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The ideal snack for those leading an active lifestyle, the best protein bars offer the perfect post-workout recovery boost…
When hunger knocks post-workout, we often reach for handy snack bars. These can often be be packed with carbs, fats and sugars, which can be high in calories and lead to energy peaks and troughs. The best protein bars, however, pack more of the good stuff.
Discover the best supplements for muscle growth
Snacking on protein bars allows you to reach your daily protein goals and deliver a much-needed boost to tired muscles. They also provide a simple on-the-go alternative to more cumbersome shakes or time-intensive meals.
Our selection of the best protein bars all pack a real protein punch for sensible snacking between workouts and meals…
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Best Protein Bars in 2023
- Grenade Carb Killa ($49.44 / £27.09 for 12, amazon.com)
- PhD Smart Bar Plant (£24.99 for 12, phd.com – currently unavailable in the US)
- SiS Protein20 (£33 for 12, scienceinsport.com – not available in the US)
- Bulk Vegan Protein Bar (£2.99 per bar, bulk.com – not available in the US)
- Reflex Nutrition R-Bar (£22.50 for 12, reflexnutrition.com – not available in the US)
- Optimum Nutrition Whipped Protein Bar (£2.49 per bar, optimumnutrition.com – not available in the US)
- USN Trust Crunch (£25 for 12, hollandandbarrett.com – not available in the US)
- Myprotein Layered Bar ($21.99 / £27.99 for 12, myprotein.com)
Keep reading for full reviews.
Following a vegan diet? Check out the best vegan protein bars
MF BEST BUY:
Grenade Carb Killa
BUY IT NOW:
$49.44 for 12 / amazon.com
£27.09 for 12 / amazon.co.uk
Taste: 4.5/5
Health: 3.5/5
Protein: 5/5
OVERALL: 4.5/5
An obvious choice, perhaps, but the UK’s best-selling protein bar is so for a reason. Loaded with 20g protein and just 1.4g sugar, it’s the best-tasting, least-sickly bar we’ve tested.
The Salted Caramel flavour gets our vote, although there are no less than 11 others to choose from. The only downside is restricting yourself to one a day (but who are we to tell you how to live your life).
MF RECOMMENDED:
PhD Smart Bar plant
BUY IT NOW:
£24.99 for 12, phd.com (currently unavailable in the US)
Taste: 4.5/5
Health: 3.5/5
Protein: 5/5
OVERALL: 4.5/5
With up to 21g plant-based protein per bar, look no further than PhD if that’s the only factor you’re interested in.
The texture won’t be to some people’s liking, but those recovery credentials make a bit of perseverance worth your while.
SiS Protein20
BUY IT NOW:
£33 for 12, scienceinsport.com (not available in the US)
Taste: 4/5
Health: 3.5/5
Protein: 5/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Utilising a three-part blend of casein, whey and soy protein, these protein bars chuck everything at your muscles to best kickstart growth.
The texture is pleasantly chewy without being too claggy, and Chocolate and Peanut, or Mint Chocolate, are your flavour choices.
Bulk Vegan Protein Bar
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£2.99 per bar, bulk.com (not available in the US)
Taste: 3.5/5
Health: 4.5/5
Protein: 5/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Some might find these slightly too chalky in texture, and the sizeable 279 calories can’t be ignored, but that shake-matching 21g protein is difficult to beat.
If you find protein powders hard to stomach, or you just need a more convenient post-workout option, these are some of the best protein bars to try.
Reflex Nutrition R-Bar
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£22.50 for 12, reflexnutrition.com (not available in the US)
Taste: 3/5
Health: 4.5/5
Protein: 5/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Free from any nasty ingredients and loaded with whey protein from grass-fed cows, on paper these protein bars are some of the best on the pile.
There’s no getting round the fact that they are quite dense, though, and the Chocolate flavour leaves a bit to be desired.
Optimum Nutrition Whipped Protein Bar
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£2.49 per bar, optimumnutrition.com (not available in the US)
Taste: 3.5/5
Health: 3.5/5
Protein: 5/5
OVERALL: 3.5/5
These bars continue ON’s high-quality range of protein products.
All-natural types should look elsewhere, but if it’s just a tasty training treat you’re after, these protein bars boast 20g of muscle-building protein, a nice crisp texture and a relatively low calorie count (197).
USN Trust Crunch
BUY IT NOW:
£25 for 12, hollandandbarrett.com (not available in the US)
Taste: 4/5
Health: 3.5/5
Protein: 4/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Sweet-toothed gym-goers will enjoy the range of dessert flavours (Raspberry Cheesecake, anyone?), and 20g protein is optimal post-workout fuel.
2.5g sugar is slightly more than some of the other best protein bars in this list, but 213 calories is about par.
Myprotein Layered Bar
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$21.99 / £27.99 for 12, myprotein.com
Taste: 3.5/5
Health: 5/5
Protein: 4/5
OVERALL: 4/5
These layered bars feel indulgent, but pack in 20g protein as well as a carb and fibre hit, to tick all your nutrition boxes.
Available in 12 mouth-watering combinations (our favourites are birthday cake and Easter egg), texture can vary between flavours but they are all pretty moreish, making them some of the best protein bars for foodies.