If you’re looking for an on-the-go snack or post-workout nutrition, protein bars can be a great option. You may also find one constantly in my purse so that I don’t become hangry after all the miles when life gets busy.
While the sheer number of brands on the market can be overwhelming, luckily you’ve got me here to taste test galore and break it down. All that variety also ensures you can absolutely find something that fits your needs from gluten free to vegan to peanut free and still packed with protein.
Like with most snacks, it’s important to pay attention to the ingredient list and ensure it uses high-quality protein sources to make sure you’re picking the best bar for your needs. It’s also a good idea to look at price since the price on most foods have skyrocketed. You want to end up with options you can enjoy and whose cost you can justify.
Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of keeping protein bars on hand, what to look for in a good protein bar (besides the all-important flavor), some ingredients to be aware of or avoid, and my top 10 protein bars for runners.
Benefits of Protein Bars
One of the best aspects of protein bars is that they’re an easy way to get protein on the go. As an athlete, you absolutely need to stay on top of fueling your body for both performance today and recovery for the next workout.
Heading on a trip, throw one or more in your bag to save money on airport snacks or to ensure you have a healthy snack versus the junk you usually find in the airport.
Protein bars are also usually shelf stable, meaning no refrigeration required. This means they’re great to throw in your car when you head off to a workout or run. When you get back to your car, you have the nutrition (carbohydrates, protein, and fat) to help kickstart your recovery.
Finally, protein bars can be a great way to up your protein intake. It can be hard for many to get the recommended amount of protein in a day, especially as an athlete.
Adding a good protein bar into your snack rotation can help you reach your daily protein goal in an enjoyable way. I got tired of the protein powder smoothies, so having a bar at the end of the day has helped me still hit that protein goal, which is SO IMPORTANT for us as athletes and especially women running in menopause.
Are Protein Bars Good For You?
As always it depends on what you choose. Of course, in general we want to focus on a diet filled with vegetables, fruits, grains and quality proteins. But part of training is also that you need to fuel ENOUGH and this is often more of a struggle than people realize.
So yes, using a quality protein powder or quality protein bar is absolutely fine for your health and your goals.
13 Best Protein Bars for Runners
A helpful tip! I found that if I set up an autoship with Amazon I could save up to 15% on bars. But first I would do things like test out their website for a discount code to try them the first time around or I would buy a single bar at places like Wal-Mart, Sprouts, Whole Foods or other grocery stores.
It’s almost always more expensive to buy individual bars. So once you find a winner, try to buy a box.
#1 Aloha Bars – Plant Based
One of my favorite bar brands is the plant-based Aloha Bar. These bars are nutrient-dense with at least 14 grams of protein and healthy fats to help fuel your body. The bars are low in sugar, gluten-free, certified vegan, USDA Organic, and Non-GMO Project verified. Another plus is the sheer number of flavors.
YUMMMMMM. And seriously any of you that have tried them have agreed with me! No chalky taste.
The plant-based protein is a blend of brown rice protein and pumpkin seed protein. The bars are also dairy- and soy-free.
If you’ve never had these before, I suggest the sample pack where you can select 6 flavors to try. You’ll get 2 of each flavor for a 12-bar package.
Aloha also offers mini bars with 6 grams of protein, protein drinks with 20 grams of protein and prebiotics, and protein powders with 18 grams of protein. You can bundle and save with packages of drinks and bars.
Below is a quick summary of nutrition facts, flavors, cost, and more. I chose the peanut butter cup protein bar for this example, but the rest of the bars offer similar nutritional content.
Nutritional Content
- Protein: 14g
- Carbs: 26g
- Fat:10g
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 5g (4g added)
- Fiber: 10g
Flavors
Chocolate Espresso (caffeine), Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Chocolate Mint, Coconut Chocolate, Lemon Cashew, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Cup, Vanilla Almond Crunch, and specialty and seasonal flavors
Cost
A 12-pack of bars run about $32.99 if ordered directly from the Aloha website (where you’ll find a discount). These are also available on Amazon and can be found in a wide variety of grocery stores.
#2 Kind Protein Bars – Soy Protein
Kind Snacks have been a popular option for quite some time and the company continues to offer a wide variety and new products. I mean of course I’m thrilled with anything that combines nuts and chocolate, but they definitely do it well.
The protein bars are a standout option from the company.
The bars contain 12 grams of protein and are slightly larger than the original Kind bars. They currently come in two flavors and are gluten free, low sodium, low glycemic index, and kosher.
The protein source is a mix of whole foods (peanuts and/or almonds depending on flavor), as well as soy protein isolate.
Below is the nutritional content for the dark chocolate nut flavor, but the other bar is similar.
