Protein Bars

floridagirl7264
floridagirl7264 Posts: 318 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I haven't tried any protein bars. What are the good tasting ones with the most protein?
«13

Replies

  • whmscll
    whmscll Posts: 2,254 Member
    Quest bars.
  • Azexas
    Azexas Posts: 4,334 Member
    Quest bars are pretty good. Mint chocolate chip or the chocolate chip cookie are decent flavors. They can be kind of hard, so what I do it stick the bar on the dashboard of my car so it heats up.

    Musclepharm white chocolate raspberry are very good as well.
  • crystalewhite
    crystalewhite Posts: 422 Member
    2nd for quest. The cookies and cream one currently at my desk has 21 grams of it. I'm not sure if there are some with more protein out there, I stopped my search with Quest because they are the only ones I can stand the taste of.
  • kwtilbury
    kwtilbury Posts: 1,234 Member
    Quest bars are awesome but expensive. I buy Pure Protein bars at Costco for about $1 a bar or less if they're on sale. They have 20g protein without all of the extra sugar and fat (about 200 calories).
  • sixxpoint
    sixxpoint Posts: 3,529 Member
    Protein from real food > Protein from powder > Homemade protein bars > Store bought protein bars
  • crystalewhite
    crystalewhite Posts: 422 Member
    sixxpoint wrote: »
    Protein from real food > Protein from powder > Homemade protein bars > Store bought protein bars

    Agreed, but sometimes it's easier to grab a bar at the store.

  • floridagirl7264
    floridagirl7264 Posts: 318 Member
    sixxpoint wrote: »
    Protein from real food > Protein from powder > Homemade protein bars > Store bought protein bars

    I'm sorry. I don't understand.

  • sixxpoint
    sixxpoint Posts: 3,529 Member
    edited June 2015
    crystalewhite wrote: »
    sixxpoint wrote: »
    Protein from real food > Protein from powder > Homemade protein bars > Store bought protein bars

    Agreed, but sometimes it's easier to grab a bar at the store.

    Convenience is a factor, but if people eat conveniently (as opposed to wisely) every single day of their lives, then there is a fundamental issue with their diet. I don't want to live in a world where fresh, whole foods are almost entirely replaced with processed fast foods, with added preservatives, in plastic wrappers, for triple the cost and less flavor.
    floridagirl7264 wrote: »
    sixxpoint wrote: »
    Protein from real food > Protein from powder > Homemade protein bars > Store bought protein bars

    I'm sorry. I don't understand.

    Order of importance... > is the greater than sign.
  • November_Fire
    November_Fire Posts: 165 Member
    Quest.

    There are some utterly vile ones on the market, so... just go with Quest.

    Homemade bar recipes - yes, sixxpoint, fine, but link me up to one not full of sugar? Or agave syrup? Or honey? Or peanut butter? Most recipes seem to think chucking a scoop of whey in it makes it 'healthy' when the rest of the ingredients say 'candy bar' to me.
  • melimomTARDIS
    melimomTARDIS Posts: 1,941 Member
    quest bars have the best flavor. followed by "think thin" wafer cookie bars.
  • sixxpoint
    sixxpoint Posts: 3,529 Member
    Emberlain wrote: »
    Quest.

    There are some utterly vile ones on the market, so... just go with Quest.

    Homemade bar recipes - yes, sixxpoint, fine, but link me up to one not full of sugar? Or agave syrup? Or honey? Or peanut butter? Most recipes seem to think chucking a scoop of whey in it makes it 'healthy' when the rest of the ingredients say 'candy bar' to me.

