Protein supplements have evolved over the years from traditional protein powders and protein shakes to more functional protein bars and protein snacks. Protein bars are easy and convenient to pack in your bag for a snack between meals or even a delicious protein-rich treat! A quick google search for protein bars generates almost 3 billion results! With the protein bar category growing, I sat down with Roberta Townes, who is a Senior Merchant Manager at GNC Headquarters, to ask her to share her top protein bar selections for 2023. She partners with companies to bring in the best protein bars to curate a top-class category for GNC customers. As a Registered Dietitian, who always has a protein bar in my bag, I added my two cents on the nutritional value, pros, and cons for each protein bar that made the cut!
The Best Protein Bars of 2023
- Best Overall Protein Bar: BAREBELLS Protein Bar – Cookies & Cream | Skip to review
- Best Tasting Protein Bar: BAREBELLS Soft Protein Bar – Salted Peanut Caramel | Skip to review
- Best Protein Bar for Weight Management: Total Lean GSC Thin Mint | Skip to review
- Best Protein Bar for Muscle Mass: REDCON1 MRE BAR™ – Oatmeal Chocolate Chip | Skip to review
- Best Carb Control Protein Bar: QUEST® Hero Protein Bar – Crispy Chocolate Peanut Butter | Skip to review
- Best Vegan Protein Bar: NO COW® Dipped – Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup | Skip to review
- Best Dessert Protein Bar: BUILT BRANDS Built Bar – Double Chocolate | Skip to review
- Best New and Upcoming Protein Bar: ALANI NU Protein Bar – Peanut Butter and Jelly | Skip to review
- Best Protein Snack: LEGENDARY FOODS™ Protein Sweet Roll – Cinnamon | Skip to review
From a nutritional standpoint, a great protein bar is high in protein, moderate in fats, and has little added sugars. Barebells Functional Food was developed to do just that! Roberta has been in the industry for quite some time and said, “This is the best tasting bar we have seen in this category in a long time. It’s unbelievable that its 0g of sugar, and 20g of protein”. To give you some perspective, 20 grams of protein is about the same as 3 eggs! Now this bar has an impressive nutritional profile especially if it tastes delicious!
What I love about the protein in this bar is the source of whey protein within their blend. Whey protein is a high-quality protein, rich in branch-chain amino acids (BCAA). BCAAs are critical for muscle tissue and if you’re pushing the barbells, the BCAAs in Barebell protein bars can support muscle recovery^*. I had not tasted this protein bar before I spoke with Roberta. Since she ranked it so highly, I had to try. After sampling… amazing, the inside tastes like cookie dough to me!
Key Features
Key Features
- 20 grams of protein
- 200 calories per bar
- Other Nutrition facts: 7 grams of fat, 3 g saturated fat, 17 g carbohydrates, 3 g fiber, 1 g sugar, 0 g added sugar, 14 g sugar alcohols.
- Higher protein bar at 20 grams is great to help you get a convenient protein on the go.
- Barebells has tons of delicious flavors to experiment and find your favorite.
- If you have a common food allergy, this bar contains milk and soy
Let’s face it, if a protein bar doesn’t taste good, you’re not going to eat it! Making the list as the best tasting protein bar, Barebells Soft Bar Salted Peanut Caramel is bar none! (See what I did there). Roberta said it’s the closest thing she has ever tasted to feeling like she was eating a candy bar! That’s REALLY impressive, especially considering your average candy bar will have 20 grams of added sugar compared to this bar with 0 g added sugar.
As a dietitian, lowering your added sugar intake is important to help support your overall health. We tend to get a lot of added sugars in our diet. Make a healthier swap the next time you want candy to a Barebell Soft Bar Salted Peanut Caramel! You won’t be disappointed.
Key Features
- 16 grams of protein
- 210 calories per bar
- Other Nutrition facts: 10 grams of fat, 4.5 g saturated fat, 21 g carbohydrates, 5 g fiber, 2 g sugar, 0 g added sugar, 9 g sugar alcohols.
Pro
- Has more than double the protein compared to a similar candy bar.