Nutritional Content
- Protein: 12g
- Carbs: 18g
- Fat: 17g
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 8g (6g added)
- Fiber: 5g
Flavors
Dark chocolate nut and crunchy peanut butter
Cost
A 12-pack costs $21.99 on the Kind website. These can also be purchased at your local grocery store, often in both boxes and as singles.
#3 RXBars – Egg Whites
If you’re looking for transparency in a protein bar, look no further than RXBars that put their ingredients front and center on the label.
RXBars use whole food ingredients, including dried egg whites as the main protein source. Dates provide fiber and potassium, as well as a subtle sweetness. The bars may also have a variety of nuts such as pecans, hazelnuts, cashews, walnuts, and peanuts.
Most ingredients in RXBars are non-GMO and they are gluten-free.
While I found these to taste generally ok, my body is not a fan of eggs and so these are not one’s you’ll find stocked around here. Bummer.
Below is the nutritional content for the chocolate chip flavor.
Nutritional Content
- Protein: 12g
- Carbs: 23g
- Fat: 8g
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 18g (0g added)
- Fiber: 3g
Flavors
Peanut butter dark chocolate, vanilla almond, chocolate chip, chocolate sea salt, mixed berry, blueberry, banana chocolate walnut, peanut butter, peanut butter chocolate, coconut chocolate, honey cinnamon peanut butter, chocolate, strawberry, mint chocolate, and seasonal flavors.
Cost
A 12-pack costs $27.99. RXBars website also has variety packs and minis, which come in packs of 24. You may be able to find RXBars at your favorite local grocer.
#4 GoMacro Bars – Plant Based
GoMacro Bars has a really long list of certifications on their website, which include USDA Organic, certified vegan, certified gluten free, certified C.L.E.A.N., and Non-GMO Project Verified, among still more.
Again these are a delicious option, but once I found the Aloha bars they just seemed a better fit with what I wanted, so I don’t use these nearly as much. But have friends who keep them stocked at all times.
The company is owned by a mother and daughter and their products are produced in facilities powered 100% by renewable energy. That’s pretty cool if you’re into doing your best to find sustainable products.
GoMacro bars are dairy-free, have no preservatives, no fructose, and no artificial flavors. If you have allergies, they also have a small form on the website that can help you find the right bar for you based on your dietary restrictions and allergies.
The protein bars are made with plant-based ingredients and are soy-free. If you’re big on texture, you can find a texture meter for each bar ranging from soft to chewy to crunchy to hard. Each bar has at least 10 grams of protein and the protein source is a blend of brown rice and organic pea proteins.
Below is the nutritional content for the peanut butter chocolate chip flavor.
Nutritional Content
- Protein: 11g
- Carbs: 39g
- Fat: 11g
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 14g (0g added)
- Fiber: 2g
Flavors
Peanut butter chocolate chip, coconut almond butter chocolate chip, oatmeal chocolate chip, double chocolate peanut butter chip, mint chocolate chip, banana almond butter, peanut butter, lemon, mocha chocolate chip, blueberry cashew butter, maple sea salt, sunflower butter chocolate, salted caramel chocolate chip, dark chocolate almonds, cashew caramel.
Cost
A 12-pack costs $27 on Amazon. You can also check out the variety packs, minis, snack bars, and kids bars. GoMacro bars are available at Walmart, and grocery stores.
#5 Rise Bars
Rise bars tout themselves as the “simplest” protein bar with five ingredients or less. The base of every bar is a nut butter, natural sweetener and a protein powder. Which means they are a soft bar, though the package always makes me think it might be crunchy.
The company offers whey-based, pea protein-based, and vegan protein bars to meet the needs of most. The bars are Non-GMO, gluten-free, grain-free, and don’t have preservatives or artificial flavors.
The bars range from 15-20 grams of protein.
Below is the nutritional content for the almond honey flavor.
Nutritional Content
- Protein: 20g
- Carbs: 21g
- Fat: 16g
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 14g (13g added)
- Fiber: 4g
Flavors
Almond honey, snickerdoodle, chocolatey coconut, chocolatey almond, sunflower cinnamon, and lemon cashew.
Cost
A 12-pack costs $27.99. You can find the bars at Whole Foods, Costco, and Mother’s.
#6 Bobo’s Protein Bars – Pea Protein
All of my gluten free friends are probably familiar with Bobo’s, but this is a whole new thing. Instead of that muffin style of food, you’re getting more of a standard protein style bar that feels like a nut butter with additions.
Honey is the primary sweetener in these bars and you’ll also know they are made in a facility that is certified gluten free! Because I have friends with major dietary issues, this is a big reason I’ve included them in this list. They are not dairy free due to the semi-sweet chocolate chips, but do stick to plant based proteins.
Nutritional Content
- Protein: 15g
- Carbs: 26g
- Fat: 12g
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 15g (8g added)
- Fiber: 9g
Flavors
Chocolate chip peanut butter, double chocolate almond butter.