    No problem :)

    Video Instructional:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja30xjHyCfI

    Fiber Syrup:

    http://www.amazon.com/Vitafiber-Basi.../dp/B00TIX50OQ

    or

    http://www.amazon.com/Fiberyum-IMO-S.../dp/B00XQMAC48

    Recipes with Fiber Syrup:

    http://www.fitnesstreats.com/category/recipes/recipes-made-with-vitafiber/

    Protein Bar Ideas:

    http://www.fitnesstreats.com/2013/10/homemade-quest-bars-using-vitafiber/
    http://www.fitnesstreats.com/2014/01/more-homemade-quest-like-protein-bars/
  • whmscll
    whmscll Posts: 2,254 Member
    I just compared the ingredients with a Quest bar S'mores flavor and a Pure Protein S'mores flavor. What I didn't like about Pure Protein is the high amount of sugar alcohols (11% compared to 6% for Quest), which bother my digestion, and the sheer number of preservatives and other mysterious ingredients in the Pure Protein bars (zinc oxide, anyone?). However, the calories and other nutritional info are fairly similar for both. And the Quest bars ARE expensive.
  • dcresider
    dcresider Posts: 1,272 Member
    think thin bars are pretty good.
  • crystalewhite
    crystalewhite Posts: 422 Member
    sixxpoint wrote: »
    crystalewhite wrote: »
    sixxpoint wrote: »
    Protein from real food > Protein from powder > Homemade protein bars > Store bought protein bars

    Agreed, but sometimes it's easier to grab a bar at the store.

    Convenience is a factor, but if people eat conveniently (as opposed to wisely) every single day of their lives, then there is a fundamental issue with their diet. I don't want to live in a world where whole foods are replaced with processed fast foods in plastic wrappers.

    Absolutely! I would much rather have 'actual' food that something in bar form. These things are a lifesaver for me when I have come to work ill-prepared. I don't have too many options near that won't either blow my calorie goal or spend $20+ on lunch.
  • loganrandy69
    loganrandy69 Posts: 24 Member
    Quest bars are good, and low carb, and can survive hot environments well - which is a downfall of a lot of bars; they can't last a workout in a backpack outside. The best tasting low carb/sugar option (by a mile) to me is Fit Crunch (by Robert Irvine). Taste is great, 15 or 30 grams of protein, but will get melty in the heat.

    The best tasting non low carb I've found is either the snickers marathon or cliff builder's 20g protein, chocolate mint.

    HMMV
  • DorisSilver50
    DorisSilver50 Posts: 98 Member
    I don't rely on protein bars for my protein source, but I always carry them with me for when I am faced with poor choices for meals (parties, weddings, away from home, etc) or like last night I went out with a friend for a glass of wine and hadn't had dinner. By the time we got to the bar the kitchen was closed and I had to eat something so I had a Luna Protein Bar from my purse. I also like Kashi bars, Chia bars, Nutrisystem bars, store brand (Meijer for me) protein bars. Yes some have more sugar then I care to have, but like I said, in a pinch they save me from poor choices and provide me with protein and nutrition.
  • Urban_Princess
    Urban_Princess Posts: 219 Member
    First and foremost - i'd choose a yummy piece of chicken breast or grilled salmon over a protein bar any day. Use as a supplement only - to supplement your diet when lacking.

    I agree with quest being a top choice though they are pricey. But check out Simply Protein bars (simplyprotein.ca).

    Also, know the difference between energy bars and protein bars and glorified candy bars. I can't speak for everyone but this has been my experience:
    Energy bars will have high calories, high carbs, low protein - the trailmix, luna, clif and lara bars of the world.
    Glorified candy bars have high everything - the clif builders, promax, and power bar bars
    Protein bars are high in protein, low sugar, low net-carb, 170-250 calories - quest bars, simply protein, pureprotein
  • Velum_cado
    Velum_cado Posts: 1,608 Member
    I like Quest Bars and MyProtein High Pro Bars. I use powdered protein as well, but I prefer to eat food than drink a shake and the bars are good for a quick breakfast/snack/whatever between working out in the morning and going to work :)
  • SuggaD
    SuggaD Posts: 1,369 Member
    make your own and refrigerate
  • loganrandy69
    loganrandy69 Posts: 24 Member
    Urban_Princess wrote: »
    Energy bars will have high calories, high carbs, low protein - the trailmix, luna, clif and lara bars of the world.
    Glorified candy bars have high everything - the clif builders, promax, and power bar bars
    Protein bars are high in protein, low sugar, low net-carb, 170-250 calories - quest bars, simply protein, pureprotein