Con
- This bar does have a higher fat content but some of it is coming from the peanuts.
Hello Girl Scout cookie lovers!! Did you think you’d have to give up your favorite thin mint cookies while managing your weight? “This bar tastes like you are indulging in actual Girl Scout thin mint cookies but with all of the feel-good macros!” Exactly why Roberta selected this protein bar for the best protein bar for weight management. This flavor is my second favorite in the Total Lean Layered Bars at GNC. My personal favorite is the coconut caramel. Are you team Thin Mint or team Samoa?! I love eating these for a dessert alternative after dinner. Sometimes I even find just half the bar satisfies my sweet tooth!
What’s great about the bars helping with weight management^* is the complementary weight management products offered in the same delicious Girl-Scout inspired flavors. Within the Total Lean Brand, we have a clinically studied protein drink to help improve BMI and lose 2 times more weight (7.6 lbs. vs 3.9 lbs.) when combined with diet and exercise plan. Make it a healthy weight management routine with Total Lean. Anyways, back to the bars!
Key Features
Key Features
- 16 grams of protein
- 190 calories per bar
- Other Nutrition facts: 10 grams of fat, 7 g saturated fat, 14 g carbohydrates, 1 g fiber, 5 g sugar, 4 g added sugar.
- It provides 32% daily value for protein¨
- There are 3 more Girl-Scout inspired flavors in these bars to choose from!
- This is a great bar for those needing a gluten free option.
- There are 4 grams of added sugar compared to other bars with 0 grams, however there are no sugar alcohols and it’s more than 50% less added sugar than a traditional cookie. It’s not a bad swap, plus you’ll get 14 grams more protein!
A protein bar alone cannot promote muscle mass, but eating adequate calories and protein with an exercise program can help gain muscle mass. When I asked Roberta about a protein bar for individuals looking to support their muscle gains, she said the MRE Bar Oatmeal Chocolate Chip was the best.
The MRE made me instantly think about the military population I work with teaching how to fuel their demanding physical training and being out in the woods overnight for work or simulation drills. These are a great option for tactical operations, to throw in the bag and provide an excellent source of protein for muscles and carbohydrates for energy. I also really appreciate the protein blend is isolated from real high-quality protein foods, like beef, salmon, chicken, and eggs.
Key Features
Key Features
- 20 grams of protein
- 260 calories per bar
- Other Nutrition facts: 9 grams of fat, 5 g saturated fat, 29 g carbohydrates, 3 g fiber, 6 g sugar, 5 g added sugar.
- This bar has higher carbohydrates compared to the previous bars which is a great energy source for those out hiking the mountains.
- While this bar is promoted as a meal replacement, it’s missing out on some key vitamins and minerals we would normally eat in a well-balanced meal. It’s a great fueling option between meals but I wouldn’t replace a meal, especially if you are super active.
Speaking of carbs, coming in at the best carb control protein bar, Roberta said the Quest Hero Chocolate Peanut Butter is her top pick. “With only 1g of sugar and 3g net carb, this bar is the perfect snack for anytime of the day!” What exactly does net carbs mean? Well essentially most of the carbohydrates in the bar is coming from a fiber-rich carb source. Since our bodies digest carbs with a higher fiber content much slower, we subtract the fiber-rich carbs from the total carbohydrates to get the net carbs. It’s great for those looking for a lower carb intake and has 18 grams of protein per bar.
Key Features
Key Features
- 18 grams of protein
- 200 calories per bar
- Other Nutrition facts: 12 grams of fat, 7 g saturated fat, 20 g carbohydrates, 5 g fiber, 1 g sugar, 0 g added sugar.
- Carb control with 0 grams of added sugar and 3 g net carbs
So far, all the bars listed have animal sources and I know there is a large community of people who are vegan. That’s why I asked Roberta what the best vegan protein bar is. She selected No Cow, Dipped Peanut Butter Cup. I love the irony of the bar name since a lot of protein sources are whey, which comes from cows! When I first heard this brand, I thought it was no cal, and I was like WOW they made a plant-based protein bar with NO calories!! Then I realized it was a play on words with No Cow. Why No Cow? Well Roberta said, “We know and understand the importance of vegan options not only for true vegan consumers but those looking for alternative healthy options.
