What’s The Best Protein Bar?
There are tons of protein bars on the market that all claim to be the BEST; so how do you actually know which ones to buy? When it comes to protein bars, here are 3 of the main criteria I’m usually looking for when perusing the aisles…
I’ll preface this entire post by saying that my priority is trying to structure my diet around mostly whole, minimally processed foods. That being said, protein bars are a great option when you’re in a time crunch, out and about, or just need a quick easy protein boost.
There are tons of protein bars on the market that all claim to be the BEST. So how do you actually know which ones to buy and which ones are bullshit?
When it comes to protein bars, here are 3 of the main criteria I’m usually looking for when perusing the aisles:
1. I like to see about 10g of protein for every 100 calories. If I’m having a protein bar, I want it to pack a protein punch without the extra calories.
2. And that’s why I aim to avoid bars with tons of added calories and sugar; I usually like bars that are around 200 calories.
3. If I can, I’ll try to find an option that’s higher in fiber. This is especially important if you’re someone that’s consistently eating less than the recommended range of 25-35g / day.
My favorite protein bar of all time are Barebells; the flavor and texture are unmatched in my opinion. Special shoutout to the chocolate dough and caramel cashew flavors though they have tons of variety! I’m also a big fan of One Bars (love the birthday cake flavor) as well as the Kirkland Brand protein bars which are great value!
I probably eat a protein bar 3-4 days/week on average just depending on what my schedule looks like. There’s nothing wrong with having a bar a day, but I would try to limit it to just one unless it’s a real extenuating circumstance where it’s your only protein option. It’s not to say that you can’t eat more than 1, but it likely won’t provide as much nutritional diversity or satiety as less processed foods.
And be on the lookout for fiber! Having fiber in a protein bar is great (it’s one of my 3 main criteria), especially if you’re chronically under-consuming fiber. But increasing your fiber intake too much too fast can cause some stomach upset. There are some protein bars with 8-10+ grams of fiber so having multiple per day means you may be getting nearly 20g of additional fiber compared to normal. Again fiber is a good thing, but you typically want to limit increases to 5g/day and maintain that intake for at least a week before adding more.
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