    The difference between your "protein bars" and "glorified candy bars" is artificial sweetener - often sugar alcohol. "Energy Bars" are much closer to glorified candy bars than something like a Cliff Builder's 20g Protein Bar. Close in calories but 3x the protein and half the sugar, plus other added vitamins.
  • kwtilbury
    kwtilbury Posts: 1,234 Member
    Cliff Builders have more sugar (21g) than protein (20g) plus 10g fat. I'm not hating on them, but they're not an efficient source of protein.
  • WheyistheWay
    WheyistheWay Posts: 7 Member
    Reviews of the ones I've tried:

    Quest bars - Basically perfect macro and taste wise.

    Promax - Decent taste, decent protein, but absolutely full of sugar. I have yet to try their lower-carb/sugar bars that recently came out.

    ThinkThin bars - Good but a little light for a tall male such as myself. A good snack for shorter/female protein bar eaters.

  • floridagirl7264
    floridagirl7264 Posts: 318 Member
    Urban_Princess wrote: »
    First and foremost - i'd choose a yummy piece of chicken breast or grilled salmon over a protein bar any day. Use as a supplement only - to supplement your diet when lacking.

    Actually, I plan to eat one in between lunch and dinner. I need something to hold me in between meals. I figured a protein bar would be a good idea.
  • David_2015
    David_2015 Posts: 231 Member
    Always Quest.
  • skeo
    skeo Posts: 471 Member
    I'm also partial to Quest, the Mint Chocolate Chunk is the only one I would ever eat. I also agree that protein from real food can't be beat, but for someone who is always craving something sweet like a candy bar, a Quest bar is a good alternative FOR ME. So on the drive home after work, I will take a few bites from the Quest bar and feel satisfied. They are expensive, at least $2.75 a bar where I live. If you have the know how, give it a go at making some homemade ones.
  • whmscll
    whmscll Posts: 2,254 Member
    floridagirl7264 wrote: »
    Urban_Princess wrote: »
    First and foremost - i'd choose a yummy piece of chicken breast or grilled salmon over a protein bar any day. Use as a supplement only - to supplement your diet when lacking.

    Actually, I plan to eat one in between lunch and dinner. I need something to hold me in between meals. I figured a protein bar would be a good idea.

    I often do this. Quest bars keep me full the longest.
  • peaceout_aly
    peaceout_aly Posts: 2,018 Member
    Quest bars are incredible.
  • peaceout_aly
    peaceout_aly Posts: 2,018 Member
    whmscll wrote: »
    floridagirl7264 wrote: »
    Urban_Princess wrote: »
    First and foremost - i'd choose a yummy piece of chicken breast or grilled salmon over a protein bar any day. Use as a supplement only - to supplement your diet when lacking.

    Actually, I plan to eat one in between lunch and dinner. I need something to hold me in between meals. I figured a protein bar would be a good idea.

    I often do this. Quest bars keep me full the longest.

    I do this also! And fully agree.
  • nickatine
    nickatine Posts: 451 Member
    kwtilbury wrote: »
    Quest bars are awesome but expensive. I buy Pure Protein bars at Costco for about $1 a bar or less if they're on sale. They have 20g protein without all of the extra sugar and fat (about 200 calories).

    This
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    I pack protein bars or a pre-packaged protein shake in my bag for emergencies. As in avoiding French fries after a workout. Hubby and I now have a habit of sharing a protein shake after spending an afternoon at the pool.

    I like the Simply Protein bars as they are a little lighter on the calories.

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