No Cow fits this space by providing 20g of plant protein in a delicious dairy free bar”. As a dietitian, I love the protein blend formulated to contain both a grain (brown rice) and a legume (peas). Why this is an important combination has to do with the amino acid profiles of plant-based proteins. The missing essential amino acid in grains is found in legumes and the missing essential amino acid in legumes is found in grains, making it a complete protein. Now be mindful this will not meet all your daily essential amino acid needs but it’s a great combo for people who follow a vegan diet.
Key Features
Key Features
- 20 grams of plant protein
- 200 calories per bar
- Other Nutrition facts: 7 grams of fat, 3.5 g saturated fat, 26 g carbohydrates, 15 g fiber, 1 g sugar, 0 g added sugar, 7 g sugar alcohols.
- Two sources of plant-based proteins instead of one and high fiber!
- It’s a great option for plant-based or even those with a dairy allergy!
- Honestly, this is a great formula for a vegan protein bar but be mindful if you are sensitive to sugar alcohols.
I love a good dessert! The sweet indulgence warms my heart, but as a dietitian I am always seeking our alternatives to reduce the number of added sugars from standard dessert treats. As a sweet tooth myself, I had to ask Roberta what the best dessert protein bar was! She said hands down, the Built Bars Brownie Puff “is the perfect treat to curb the need for a chocolate dessert!”. Sign me up!
Key Features
Key Features
- 17 grams of protein
- 130 calories per bar
- Other Nutrition facts: 2.5 grams of fat, 1.5 g saturated fat, 18 g carbohydrates, 6 g fiber, 4 g sugar, 4 g added sugar, 8 g sugar alcohols.
- Get a satisfying sweet treat with a low-fat protein bar.
- Of course, it’s not the same as a brownie but pretty good alternative.
Alani Nu is known for their fun packaging and insanely interesting flavors. Roberta said the Alani PB&J Bar is the best new and upcoming protein bar in the scene. She said, “If you don’t look closely it tastes like you are actually eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich!” I personally have not had this bar yet, but PB&J is my absolute favorite, and you can’t go wrong with the nostalgic flavor.
Key Features
Key Features
- 15 grams of protein
- 220 calories per bar
- Other Nutrition facts: 9 grams of fat, 6 g saturated fat, 21 g carbohydrates, 0 g fiber, 11 g sugar, 10 g added sugar.
- Feel like a kid again eating a higher protein alternative to a standard PB& J
- Compared to the other bars on the list, it’s lower in protein and has the most added sugar of the bars listed but look at that gooey jelly!
If you’re not in the mood for a bar and want a protein snack, Roberta said you can’t miss the Legendary Cinnamon Sweet Roll. She said, “The cinnamon roll taste is amazing, it doesn’t even taste like you are getting a snack packed with protein!” I personally am a sucker for a warm, gooey cinnamon roll. Pop it in the microwave for a few seconds and enjoy it warm! Hmmm love the tasty protein-rich substitute to traditional cinnamon rolls.
Key Features
- 20 grams of protein
- 200 calories per roll
- Other Nutrition facts: 10 grams of fat, 2 g saturated fat, 22 g carbohydrates, 9 g fiber, 0 g sugar, 0 g added sugar.
Pro
- Compared to a standard cinnamon roll, it’s 18 grams less added sugar
- These cinnamon roll protein snacks are an excellent fiber source providing 32% of your daily value ¨
Con
- If you have a milk allergy, this product does contain milk.
As you can see, there are so many options for protein bars. They are a simple, convenient way to help you meet your daily protein needs, eat as a snack between meals, or even indulge as a dessert alternative. What are you waiting for, head to your local GNC and start trying these options to find your favorite protein bar! ¨
**Based on a 2,000 calorie diet
Note: The nutrition features listed are based on 1 serving