Protein Bars.. which one to get?!

MSxJENNY
MSxJENNY Posts: 106 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I think I should start eating protein bars because my protein intake is not as high as I want it to be so which one would you guys recommend?

(low in carbs & sugar please!)

Thanks :)
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Replies

  • Fozzi43
    Fozzi43 Posts: 2,984 Member
    I like the maxi muscle ones, not sure about Carbs or sugar but I know they are about 80 cals :smile:
  • MDWilliams1857
    MDWilliams1857 Posts: 315 Member
    Its very hard to find a bar that is high protein and low carb. Pure Protein make a Carb Conscious protein bar and it still has 25g of carbs. Most of them are going to have 40g+ unless you get one that is low cal and only has a few grams of protein. Even a cliff bar that only has 10g of protein has 40g of carbs. There are recipes though to make your own which is what Im considering doing because I dont want the added carbs or all the other junk thats in the store bought bars.
  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    There are other ways of getting enough protein, though. Can't see your diary so I don't know how much protein you are aiming for, nor what sort of things you are currently eating.

    But I've just had 1 tablespoon of pumpkin seed butter on my toast, for 160 cals, 10g protein and 4 g carbs,
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    I prefer protein powder/shakes to protein bars. Most of the protein bars on the market are little more than candy bars with some protein added to them. There are plenty of protein powders which are higher in protein and much lower in carbs and sugar than bars.
  • crazy_ninja
    crazy_ninja Posts: 387 Member
    None! Eat real.
  • WeekndOVOXO
    WeekndOVOXO Posts: 779 Member
    Just make a protein shake! If you hate the taste of just the shake then mix in some strawberries or other fruits. It's natural sugars so you don't have to stress about anything artificial.

    One of my favorite recipes is having matcha green tea powder, vanilla isolates, almond milk, and ice.
  • gtdixon
    gtdixon Posts: 1 Member
    I swear by Atkins shakes and bars. Available at most supermarkets and Wal Mart. Low carb, low sugar, and the "meal replacement" bars are pretty good in protein. Also like GNC Protein supplement powder for shakes. I have a lap band and can't eat enough "real" food to get adequate protein. Also, Kashi Go Lean cereal has 13 grams protein per cup. Choose wisely. :smile:
  • AmandaInGA
    AmandaInGA Posts: 122 Member
    I like the Pure Protein and the Pure Protein Revolution.... both very good tasting. and at least 20 g protein each
  • Huffdogg
    Huffdogg Posts: 1,934 Member
    Protein bars are essentially candy bars with a different label. Drastically more carbs than protein in each one. I read an article once where a trainer commented that rather than eat the average protein bar, you could eat a chicken breast AND a snickers bar, have better candy AND better protein, and still have less total calories.
  • kimmianne89
    kimmianne89 Posts: 428 Member
    Bio Synergy - Caramel Skinny Bar, 32 g Bar - 97kcals - 9g carbs - 2g fat - 10g Protein - 7g Fibre

    Otherwise I usually have a normal one but only half. There is one called Pure Protein I think. It's vanilla and honeycombe flavor and I usually have half of one. They are ok I can't remember whats in it though lol

    EDIT: I found it! it was actually MyProtein (myprotein.com)
    Myprotein - High Pro Bar - Vanilla and Honeycombe, 1 Bar 230kcals - 20g carbs - 4g fat - 29g Protein 13g Fibre
    With this as the calories are quite high I tend to just have half which comes to just 10g carbs with 14.5g Protein so its quite good.
  • Wonderob
    Wonderob Posts: 1,372 Member
    None! Eat real.

    I'm sure we should drink water instead of beer and only eat good wholesome real food

    I can't eat perfectly though so chose protein bars for my chcolate fix - Weider banana 32% Protein bars are my favourite
  • cordianet
    cordianet Posts: 534 Member
    Why not make your own? That way you can control what's in there and make it what you want. There are lots of resources on the web for this, but here's one I found particularly helpful:

    http://www.proteinpow.com/search/label/Protein Bars
  • SamanthaH10
    SamanthaH10 Posts: 72 Member
    I have tried A LOT of protein bars...and I mean A LOT.

    The only ones I thoroughly enjoy are the ISS Oh Yeah! protein bars. They are high protein (between 26-28g depending on which flavor) and relatively low carb (26-30g depending on flavor), and about 10g of sugar. The vanilla toffee fudge is the best flavor ever!

