Which Protein Bars and Snacks Are The Best?
Protein bars and protein snacks are great. They are quick, convenient, and help curb your appetite without the guilt of junk food. In this review, I will cover some of the most popular bars and snacks on the market. #2 was a surprise to me, but I’m glad I tried it.
Protein Snack Showdown
#6: no cow Bar – 2.5/5
The benefits of this bar are its intentional ingredients, high fiber, and conformity to diet restrictions. It is non-dairy (and subsequently vegan), gluten free (as most products in this category are), non-GMO, and soy free. That’s a pretty good list for all of the people trying to conform to certain diets.
Unfortunately, I think the positives are also intrinsically negatives. The protein blend is a brown rice/pea protein and it is extremely chalky and gritty. Although this makes the bars vegan and non-dairy, it does make them less appetizing. Many believe that vegetable proteins are far less effective for building muscle than animal-based proteins. However, they undoubtedly better than no protein at all.
I didn’t hate this bar, but it wouldn’t be my first pick, given all of the other abundant options on the market. I’m not vegan, but if I was, this would be my go-to protein bar.
- Ingredients and Macros: 3/5
- Flavor: 2/5
- Hunger and Craving Satisfaction: 4/5
- Price: 1/5
#5: Grenade Carb Killa High Protein Bar – 3.4/5
I love that this bar is exactly what it tries to be – high protein and low (net) carb. This is achieved by a moderate amount of fiber and a significant amount of sugar alcohol. The main sugar alcohol used is maltitol, which is known for causing severe gastrointestinal issues (diarrhea) if you eat too much of it. I will say, I do not have this issue with this bar, like I have with other maltitol products.
Net carbs are significant because they are the carbs (and often calories) your body actually gets. Fibers and sugar alcohols are often indigestible which means that they ‘don’t really count’. For example, 5g of sugar + 5g of sugar alcohol + 5g of fiber = 15g of “TOTAL” carbs but only 5g of “NET” carbs. It isn’t a perfect science since each one acts slightly different in the body, but that is the idea. Read why carbs make you gain weight.
The Carb Killa is good but it doesn’t make me want to shout from the rooftops. I had no complaints with the bar with the exception of using maltitol. I, personally, think that Erythritol is easier on the digestive system.
- Ingredients and Macros: 4/5
- Flavor: 3/5
- Hunger and Craving Satisfaction: 3/5
- Price: 3.5/5
#4: Lenny & Larry’s The Complete Cookie 3.5/5
The Complete Cookie is true to its name. It has a lot of wholesome, natural ingredients and it is delicious. I would put this cookie in more of the “cookie” category than the “protein bar” category since that is really what it is. It tastes like a cookie, it looks like a cookie, but it doesn’t come with as much guilt as a cookie.
It is surely better for your physique than indulging in the standard Tollhouse. However, I wouldn’t say this is going to be a staple of a lean cut. In fact, I wouldn’t touch one of these during a cutting phase. There is actually quite a bit of sugar in this cookie, and it has far too many calories for the protein to really be worth it if you are attempting to lean down.
The best uses for this cookie would be as a replacement for its nastier counterpart, as an infrequent dessert to cure the sweet tooth, or extra calories for a bulking phase. I would not replace this with any other sources of protein in my regimen.
It is a very tasty cookie. I’d give this a 4/5 on quality ingredients, but a 0/5 on the macros.
- Ingredients and Macros: 2/5
- Flavor: 4/5
- Hunger and Craving Satisfaction: 5/5
- Price: 3/5
#3: Quest Protein Chips – 4.1/5
Quest has a strong line of products, and I have personally used their bars for many years. I have recently been introduced to their new snack line – the Protein Chips. The first thing that needs to be pointed out is that these are PROTEIN CHIPS, so it’s only fair to treat them as such. If you are a Lays addict, and you are comparing these to commercial, fried potato chips, you might be disappointed.
With that being said, I honestly don’t believe they are too far off from junk-food chips. I have tried the BBQ and Sour Cream and Onion flavors. Both flavors ‘reminded’ me of the Lays counterpart. I was not disappointed in the flavor, in the least.
Reading the macros and ingredients quickly reassured me that Quest Nutrition has actually created a very impressive product in a new category. I have tried to make my own protein-based snacks out of desperation, but mine have never come close to these.
If you love to snack on chips, these are a game-changer. With macros that rival the best dedicated protein powders on the market, you will want to keep a constant supply of these in your pantry like I do.
- Ingredients and Macros: 4.5/5
- Flavor: 4/5
- Hunger and Craving Satisfaction: 5/5
- Price: 3/5
#2 One Protein Bar: 4.25/5
GLAZED AND AMUZED – the tagline on the bottom of the package which must be a play on words referring to a classic Matthew McConaughey flick and a sweet, sugary, mouthwateringy pastry. Of course, I’m referring to the Maple Glazed Doughnut flavor.
I must say, I was blown away by the flavor when I took a bite. It was unmistakably a maple-glazed doughnut in its final form. The junk food has transformed into leaner, meaner, version of its former self.
This bar is dangerous because I could probably eat myself into a coma with these. It’s sweet, but not too sweet. I think this bar has the perfect balance between work and play. Again, maltitol as a sugar alcohol would not be my first choice, but it is widely used and is likely cheaper than erythritol.
- Ingredients and Macros: 4/5
- Flavor: 5/5
- Hunger and Craving Satisfaction: 5/5
- Price: 3/5
#1: Quest Protein Bar – 4.4/5
Quest protein bars are, in my opinion, the best all-around protein food item as a tool for fitness results. The macros are great, the taste is good, and most of all, they satisfy cravings.
I have only ever had a good experience with the bars, although I have seen some bad reviews from customers on Amazon. Some of the flavors are hit-and-miss, but for the most part, even their worst flavors are pretty good.
My personal favorite is Birthday Cake because it cures my sweet tooth when I’m craving a sugary snack. Surprisingly enough, there is less than 1g of sugar in the whole bar. They make up for the sweetness in sugar alcohols, which are not processed in the body like regular sugars.
These top my list due to having the best macros out of all of the other products on this list. I can eat these during any season of my fitness journey and not worry about wasted calories.
- Ingredients and Macros: 4.5/5
- Flavor: 4.5/5
- Hunger and Craving Satisfaction: 5/5
- Price: 3.5/5
Give These Protein Bars and Protein Snacks a Shot
Now that you have read my review of these products, it’s ultimately in your hands to decide what is best for you. I don’t believe any of these products are required to achieve your fitness goals. For the most part, protein bars and snacks make suitable replacements for less-healthy alternatives.
While I was deployed to the Middle East, I had limited access to supplements. Thankfully Amazon delivered to my base and I was able to get what I needed. Quest bars were the only ones on this list that I ate regularly on my 6-month journey to fitness, so I know they are a good, long-term option.
This was my 6-month journey to fitness data-pin-nopin=”true”
I have used all of the products in this review and purchased them with my own money. These views are my honest opinions and I have not been compensated by any of these brands.