Cost
A 12-pack costs $32.99.
#7 Built Bars – Whey
We do know that whey protein is actually one of the best protein powders for helping to build muscle, so if you can tolerate it then get it in your bar! Unfortunately, as a someone who is lactose free I only get to test these bars on occasion before my stomach revolts.
But Built caught my attention with their gels and I remain equally impressed with their bars.
They do use sugar sweetners in here, but I found the overall taste to be good. And this is one that my husband happily munches on, which I always find to be a good sign.
Here’s the overview of the cookies n cream bar:
Nutritional Content
- Protein: 17g
- Carbs: 20g
- Fat: 2.5g
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 4g (4g added)
- Fiber: 5g
Flavors
They often have flavors that are limited edition for different seasons. Cookies N Cream, coconut, salted caramel, double chocolate, mint bar, peanut butter brownie, raspberry, plus some puff styles with other flavoris.
Cost
A 12-pack variety costs $29.99. Also available at CostCo.
# 8 No Cow Bars – Pea and Brown Rice
No Cow Bars are a relative newcomer to the market, founded only in 2015. The founder was lactose intolerant and was inspired to make a high protein plant-based bar not loaded in sugar.
They have a pretty decent taste, nothing chalky here. But I did feel they dried up a little fast. So not one to bulk buy, but buy and eat as needed.
The protein source is brown rice and pea protein for a complete protein source and amino acid profile. They come in both the original bar and a dipped version. There are 20-22 grams of protein and these are also very high in fiber.
The bars are gluten-free, kosher, Non-GMO Project Verified, soy-free, and vegan.
Below is the nutritional content for the blueberry cobbler flavor.
Nutritional Content
- Protein: 22g
- Carbs: 25g
- Fat: 4g
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 1g (0g added)
- Fiber: 16g
Flavors
Original bars come in pumpkin pie, chocolate chip cookie dough, chunky peanut butter, peanut butter chocolate chip, cookies and cream, s’mores, blueberry cobbler, chocolate fudge brownie, lemon meringue, maple, and birthday cake. There are also 11 dipped flavors.
Cost
A 12-pack costs $32.99. You can also check out the variety packs.
#9 Clif Builders Protein Bars – Soy
Oh how I do love me some mint chocolate, but as noted my gut doesn’t love the soy. So I had to stop eating this, but otherwise I remain a fan of Clif and the products they create.
They have a great flavor and the company really has a focus on doing good for the world, a bonus. Their regular bars are a steady feature in my husbands mountain biking days because they are carb focused. These bars have a slightly different taste that’s a bit more crunchy and less focus on carbs, making them better for recovery than during a workout.
They are gluten-free, non-gmo and low glycemic index.
Below is the nutritional content for the chocolate mint flavor.
Nutritional Content
- Protein: 20g
- Carbs: 31g
- Fat: 9g
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 17g (17g added)
- Fiber: 3g
Flavors
Chocolate peanut butter, chocolate chip cookie dough, chocolate mint, cookies n’ cream, chocolate, vanilla almond and crunchy peanut butter.
Cost
A 12-pack costs $21. You can also check out the variety packs.
#10 Power Crunch Bars – Whey
Power Crunch offers three different protein bars to suit your needs. The Original bars have 12-14 grams of protein, while the Pro bars have 20 grams and the kids bars have 10-11 grams.
The Original Wafer Protein bars come in 14 flavors. The bars have between 4-8 grams of sugar and use whey protein. The bars are also lower in carbs than many competitors.
Below is the nutritional content for the red velvet flavor.
Nutritional Content
- Protein: 12g
- Carbs: 13g
- Fat: 13g
- Calories: 215
- Sugar: 8g (8g added)
- Fiber: 1g
Flavors
Red velvet, cookies and creme, strawberry creme, salted caramel, peanut butter fudge, chocolate mint, french vanilla creme, triple chocolate, chocolate coconut, lemon meringue, peanut butter creme, s’mores, wildberry creme, and cinnamon roll.
Cost
A 12-pack costs $21.99.
#11 Think! Bars – Soy + Whey
Think! offers a variety of protein bar types including regular, crips, sweet treat, vegan, 150-calorie bars, and Keto bars. For this article I’m going to focus on their High Protein bars, but be sure to check out their other options.
The High Protein bars boast 20 grams of protein and come in eight flavors. While they’re not a low calorie food, they have 0 grams of sugar and no artificial sweeteners, however they do use sugar alcohols so be aware in case those upset your stomach (especially alongside soy isoloate).
The protein source is a blend of soy protein isolate, calcium caseinate, and whey protein isolate.
Below is the nutritional content for the brownie crunch flavor.
