This makes a good choice for a snack instead of a meal replacement due to the protein content.
    • Gluten, soy, dairy and egg free
  • GO Macro Bars
    • They have a variety of bars to opt from and they range from 8 to 10 grams of protein.
    • Find these at gomacro.com or Trader Joes, your local grocery store or even at 7-Eleven.
    • Gluten, soy, dairy free, egg free
    • A little higher in sugar than I would like-save these for active/sport days
  • Hammer Nutrition Bars
    • hammernutrition.com
    • Have vegan and GF, DF options
    • Good – not only for athletes
    • 15 grams protein and 25 gram carbs per bar for the vegan bars. Some of their bars are low in protein-around 4 grams and higher in sugar and carbs so read the labels. 
    • This is company that specializes in clean fuels for endurance events.  
  • Quests Bars
    • Not all of these are safe options as some contain artificial sweetener. Read the label. Natural Grocers will only carry the flavors that do not have artificial sugar.
    • These are high protein and low in carb and low in sugar
    • They do contain dairy
  • Oatmega bars
    • I like that they have grass fed whey
    • They are gluten free (not dairy free)
    • One bar at 200 calories has 14 grams of protein
  • PaleoValley Superfood Bar
    • This one has 11 g. of protein and 9 fiber grams and only 3 grams of sugar which is really good considering some of the bars have 13 grams of sugar or more.
    • I have not seen this bar in stores yet so you may need to order from paleovalley.com
  • Bearded Brothers Bars
    • They have raw and vegan bars
    • Most are GMO, gluten, soy, dairy and nut free
    • No added sugar
    • Lower in fat and protein-about 5 grams of each only and higher in natural sugar (15 grams)
    • Better choice for a pre workout or for endurance events. Skip this one as a protein rich snack during a work day.
  • In Bar
    • Gluten, soy, dairy, egg and nut free options
    • Contains agave which raises blood sugar so not the best choice
    • Vegan, non-GMO
  • Hemp Heart Bars
    • Contain 10 grams of protein so a good snack choice
    • Gluten, soy, dairy, nut, peanut, egg free options
  • That’s It
    • These bars contain only fruit. So not a protein bar but can be used as a carb snack
  • Jump Start Body Fuel Bars
    • Gluten, soy, dairy free, egg free, tree nut free
    • Low in protein-only 3 grams, higher in carbs and sugar than I would like (22 g. carb, 7 g. sugar)
    • don’t use this one as a snack and instead save it for pre-workout fuel
  • Spirulina Energy Bars
    • Gluten, soy, egg, peanut, dairy, and tree nut free
    • All organic ingredients
    • Healthy but not high in protein
  • Amrita Energy Bars
    • Gluten, soy, dairy, peanut, egg and tree nut free
  • Sheffa Savory Bars
    • Gluten, soy, dairy, egg, peanut and tree nut free
    • Savory bars, not as sweet as some of the others on the list
  • Thunder Bird bars
    • These bars contain only fruit, nuts, seeds, spices, some also contain vegetables and whole grains.
    • Contain around 20-25 grams natural sugar per bar with only about 5 protein grams, thus making it better as a pre-workout option rather than a protein rich snack.
    • A good choice for endurance exercise due to being high in natural sugars
  • Orgain Bars
    • These bars are vegan
    • Their simple protein bar contains 12 grams of protein, 25 grams carbs and only 4 ingredients. 
    • Their protein bar has 10 grams of protein, lower in calories, and 20 grams carbs.  It also has more than 4 ingredients. It does contain erythritol and for some people this can cause some mild stomach issues. (typically if only at high erythritol doses but I have found that some people are more sensitive than others to it). 
    • Also has a children’s protein bar with 7 grams fiber, 25 carb grams and 2 grams protein in 130 calories.  Honestly, with the very low protein amount, I rather see them eat half of one of the other protein bars.  
    •  
  • Pure Fit Bars
    • These are vegan bars made with non-GMO soy protein 
    • They are dairy and gluten free 
    • They have 18 grams protein, 25 grams carbs and 17 gram sugar with much of it coming from brown rice syrup and beet syrup
    • Some do have agave syrup which is high in fructose and disrupts blood sugar-stick to these for sport activities and workouts
    • Many retail stores sell them or go to www.purefit.com 

Bottom Line: These are good to have on hand if you are having a crazy day and do not have time to prepare anything and otherwise you may end up at the closest fast food place. Don’t get dependent on bars but use them when need be. They can also be a great tool to use when you need to add in more fuel due to your exercise/workout regimen.

So what bar is your “go to bar”?  Is it on this list?  If not would you share it with me?