Protein bars are the grab-and-go recovery option for men on the move…
When hunger knocks post-workout, it’s easy to reach for handy snack bars. These can be loaded with unhealthy fats and sugars, however, which are often high in calories and lead to energy peaks and troughs. The best protein bars, on the other hand, pack in more of the good stuff – namely, protein.
Discover the best supplements for muscle growth
Snacking on protein bars allows you to reach your daily protein goals and deliver a much-needed supply to damaged muscles. They also provide a simple on-the-go alternative to more cumbersome shakes or time-intensive meals. Plus, they usually taste pretty good, so it’s a win-win-win situation.
We asked leading nutritionist Rob Hobson to round up his favourites…
RELATED CONTENT:
Best Protein Bars 2023
- Grenade Carb Killa ($49.44 / £27.09 for 12, amazon.com)
- PhD Smart Bar Plant (£24.99 for 12, phd.com – not available in the US)
- Myprotein Layered Protein Bar ($21.99 / £27.99 for 12, myprotein.com)
- Applied Nutrition Protein Crunch Bar (£29.99 for 12, appliednutrition.uk – not available in the US)
- SiS Protein20 (£33 for 12, scienceinsport.com – not available in the US)
- Bulk Vegan Protein Bar (£2.99 per bar, bulk.com – not available in the US)
- Reflex Nutrition R-Bar (£22.50 for 12, reflexnutrition.com – not available in the US)
- USN Trust Crunch (£25 for 12, hollandandbarrett.com – not available in the US)
- Optimum Nutrition Whipped Protein Bar (£2.49 per bar, optimumnutrition.com – not available in the US)
Following a plant-based diet? Check out the best vegan protein bars
Grenade Carb Killa
BUY IT NOW:
$49.44 for 12 / amazon.com
£27.09 for 12 / amazon.co.uk
Taste: 4.5/5
Health: 3.5/5
Protein: 5/5
OVERALL: 4.5/5
An obvious choice, perhaps, but the UK’s best-selling protein bar is so for a reason. Loaded with 20g protein and just 1.4g sugar, it’s the best-tasting, least-sickly bar we’ve tested.
The Salted Caramel flavour gets our vote, although there are no less than 11 others to choose from. The only downside is restricting yourself to one a day (but who are we to tell you how to live your life).
PhD Smart Bar plant
BUY IT NOW:
£24.99 for 12, phd.com (currently unavailable in the US)
Taste: 4.5/5
Health: 3.5/5
Protein: 5/5
OVERALL: 4.5/5
With up to 21g plant-based protein per bar, look no further than PhD if that’s the only factor you’re interested in. High-in protein and low in sugar, these bars are perfect for a regular post-workout snack.
The texture won’t be to some people’s liking, but those recovery credentials make a bit of perseverance worth your while. Plus, they are suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
Myprotein Layered Protein Bar
BUY IT NOW:
$21.99 / £27.99 for 12, myprotein.com
Taste: 3.5/5
Health: 5/5
Protein: 4/5
OVERALL: 4/5
These layered bars feel indulgent, but pack in 20g protein as well as a carb and fibre hit, to tick all your nutrition boxes.
Available in 12 mouth-watering combinations (our favourites are birthday cake and Easter egg), texture can vary between flavours but they are all pretty moreish, making them some of the best protein bars for foodies.
Applied Nutrition Protein Crunch Bar
BUY IT NOW:
£29.99 for 12, appliednutrition.uk (not available in the US)
Taste: 4/5
Health: 3.5/5
Protein: 5/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Try telling Applied Nutrition that protein bars can’t be moreish. Its Protein Crunch bars have three succulent layers, with a crunchy base and soft caramel middle covered in thick chocolate – and with just 1.8g of sugar.
It delivers on the protein front too, with 21.7g per bar. The white and milk chocolate caramel versions are nice enough but just the thought of the milk chocolate peanut bar will give you an incentive to get through even the toughest training sessions.
SiS Protein20
BUY IT NOW:
£33 for 12, scienceinsport.com (not available in the US)
Taste: 4/5
Health: 3.5/5
Protein: 5/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Utilising a three-part blend of soya protein isolate, pea protein isolate and pumpkin seed protein, these protein bars chuck everything at your muscles to best kickstart growth.
The texture is pleasantly chewy without being too claggy, and Chocolate and Peanut, or Mint Chocolate, are your flavour choices. These vegan-friendly protein bars are low in sugar, dairy-free, GMO-free and palm oil-free, making them a great choice for a post-workout pick-me-up.
bulk Vegan Protein Bar
BUY IT NOW:
£2.99 per bar, bulk.com (not available in the US)
Taste: 3.5/5
Health: 4.5/5
Protein: 5/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Some might find these slightly too chalky in texture, and the sizeable 279 calories can’t be ignored, but that shake-matching 21g protein is difficult to beat.
If you find protein powders hard to stomach, or you just need a more convenient post-workout option, these are some of the best protein bars to try.
Reflex Nutrition R-Bar
BUY IT NOW:
£22.50 for 12, reflexnutrition.com (not available in the US)
Taste: 3/5
Health: 4.5/5
Protein: 5/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Free from any nasty ingredients, including preservatives, artificial flavours, colours and sweeteners, and loaded with whey protein from grass-fed cows, on paper these protein bars are some of the best on the pile. They are also low in sugar and high in fibre, making them a great all-round choice.
There’s no getting round the fact that they are quite dense, though, and the Chocolate flavour leaves a bit to be desired. However, there are 5 flavours to choose from, including white chocolate raspberry ripple, cookies & cream, and cherry bakewell.
USN Trust Crunch
BUY IT NOW:
£25 for 12, hollandandbarrett.com (not available in the US)
Taste: 4/5
Health: 3.5/5
Protein: 4/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Sweet-toothed gym-goers will enjoy the range of dessert flavours (Raspberry Cheesecake, anyone?), and 20g protein is optimal post-workout fuel.
2.5g sugar is slightly more than some of the other best protein bars in this list, but 213 calories is about par.
Optimum Nutrition Whipped Protein Bar
BUY IT NOW:
£2.49 per bar, optimumnutrition.com (not available in the US)
Taste: 3.5/5
Health: 3.5/5
Protein: 5/5
OVERALL: 3.5/5
These bars continue ON’s high-quality range of protein products. All-natural types should look elsewhere, but if it’s just a tasty training treat you’re after, these protein bars boast 20g of muscle-building protein, a nice crisp texture and a relatively low calorie count (197).
Free from palm oil and low in sugar, there are four uber-tasty and chocolatey flavours to choose from. Or, you can pick up a variety pack to find your favourite.
