Best Tasting Protein Bars for Runners
One of the best tasting protein bars on the market today. It's made with finest ingredients, making it perfect for your active lifestyle.
Love protein bars? Get ready for your taste buds to fall in love with these protein-packed and low-in sugar, with flavors that go from sweet to savory, from fruity to savory. But don't just take our word for it. We’ve scoured thousands of customer reviews to find the best-tasting protein bar picks on the market.
Made with real food and only the finest ingredients, the best part is that they're also non-GMO and gluten-free. The first time you try one of these delicious treats you'll never go back to other protein bars again. They're guaranteed to satisfy your cravings at any time of day. These tasty protein bars are not just for weight loss. They're great for post-workout or when you're craving something sweet.
How We Chose the Best Tasting Protein Bar
Ingredients: Our quick list of bars made with real food also includes those that have a lower number of ingredients (less than 10), minimize sugar, and use real ingredients like nuts, seeds, whole grains, and dried fruit.
Protein: If you're trying to pick a bar, your best bet is to find one which has more grams of protein per gram of sugar than grams of sugar per gram of protein. The source of the protein makes a difference too, with vegan and vegetarian options being popular.
Protein bars vary in their protein content. Make sure to choose a bar that has a high protein content, such as whey, hemp, and brown rice. Some bars contain blends of either milk protein isolates or isolates and may be good for those on dietary restrictions.
There are plenty of protein bars out there with artificial flavors, high fructose corn syrup, and saturated-fat content that can be just as bad for you. This can be detrimental to your health because it may lead to metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.
Sugar: Choosing a bar with less sugar than 20 grams per bar will likely lead to staying within the recommended daily limits.
Fiber: To meet your daily recommended fiber intake, always look for bars that have at least 3 grams of fiber content.
Calories: When choosing a bar, consider your current activity level and the number of calories you need to maintain your current weight. Choose a bar that fits this criterion and also fills other needs such as flavor or low-fat content. However, if you're using them as meal replacements, then you might want a bit more. This protein bar is great for a healthy snack, stored in the pantry, in the car, or at work. It offers more tasty flavors than other bars that are on the market.
If you love the taste of mint chocolate with a hint of peppermint and made with real chocolate chips, you may enjoy this nutrition bar from RxBar.
This sugar-free bar features simple ingredients like egg whites, dark chocolate from cacao powder, almond milk, and dates - perfect for a healthy start to your day.
The chewing texture of this bar is interrupted only by pieces of pecans and cashews. Many flavors come from oils and extracts that are sourced from spices, fruits, or plants. They're dense, so if you prefer a chewy texture, these may be an excellent option for you.
RX Bars come in a variety of flavors, each with unique tastes and texture combinations that you won't find anywhere else. They also offer sweet, salty, and savory flavors in their wide variety pack so you can choose your favorite. Skip the sugar-loaded pumpkin spice latte with its artificial ingredients, and try a pumpkin spice RX Bar instead.
Thunderbird Bars are made with 100% natural, healthy ingredients like fruits, nuts, and extra virgin coconut oil. They are also soy-free and vegetarian, with no added sugar. The high-quality ingredients make for a delicious way to jump-start your day!
Hemp Sunflower Protein Bars have a nutrition label with a total of 250 calories, 20 grams of fat, 18 grams of carbs, and 8 grams of protein. Each bar has chocolate coffee flavors to choose from. This bar contains about 5 mg of caffeine per serving compared with the 95mg in an 8 oz cup of coffee, so there will be no crash later.
The bars are made with real ingredients like chocolate, almonds, dates, and chia seeds. When paired with a healthy diet, these snacks can also provide satisfying options when you're looking for a quick bite or pre-workout snack.
Crafted by endurance athletes who wanted a real food bar that tasted great and healthy. We've got some great paleo protein bars for you to enjoy during your next hike, bike ride, trail run, or outdoor activity.
Protein is often synonymous with meat, and this protein bar has a lot of it. It's a simple recipe using 100% grass-fed bison meat, bacon, dried cranberries, spices, and other high-quality sources.
The Bar is a wonderful whole food snack that is low in carbohydrates, paleo-friendly, and has a hefty 7 grams of protein per bar! It's simple, made with natural ingredients, and you can add a salty-sweet combination to your lunch break for a quick energy boost.
EPIC is rebranding from its traditional beef jerky category and introducing a line of protein bars infused with jerky flavor. These savory bars are the perfect tasty snack for exercisers on the go who need a power bar that's kosher, vegan, gluten-free, and low in carbs.
These Kind Bars are a popular protein bar choice among the protein bars fanatic. They're packed full of vitamins, minerals, and soy protein isolate. They're also made from oats and almond butter.
Each bar contains whole grains like millet, buckwheat, amaranth, and Quinoa. The protein, carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals in these healthy protein bars make it a great anytime snack for anyone with a sweet tooth.