    The best thing is that they actually DO fill you up. The other ones that tend to run 10-15g of protein leave me hungry for more and I end up blowing my calories. They are rather high calorie, but if used as a meal replacement, shouldn't hurt your day at all.
  • Wonderob
    Wonderob Posts: 1,372 Member
    Protein bars are essentially candy bars with a different label. Drastically more carbs than protein in each one. I read an article once where a trainer commented that rather than eat the average protein bar, you could eat a chicken breast AND a snickers bar, have better candy AND better protein, and still have less total calories.

    That's simply not true

    I have a spreadsheet with all my favourite candy and protein bars on it

    Maximuscle ProMax bars - 22gms protein (200 calories) 8 calories per gram of protein
    Dairy milk bar - 7 gms protein (525 calories) 70 calories per gram of protein
    Similar stats for all protein bars and all candy bars

    Portion of chicken has 52 gms of protein (231 calories) so 4 calories per gram of protein
    Chicken twice as much protein as protein bars for same calories

    I eat lots of great protein rich chciken and snack on protein bars
  • angel79202
    angel79202 Posts: 1,012 Member
    I love Zone Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough :)
  • samblanken
    samblanken Posts: 369 Member
    Quest Bars. No sugar or artifical sweeteners, gluten free. 170 calories, 20g of protien. Not candy bar like at all.
  • Lyric82
    Lyric82 Posts: 119
    Quest Bars. No sugar or artifical sweeteners, gluten free. 170 calories, 20g of protien. Not candy bar like at all.

    This! They are amazing. They are the lowest sugar (0!!!) lowest carb (I believe 4g) out there that I have found. And the peanut butter chocolate ones taste great!!

    They are pricey, however!
    :flowerforyou:
  • Biggipooh
    Biggipooh Posts: 350
    I like the Doctor's CarbRite Diet Chocolate Peanut Butter. 22 g Protein, 20 g Carb, 0 g Sugar and you can't taste the sugar alcohols.
  • mommyskis
    mommyskis Posts: 277 Member
    Think Thin bars. 20 grams of protein, 24 g carb, 6 g fat, 0 g sugar, 240 calories. I eat them for breakfast and they keep me full. They are cheaper on Amazon than at my local store.
  • Wonderob
    Wonderob Posts: 1,372 Member
    I read an article once where a trainer commented that rather than eat the average protein bar, you could eat a chicken breast AND a snickers bar, have better candy AND better protein, and still have less total calories.

    Let's look at the maths in that for a minute

    125g Chicken breast = 38g protein and 170 calories
    Snickers bar = 4g protein and 296 calories
    Total = 42g protein and 466 calories

    Pro Bar 30 = 34g protein and 272 calories

    1 and a half Protein bars = 51g protein and 408 calories

    That article you read had an agenda and you bought into it
  • Biggipooh
    Biggipooh Posts: 350
    Chicken or Protein Bars?
  • macdiver
    macdiver Posts: 145 Member
    I read an article once where a trainer commented that rather than eat the average protein bar, you could eat a chicken breast AND a snickers bar, have better candy AND better protein, and still have less total calories.

    Let's look at the maths in that for a minute

    125g Chicken breast = 38g protein and 170 calories
    Snickers bar = 4g protein and 296 calories
    Total = 42g protein and 466 calories

    Pro Bar 30 = 34g protein and 272 calories

    1 and a half Protein bars = 51g protein and 408 calories

    That article you read had an agenda and you bought into it

    I recently read the same article. The writer actually said 1 chicken breast and 1/2 a snickers bar. That would be

    40 grams of protien and 268 calories compared to one of your pro bar 30's of 34 grams protien and 272 calories.

    If you look at most of the recommendations above the "protein bars" are only 10 - 15 grams of protien and still over 200 calories which was what the original author was really comparing to the chicken breast / snickers combination. I wish I could find the article and post a link. I have read too many articles in the last week.
  • Wonderob
    Wonderob Posts: 1,372 Member
    Chicken or Protein Bars?

    There are many on here that subscribe to the point of view of 'all or not at all'
    In other words you should always eat whatever is best for you regardless of convenience, taste, preferance etc.

