Best Energy and Protein Bars

In an ideal world, we’d be able to time our three main meals per day around exercise, work, chores, commuting, and other activities so that we’re always optimally fueled, never hungry, and always have the right amount of nutrients we need to feel good and function normally. Of course, having the time to prepare, cook, and sit down to eat three nutritional, impeccably timed and perfectly balanced meals don’t always happen as planned — which is why pre-packed protein and energy bars are great options for snacking when you’re on the go.

So what’s the best bar to have in between meals to stay optimally fueled, satisfied, and healthy?

Energy bars are usually more calorie- and carbohydrate-dense to provide you with your body’s preferred source of fuel (glycogen) while keeping you energized and satiated until your next meal. Energy bars, which are generally made up of fruits, grains, and other carbohydrate-rich foods, are the perfect snack to have about 30-45 minutes before exercise and are especially great for fueling running and other activities where you’ll be moving for long periods at a time.

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Protein bars, on the other hand, are best to eat after exercise as they contain an optimal dose of muscle-building protein and other nutrients your body needs to repair and recover from your workout. Protein bars, which contain some form of milk-derived or plant-based protein like whey, hemp, pea or rice protein, make a great snack about 30 minutes after your workout, or during the day if you need something more satiating in between meals.

With thousands of types and brands of energy and protein bars on the market, it can be hard to sift through the variety to find a bar that not only has the nutrients you need to be fueled and full, but also tastes great and is affordable enough to buy in bulk so you’ve always got something on hand for snacking.

Need help finding the best energy or protein bar for you? Here’s a roundup of some of the best-tasting bars with high-quality ingredients for all your glycogen-building and muscle-repairing needs.

Best Protein & Energy Bars

CLIF Builders Bar

Clif's iconic Builder Bar comes in six flavors: chocolate, chocolate peanut butter, cookies and cream, vanilla almond, chocolate chip cookie dough and chocolate mint. These tasty bars, which include non GMOs, are stocked with 20 grams of complete protein, including whey, pea, and organic brown rice protein, while coming in at just 280 calories. 
$17.46 for a box of 12 at Amazon.com

Quest Nutrition Protein Bar

Quest Nutrition’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bars are a favorite amongst the bodybuilding community, since you get 21 grams of protein, no added sugar and only 4 grams of net carbs per serving thanks to Isomalto-Oligosaccharides, a natural prebiotic fiber that gives the bars their sweet taste and chewy texture. Quest Nutrition Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bars — which really do taste like you’re eating chocolate chip cookie dough — are made with high-quality whey and milk protein isolates and contain real chocolate, cocoa butter, and almonds for only about 190 calories per serving.
$24.72 for a box of 12 at Amazon.com

Power Crunch Protein Energy Bar

If you're less concerned with a heavy dose of protein in each bar, and much more concerned about taste and texture, you owe it to yourself to try the Power Crunch Protein Energy Bar, especially in the popular Peanut Butter Crème flavor. If you're someone who loves Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, and need a healthier alternative, we promise: once you try this bar, you won't look back.
$16.01 for a box of 12 at Amazon.com

RXBAR Whole Food Protein Bar

With no added sugar, no gluten, no soy, no dairy, non-GMO, and no B.S., RXBARs are as whole-food as you can get when it comes to protein bars. Each Chocolate Sea Salt RXBAR contains three egg whites (12 grams of egg white protein), six almonds, four cashews, two dates, and a bit a cacao and sea salt for just 200 calories. RXBARs are paleo-friendly as well as Whole30 compliant.
$23.77 for a box of 12 at Amazon.com

Lenny & Larry's Complete Cookie-fied Bar

Lenny & Larry burst onto the fitness scene with their delicious vegan cookies, high in protein and low in calories, and they've taken that same winning formula and "cookie-fied" a protein bar. The result? 12 grams of protein, 160 total calories, and just 6 grams of total sugar. This is a wholesome, delicious bar with great macros, and it's available in a wide variety of flavors, including Cookies & Creme, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip and Strawberry.
$13.48 for a box of 9 at Amazon.com

ONE Protein Bar

Are you someone who can't stomach the chalky texture and taste of the average protein bar? We have some good news for you: ONE bars are delicious, so much so that you'll have a hard time limiting yourself to just one at a time. They come in multiple flavors (we recommend starting with Maple Glazed Doughnut), so whatever your taste preferences are, you'll be able to find one to satisfy your high standards while still supplying you with 20-plus grams of protein per bar.
$23.67 for a box of 12 at Amazon.com

CLIF Bar

Just like grandma used to make, CLIF Bars are reminiscent of old-fashioned, home-baked cookie goodness — but packed with pack 23 vitamins and minerals, 5 grams of dietary fiber, 43 grams of carbohydrates, and 10 grams of protein to keep you going between meals or during any kind of endurance exercise. CLIF Bars are also non-GMO.
$21.98 for a box of 18 at Amazon.com

Larabar Snack Bar

Looking for a healthy sugar boost before a run or hard workout but your fruit bowl is empty? Then grab a Larabar Snack Bar in Apple Pie flavor as a convenient alternative, as one bar is equal to half a serving of fruit. Larabar Snack Bars are made of a delicious blend of unsweetened fruits, nuts and spices for just 200 calories, and contain 4 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber per serving. They’re also gluten-free and non-GMO, contain no added sugar and are low in sodium.
$17.25 for a box of 16 at Amazon.com

Grenade Protein Bar

Are you someone who hates even the subtlest taste of whey protein? Are you a hardcore snacker trying to reform your ways? You're in luck. Grenade's entire lineup of protein bars taste so good, you'll swear you're eating a high-calorie, low-protein chocolate bar. In fact, we'd bet most people in a blind taste test couldn't tell which was the health bar and which wasn't. Their new Oreo flavor is the ultimate example, offering 21 grams of protein and just one gram of sugar in a single, delicious bar.

$42.79 for a box of 12 at Amazon.com

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