Nutritional Content
- Protein: 20g
- Carbs: 23g
- Fat: 8g
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 0g (0g added)
- Fiber: 1g
Flavors
Brownie crunch, cookies and creme, white chocolate, creamy peanut butter, chocolate mint, chunky peanut butter, lemon delight.
Cost
A 10-pack costs $23.99. They also have a convenient store locator search tool on their website.
#12 ONE Bars
Founded as Oh Yeah!, ONE bars have up to 20 grams of protein and only 1 gram of sugar at most. The company describes their bars as a “dessert-level indulgence.”
The protein blend is a mixture of milk protein isolate and whey protein isolate. These bars do use sugar alcohols for sweetening and contain nuts and soy, which is something to be aware of in case you have an allergy.
What reviewers say stands out about these bars are how filling they are and how they taste just like the flavors advertised. They’re a great bar to throw in your bag when running errands, heading to sporting events, or post-workout.
The company also makes puffs, coffee, and crunch bars.
Below is the nutritional content for the peanut butter and jelly flavor.
Nutritional Content
- Protein: 20g
- Carbs: 26g
- Fat: 7g
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 1g (0g added)
- Fiber: 6g
Flavors
Peanut butter and jelly, almond bliss, birthday cake, blueberry cobbler, chocolate chip cookie dough, cinnamon roll, cookies and creme, fruity cereal, lemon cake, maple glazed doughnut, marshmallow hot cocoa, peanut butter cup, peanut butter pie, pumpkin pie, and s’mores.
Cost
A 12-pack ranges in price from $23 to $35. There are also variety pack options.
#13 Quest Bars
Let me be honest, I don’t like these bars. I think they taste awful, but so many of you are enamored with them that I had to put them on the list.
Many, if not all, of you are probably familiar with Quest products. They’ve been around quite awhile and have a ton of different products from bars to chips to drinks, and more.
Quest products, including their bars, use dairy-based proteins, low-calorie sweeteners, and FDA-approved fiber sources. The protein bars range from 18-21 grams of protein so are a great snack on the go or post-workout.
The bars are also high in fiber and boast less than 1 gram of sugar.
While I’m focusing on their original protein bar, I do want to point out their Hero bars, which range from 15-18 grams of protein and are crispy.
Below is the nutritional content for the birthday cake flavor.
Nutritional Content
- Protein: 20g
- Carbs: 25g
- Fat: 7g
- Calories: 180
- Sugar: <1g (0g added)
- Fiber: 12g
Flavors
Dipped cookies and cream, chocolate chip cookie dough, oatmeal chocolate chip, chocolate peanut butter, s’mores, white chocolate raspberry, dipper chocolate chip cookie dough, cookies and cream, caramel chocolate chunk, lemon cake, chocolate brownie, chocolate sprinkled doughnut, mint chocolate chunk, birthday cake, blueberry muffin, double chocolate chunk, and seasonal flavors.
Cost
A 12-pack costs $33.48. You can also check out the variety packs, Hero bars, and minis. These can be found in your local grocery store and sometimes at your local gym.
Whew all right this is quite a round up of the best protein bars. Hopefully it’s given you a variety of options to find something that can help keep your fueling on track.
What to Look for in a Good Protein Bar
So what should you look for in a good protein bar? Not surprisingly, you want to pay attention to the amount of protein the bars have.
A good rule of thumb is to find a bar with a minimum of 10 grams of protein in a serving.
Protein does a lot for us, including helping our bodies repair and recover from a workout, keeping us fuller longer, and helps ensure we maintain muscle mass.
Next, you want to look at what the protein source is for the bar. Does it come from whey protein or a vegetarian source like pea protein? Other bars use sources like nuts and eggs. It’s important to know in case you have an allergy or you follow a vegetarian or vegan diet.
If, for example, you find that the protein source is collagen, you may want to look at a different bar. Collagen is an incomplete protein source because it’s missing one of the 9 essential amino acids. Our bodies already produce collagen and it may be beneficial to supplement with it.
Ingredients to Avoid
When evaluating protein bars, there are some ingredients you may want to avoid. Since we want this to be a healthy snack, it’s good to check out what else is in the bar.
Is there a lot of added sugar? A little bit is ok, especially if this is post workout to refuel. But maybe a large amount late in the day means you’ve really just eaten a Snickers in disguise. You may find some bars use sugar to improve taste.
Artificial sweeteners are often used too, which is not necessarily bad but something to be aware of.
You may also want to avoid bars with sugar alcohols. These aren’t tummy-friendly for everyone, especially if eaten often. Many people tolerate them fine, but it is important you’re aware of everything you’re eating and how they make you feel.
Looking for more running nutrition?
- Best Runners Diet for Endurance
- What to Eat the Week of a Marathon
- How Long to Wait After Eating to Run
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