    That's fine if you're that way inclined and you'll get no arguments from me as to what is better nutritionally, chicken or processed chocolate covered protein bars.

    Unfortunately though I know that I will not be able to sustain a 'perfectly balanced', non-processed, diet for very long, therefore I chose to eat some foods that are not ideal

    My compromise is that when I snack on a bar of something, I make sure it's one of the 'better' bad foods. Protein bars are a good example. I want a snack so I can chose between a Mars bar with very little protein and lots of sugar and calories, or a protein bar packed with protein and with relatively low calories
  • Wonderob
    Wonderob Posts: 1,372 Member

    I recently read the same article. The writer actually said 1 chicken breast and 1/2 a snickers bar. That would be

    40 grams of protien and 268 calories compared to one of your pro bar 30's of 34 grams protien and 272 calories.

    If you look at most of the recommendations above the "protein bars" are only 10 - 15 grams of protien and still over 200 calories which was what the original author was really comparing to the chicken breast / snickers combination. I wish I could find the article and post a link. I have read too many articles in the last week.

    Half a bar - yeah I'm sure the figures are better for that but theyve clearly manipulated the figures to make their point

    Why not go for the chicken and 1/4 of a Snickers bar - WAY better figures that way!

    It's 3oc in the afternoon at work and I'm starving! I can:
    A) Snack on my protein bar and add a nice 33g of protein to my macros
    Or
    B) Find some way of heating up my chciken that I prepared earlier in the day (I don't like cold meats), eat that on it's own (Very appetizing!!) Then cut my Snickers bar in two and have the discipline to wrap the remaining bit up for another day!

    I chose A
  • SeaChele77
    SeaChele77 Posts: 1,103 Member
    Love Quest Bars!!!

    You can buy them online directly or from GNC or Vitamin Shoppe
  • Pami559
    Pami559 Posts: 3
    Think Thin Bars, no sugar! Also, I am on the Body by Vi shakes, all the protien I need!
  • DeathKitty23
    DeathKitty23 Posts: 64 Member
    YOu'll fins a lot of bars will be quite high in carbs, sugar and/or fat as ppl tend to use them for meal replacements
    Maximuscle/miston seem to be one of the lowest in net carbs that i can get a hols of a my local supplement store but they are quite chewy
    Flavorwise there a tonnes out there that can satisfy anyone
    I tend to go to the shop and have a read at the packets to see what fits in my macros
  • NovemberJune
    NovemberJune Posts: 2,525 Member
    Here is what I have been buying. I think it's good ?

    Life Choice High Protein Bar - Peanut Butter Extreme: 210 calories, 21 g protein, 14 g carbs, 7 g sugar, 8 g fat, 125 mg sodium
  • pixelberry
    pixelberry Posts: 167 Member
    I like the QuestBar line - they have 2, one uses a small amount of sugar alcohols and the other does not. Chocolate Brownie has been one of my favorites, 170 calories, 24g Carbs (Net 5g Carbs), 19g Fiber, 1g Sugar, and 20g Protein. Only places I can find them is GNC or the Vitamin Shoppe, else I have to buy them online.

    *Edit: I've found them best when nuked in the microwave for about 20 seconds to soften them up.
  • Huffdogg
    Huffdogg Posts: 1,934 Member
    I read an article once where a trainer commented that rather than eat the average protein bar, you could eat a chicken breast AND a snickers bar, have better candy AND better protein, and still have less total calories.

    Let's look at the maths in that for a minute

    125g Chicken breast = 38g protein and 170 calories
    Snickers bar = 4g protein and 296 calories
    Total = 42g protein and 466 calories

    Pro Bar 30 = 34g protein and 272 calories

    1 and a half Protein bars = 51g protein and 408 calories

    That article you read had an agenda and you bought into it

    I recently read the same article. The writer actually said 1 chicken breast and 1/2 a snickers bar. That would be

    40 grams of protien and 268 calories compared to one of your pro bar 30's of 34 grams protien and 272 calories.

    If you look at most of the recommendations above the "protein bars" are only 10 - 15 grams of protien and still over 200 calories which was what the original author was really comparing to the chicken breast / snickers combination. I wish I could find the article and post a link. I have read too many articles in the last week.

    Thanks for the clarification there. I know it has been a year or so since I read the article so I suspected that I was mucking up a detail. The point still stands, IMO.

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