Healthiest Protein Bars? Ask the Dietitians #2

You asked, we answered! Today we’re sharing our 5 go-to, best tasting, healthiest protein bars.

Protein bars are a quick, on-the-go option – but they definitely aren’t all created equal!

That said, today we’re clearing the mud and answering your question in our Ask the Dietitian Series – “What are the healthiest protein bars?”

There are an endless number of options available so it’s no wonder this is a common question that we’re asked. And if you’ve ever stood in the Whole Foods aisle where the protein bars are located, you can understand why it’s quite overwhelming. Unfortunately many protein bars on the market are filled with artificial flavorings, artificial colorings, artificial sweeteners, highly processed sugars and oils, and unpronounceable ingredients. Ingredients we don’t recommend you put into your body. But we’re here to save the day and share with you what we feel are the healthiest protein bars of the ones we have tried.  And if you keep reading we have an awesome giveaway included at the end of this post! 

When to eat protein bars.

While we always encourage real and wholesome foods, we also understand that time is not always in your favor and that’s when protein bars come in handy. We’re all about being realistic here. Here are 5 situations we feel are the perfect time to reach for a protein bar:

1. Pre-workout or post-workout. If you need a little fuel before or after your workout, these proteins bars are great for that. Choose one that you know sits well with you. How to do you know which one “sits well” with you? Well, you just have to trial and error it. No one bar works for everyone so be patient and try a few.
2. Travel snacks. Perfect for road tips or travel days. Because no one wants to be stuck in an airport or roadside convenience store without any healthy, real food options to choose from.
3. Hiking, skiing and other outdoor activities. Protein bars are nice and compact, provide a good source of protein, carbs and fats making for the perfect fuel for active outdoor activities.
4. Emergency fuel. I like to keep a protein bar in my purse in the event that I’m out-and-about and feeling hungry and need just a little something to get me by.
5. Occasional treat. We all have a sweet tooth every once in awhile. I know I do! So having a mini bar or half of a bar is a perfect way to cure that sweet tooth while consuming some quality nutrition at the same time.

Rule of thumb. One protein bar per day. (Exception – long day of hiking or other outdoor or endurance activities)

The Real Food Dietitians Top 5 Healthiest Protein Bars:

Our top 5 healthiest protein bars were determined by 5 things:

1. Taste – they must taste good!
2. Protein – have at least 10 grams of quality protein (not from soy).
3. Clean ingredients – contain only clean ingredients (no artificial anything).
4. Sugar – must be 15 grams of sugar or less
5. Gluten-free – all recipes and product recommendations on our blog are gluten-free and these bars are too.

So here they are…….in no particular order.

Primal Kitchen Dark Chocolate Almond Bar

These chewy paleo-friendly protein bars are one of our favorites and truly one of a kind. Similar to a Snickers bar but much MUCH healthier! They’re the lowest in sugar of all of the bars included in this Healthiest Protein Bars list, they’re gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free and soy free. And a big bonus is that collagen is the type of protein added to these bars! Nice job Mark Sisson (founder of Primal Kitchen)!

• Only 3 grams of sugar from honey.
• 15 grams of protein from grass-fed collagen and cage-free eggs. More collagen than a cup of bone broth!  Read more about the benefits of collagen here.
• Available online, in the Primal Kitchen store. 10% off with coupon code: REALFOODRDS – Purchase here.

Website: primalkitchen.com

RxBar

Another paleo-friendly protein bar makes our top 5 Healthiest Protein Bars list. Made with a very short list of ingredients such as dates, fruit, nuts, and egg whites. No added sugars and 9 delicious flavors available. Seven of the flavors are Whole30-friendly*! They’re also gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free and soy-free.

• 12-16 grams of sugar from dates and fruit.
• 12 grams of protein from egg whites.
• Widely available at Whole Foods, health food stores, health food sections of grocery stores and on Amazon. Purchase here.
• Flavors (grams of sugar): Chocolate Sea Salt (12 g)* / Coconut Chocolate (13 g)* / Coffee Chocolate (13 g)* / Mint Chocolate Chip (14 g), Blueberry (15 g)* / Peanut Butter (15 g) / Pumpkin Spice (15 g)* /  Apple Cinnamon (15 g)* / Maple Sea Salt (16 g)*
• Dietitian Stacie’s favorite flavor is Chocolate Sea Salt.

