How to Choose a Protein Bar

If you’re anything like me, getting in enough carbs and fats aren’t really a problem...chocolate cake, anyone?  Protein is a little trickier. Especially since I like to eat a couple of vegetarian meals a day.

I will on occasion use protein powders, but I typically like to chew my food versus drink it.  So I use protein bars when I’m low on protein at my meals. They also come in handy as a snack when you’re on the go and when traveling.

But how do you choose your protein bar (which are different than just bars)?  Kind Bars for example...basically just fat bars.  They may be delicious, but they aren’t solving your lean protein issues.  I have a couple rules:

1. They are roughly 200 calories, plus or minus.  Anything too low calorie and they won’t solve the hunger issue (they should tide you over for about 1.5 - 2 hours)  Anything much more than 200 calories start getting into a meal replacement zone. Most women need about 500-600 calories at a meal.

2. They have a minimum of 15g of protein...I prefer 20g.

3. Try and keep the carbs close to the same amount as the protein and the fat to about half or less.

4. It should be relatively tasty...don’t settle for disgusting protein bars...there’s plenty of good ones!

Some people have rules about the ingredients that go into the bar….not me.  In an ideal world, we’d be eating real food instead of a protein bar anyway.  The bar is a solution for times when whole food just isn’t an option...so making it an obstacle makes no sense to me.  Better beats perfect every time!

Currently, my favorite bar is the Oh Yeah ONE bar.  Any flavor BUT chocolate.  For a company that makes so many other tasty flavors, they suck at chocolate.  Favorite flavor: birthday cake and almond bliss.

Quest also makes a decent bar.  Favorite flavors: coconut cashew, cinnamon roll, & double chocolate

Think Thin - high protein version.  I don’t eat these much, but I remember the peanut butter and brownie both being pretty legit.

Although this one breaks my rules (protein too low and fat too high), it is a good option for those of you who are insistent about simple ingredients: RX Bar.

Again, always prioritize whole foods over things like protein powders and bars when you can.  But if you’re gonna have a bar, at least get some protein!