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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.
Protein bars, however, pack more of the good stuff, allowing you to reach your daily protein goals and delivering 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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MF BEST BUY:
Grenade Carb Killa
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£34.20 (box of 12), grenade.com
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).
Taste: 4.5/5
Health: 3.5/5
Protein: 5/5
OVERALL: 4.5/5
MF RECOMMENDED:
PhD Smart Bar plant
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£24.99 (box of 12), phd.com
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.
Taste: 4.5/5
Health: 3.5/5
Protein: 5/5
OVERALL: 4.5/5
SiS Protein20
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£33, scienceinsport.com
Utilising a three-part blend of casein, whey and soy protein, these bars chuck everything at your muscles to kickstart growth.
The texture is pleasantly chewy without being too claggy, and Chocolate and Peanut, or Mint Chocolate, are your flavour choices.
Taste: 4/5
Health: 3.5/5
Protein: 5/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Bulk Vegan Protein Bar
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£2.99 (per bar), bulk.com
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, give these a go.
Taste: 3.5/5
Health: 4.5/5
Protein: 5/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Reflex Nutrition R-Bar
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£22.50 (box of 12), reflexnutrition.com
Free from any nasty ingredients and loaded with whey protein from grass-fed cows, on paper these bars are top of 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.
Taste: 3/5
Health: 4.5/5
Protein: 5/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Optimum Nutrition Whipped Protein Bar
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£2.49 (per bar), optimumnutrition.com
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 boast 20g of muscle-building protein, a nice crisp texture and a relatively low calorie count (197).
Taste: 3.5/5
Health: 3.5/5
Protein: 5/5
OVERALL: 3.5/5
USN Trust Crunch
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£25 (box of 12), hollandandbarrett.com
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 others bars in this list, but 213 calories is about par.
Taste: 4/5
Health: 3.5/5
Protein: 4/5
OVERALL: 4/5
Myprotein Layered Bar
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£27.99 (box of 12), myprotein.com
These layered bars feel super indulgent but pack in 20g protein as well as a carb and fibre hit, to tick all your nutrition boxes.
Available in 12 mounth-watering combinations (our favourites are birthday cake and Easter egg), texture can vary between flavours but they are all pretty moreish.
Taste: 3.5/5
Health: 5/5
Protein: 4/5
OVERALL: 4/5