Whole30-Friendly*

Website: rxbar.com

GoMacro Bars

We love G0Macro bars! A family-owned company that makes vegan-friendly, sustainably-sourced, certified organic energy bars. Six of the 12 flavors are high in protein and make our list (see flavors below). And isn’t the packaging gorgeous?! We think so!

• 10-15 grams of sugar from organic brown rice syrup and organic coconut sugar.
• 10-11 grams of protein from organic sprouted brown rice protein and organic pea protein.
• Widely available at Whole Foods, health food stores, health food sections of grocery stores and on Amazon. Purchase here. They come in a mini-size too which are the perfect size for a sensible treat or to add to your kids’ lunch boxes.
• Flavors (grams of sugar): Sunflower Butter and Chocolate (10 g) / Cashew Caramel (10 g) / Peanut Butter (12 g) / Coconut and Almond Butter And Chocolate Chip (12 g) / Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip (14 g) / Banana and Almond Butter (15 g)
• Dietitian Stacie’s favorite flavor is Sunflower Butter and Chocolate. Jessica’s kids beg for the mini Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip flavor for an afternoon snack or to tuck into the pocket of their ski jackets on powder days. 

Website: gomacro.com

Zing Bars

We didn’t even have to think twice about including  Zing Bars in this Healthiest Protein Bars list. Zing Bars, created by Registered Dietitians (like us!), are insanely DELICIOUS! There are a total of 12 flavors. Nine of those flavors are vegan-friendly and all of the bars are well-balanced, high in fiber, gluten-free and soy free.

•  9-15 grams of sugar from organic agave syrup, organic tapioca syrups, organic brown rice syrup and organic cane sugar.
• 10-13 grams of protein from brown rice protein, pea protein and/or whey protein.
• Check your local Whole Foods or health foods store. Also available on Amazon. Purchase here. They come in a mini-size too which are the perfect size for a sensible treat or to add to your kids’ lunch boxes.
• Order directly from the Zing Bar website and use the code REALZINGRDS to get 30% off your next order!
• Flavors (grams of sugar): Oatmeal Chocolate Chip – V (9 g) / Double Nut Brownie – V (9 g) / Lemon Cashew Crunch – V (9 g) / Dark Chocolate Mocha – V (10 g) / Coconut Cashew Crisp (10 g) / Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip – V (12 g) / Almond Blueberry (12 g) / Cashew Cranberry Orange – V (13 g) / Dark Chocolate Coconut – V (13 g) / Dark Chocolate Hazelnut – V (13 g) / Dark Chocolate Mint – V (13 g) / Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter (15 g)
• Dietitian Stacie’s favorite flavor is Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Dietitian Jess’s favorite flavor is Dark Chocolate Hazelnut.

Vegan – V

Website: zingbars.com

Health Warrior Superfood Protein Bars

We were recently introduced to these protein bars and we definitely give them our stamp of approval! Each of the 4 flavors provide 10g of plant based protein from a superfood blend of chia, quinoa, and oats. They are gluten-free, soy-free and vegan-friendly. Chia seeds make these bars especially healthy as they add a nice boost of omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, protein and antioxidants.

• 10-11 grams of sugar from brown rice syrup, agave, organic cane sugar.
• 10 grams of protein from chia, quinoa, oats and pea protein.
• Check your local Whole Foods or health foods store. Also available on Amazon. Purchase here.
• Flavors (grams of sugar): Honey Almond (10 g) / Lemon Goldenberry (10 g) / Dark Chocolate Coconut Sea Salt (11 g) / Peanut Butter Cacao (11 g)
• Dietitian Stacie’s favorite flavor is Honey Almond.

Website: healthwarrior.com

Healthiest Protein Bars GIVEAWAY!

This giveaway has closed. 

We’re excited to be giving 3 lucky readers a sample pack of all 5 protein bars. To be entered in this giveaway, head on over to our Instagram page {Click here} to enter!

All you have to do is follow @TheRealFoodRDS and tag at least 3 friends in the giveaway post!  We’ll announce the winner on September 2nd, 2016. Good luck!

Don’t have Instagram or want to double your chances of winning? Enter by letting us know in the comments below which bar you’re most excited to try!

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About Stacie Hassing

Stacie is a Licensed and Registered Dietitian from rural southern Minnesota where she and her husband reside on 5 acres with their two pups, Walter & Lucy. She’s a creator of simple and wholesome recipes, a lover of nature, a crossfitter, a seasonal runner, and she’s on a mission to inspire as many as she can live a healthier and happier life from the inside out.