A diet high in protein helps fend off muscle loss and also gets natural sugars from the honey. Cinnamon is a spice with many health benefits. It boosts energy levels, which many feels have been lacking, and can also help reduce feelings of fatigue.
Almonds are an excellent source of protein and healthy fats for brain health, and also make a nutritious protein bar.
This plant-based protein bar has several delicious flavors, but it stands out from many other bars. It is made with sunflower seed butter, organic coconuts, and pea protein. It provides your body with over 15 grams of plant protein.
Rise sunflower cinnamon protein bars are healthy, quality protein bars made with real ingredients (and no added sugars) that you can buy in a box of 12 or a bundle of 3. They’re perfect for post-exercise recovery and post-workout full-body restoration.
Protein is essential for building muscle mass and muscle recovery. It's also a healthier version of a protein shake, so you'll want to make it part of your workout routine. Keep this one in your gym bag or running back pocket in case you feel like snacking while on the go!
Good protein bars are on the market to help replace the nutrients your body lacks when dieting or working out. Reliable brands like Rise Bar provide options in a wide variety of flavors to keep you satisfied throughout the day.
Protein Bar Benefits
Protein bars are great for providing extra protein. These small, portable snacks can be a key component of an active lifestyle that includes physical activity. Protein is an essential nutrient for building muscle—it‘s not just about having muscles, though! It contains essential amino acids, which is the building block of protein.
Protein is important for muscle tissue repair and post-workout recovery. Studies also show it can help with energy balance, which makes it a key part of endurance athletes' diets. It is recommended that between 10-20% of daily calories come from protein sources.
Protein is one of the most filling nutrients and research has found that it helps to control hunger and satiety. Fats and carbs both provide energy, so it is good to eat a balanced diet with them.
Protein bars are often called meal replacement bars and are popular options for getting a quick protein fix. They should not be considered meal replacement bars in the long term but as meal supplements that can be utilized to meet the needs of your protein needs.
How Much Protein Do You Need?
Protein requirements vary, depending on your physical activity levels, age, height, and weight. You should get around 0.8 grams of protein per kg of body weight.
Protein bars are often seen as a functional food, so they are most beneficial when consumed appropriately. If you are looking for high protein content, then choose a bar that has a protein blend such as whey protein isolate, hemp protein, pea protein, or brown rice bran.
Protein Bars FAQs
Here are some questions that commonly come up when people consider buying protein bars.
Are protein bars good for weight loss?
Protein bars, as many people know, are not just good for weight loss. They're also healthy alternatives to most other sweet treats. They're an ideal choice for the long-term, whether you're starting over after reaching your goals or simply looking for a way to maintain your fitness level.
Is it OK to eat protein bars every day?
Protein bars can be very beneficial for people who lead busy or active lifestyles or don't have time to prepare meals. Eating more than one in a day won't bring about any additional nutritional benefits.
Are protein bars worth it?
There are many benefits to eating protein bars, including being convenient, giving you enough protein intake for the day, keeping you full longer than other types of snacks, and some delicious protein bars.
When should I eat protein bars?
Post-workout is the best time to eat your protein bar. After your workout, it will provide protein to your muscles and aid in muscle recovery and growth. Protein bars can also keep you full for longer than 4 hours if you're going longer than that without eating.
Can you eat protein bars without working out?
Many low-calorie snacks don't provide you with the right amount of energy to sustain an extended period of activity. Protein bars, however, are the healthiest options when you're not working out. If you need more energy, a protein bar may be a good option.
What identifies a healthy protein bar from other bars?
Just because an energy bar has "healthy" ingredients doesn't mean it's healthy for you. So when choosing a bar, only go for those that have a short ingredient list of familiar foods (like nuts, whole grains, and seeds).
When selecting an energy bar, you want to make sure it has a low-sugar content and total fat content, along with a large amount of fiber content.
What to avoid in protein bars?
Energy bars should not contain sugar substitutes. Sugar alcohols are listed as safe for consumption, but the body cannot break them down completely. This can cause digestive problems and may trigger a rebound increase in blood sugar levels that can lead to diabetic complications.
Best Tasting Protein Bars — Eat This Not That
Protein bars are the bane of the fitness industry. Many protein bars are way too sweet and don't taste great. They often lack flavor, and some even have a "sickly" aftertaste.
"Protein bars and energy bars" often get lumped together and consumers can be misled. The lack of myriads of ingredients in health bars, for example, can lead people to think that these types of bars are healthier than they are, while sugar is their main ingredient.
Protein bars are typically made with artificial flavors, processed sugars, and preservatives. However, these bars on our list are made with only the highest-quality proteins and natural sweeteners that give a protein bar taste and texture, unlike most conventional protein products. Fitness enthusiasts can finally enjoy a protein bar with flavor without feeling guilty!