It seems that everyone – and we mean everyone – is talking about protein lately, and it's not just gym fanatics either. Just a quick scroll on TikTok is evidence of that we're all taking our protein intake seriously in 2024. Whether you're after high protein, low carb foods or you're on the lookout for vegan sources of protein, there are plenty of tasty meals to help you meet your daily goal. But don't forget about snacks, too.
Enter the protein bar, a convenient way to get some extra protein in your diet when you're on the go.
They can be slightly more on the expensive side - a protein bar will set you back more than your average Milky Way, unfortunately. Thankfully, we've got you covered no matter your budget as you're perusing the snack aisles.
On top of their slightly spennier price point, there are so many different varieties of protein bar out there. It can be hard to know which one to choose – especially if you have dietary requirements (such as being vegan), have allergies or suffer from IBS.
To make things easier, we asked nutritionist extraordinaire Jenna Hope to give an expert verdict on some of the most popular protein bars on the market right now (as well as subjecting them to a very rigorous taste test ourselves – it's a hard job, but someone's got to do it!).
"Many protein bars contain a wide range of ingredients from polyols, to sugars, stabilisers and artificial flavourings," explains Hope. "As a result, they shouldn’t be viewed as a healthy snack but rather a convenient way to increase protein and in some cases they can be seen as an alternative to a chocolate bar."
The expert advises not to consume them in place of a nutrient dense meal, but to treat them as a good option if you’re snacking in the afternoon, or after finishing a workout and are short on time. "Many protein bars contain polyols, a type of sugar alcohol which is used to provide sweetness," Hope adds. "Polyols can cause gastrointestinal symptoms for those who suffer with IBS and therefore shouldn’t be over-consumed."
With Hope's advise in mind, here's our round-up of ten widely-sold bars, complete with tasting notes and nutritional info.
Best flavour protein bar
Grenade's Carb Killa
The Cosmopolitan UK team tried the Chocolate Chip Salted Caramel bars, which triumphs on the flavour front (it was perfect for a filling, mid-afternoon snack that isn't too sweet) and has a high protein content. However, warns Hope, this Grenade bar also contains a high amount of maltitol (a polyol which is a sugar alcohol – sugar alcohols are used as sweeteners in foods as they’re low in calories, can bulk out the food and provide sweetness) making it one to limit if you have IBS.
"This bar contains 20g of protein but contains 18g of polyols largely from maltitol which can have laxative effects and stimulate gut symptoms such as bloating and flatulence in IBS suffers," she advises. "It also contains 5.1g of saturated fat which should be limited in the diet."
Best protein bar according to a nutritionist
The Protein Ball Co
Not a bar per se, but a winner in our expert's eyes. "These balls are great for portion control as you don’t have to consume them all in one go," says Hope. "They’re made with natural ingredients, lower in saturated fats than other bars and don’t contain polyols." Given the flavour varieties on offer too, there's bound to be one for everyone.
Best protein bar for when you're craving chocolate
Mars Hi Protein Bar
Okay, so while nothing can truly imitate a bona fide Mars Bar, the Mars Hi Protein Bar does a commendable job. All the flavours are there, but the centre is chewier (well, it's densely packed with 20g of protein, so what do you expect?). "This is a high protein version of a chocolate bar and shouldn’t be mistaken for a healthy nutrient dense snack," notes Hope. "While this bar is a better alternative to a regular Mars Bar as it’s lower in calories, fat and sugar, it’s still high in saturated fats." We enjoyed ours dunked in a coffee (don't judge).
Best low calorie protein bar
MAXIMUSCLE's New York Vanilla Cheesecake bar
These pocket-sized bars are perfect if you're really craving something indulgent, as they're extra sweet, and come in at around the 150 calories mark. "This bar does contain numerous artificial additives," notes Hope. "As a protein bar, it’s lower in calories than many of the others although it’s high in polyols and contains 11.7g per bar."
Best cereal-based protein bar
Eat Natural
"These are a slightly more natural bar than some other protein bars although there are still other more natural ones on the market," says Hope. "They vary in saturated fat content so it’s always worth comparing flavours." These are much lighter and easier to consume, she adds.
Best protein bar for those with IBS
Clif Builders Protein Bars
While these are higher in calories than other bars, they don’t contain polyols and therefore may be a more friendly option for those people who suffer with IBS, says Hope. "The bars are made with soy protein which is the most nutritionally similar to whey protein."
Best protein bar for vegans
Barebells Protein Bar (Salty Peanut)
This bar isn't overly sweet and has a good texture – but don't go thinking it's a rival for a Snickers. Hope says that this is one of the better options due to the no added sugar (and being lower in sugar overall than many bars), however the Barebells vegan option does contain artificial sweeteners, which should be consumed in moderation. "It’s high in saturated fats too, which ought to be accounted for as part of your total saturated fat intake," advises Hope. "I personally found these bars to taste more artificial than some of the others."
Best protein bar for those with allergies
Creative Nature
Creative Nature prides itself on being the safest option for those with allergens, the bars are all nut-free, vegan-friendly and gluten-free. We've yet to test the Blueberry Muffin offering but all of the flavours we tried (Spiced Apple, Salted Caramel and Orange Cacao) were eminently edible. However, on the protein content front they only have around 8g per bar. "These bars are the most natural as they’re packed with whole foods such as oats, seeds and dates," agrees Hope. "They’re lighter in flavour than many others and are therefore easier to eat."
Best gluten-free protein bar option
Beachbar Chocolate Almond Crunch
beachbody BEACHBAR® Plant-Based Chocolate Almond Crunch (15 bars per box)
This is a winner on the taste front, but only has 9g of protein – it's also on the more expensive side at almost £40 for a box of 15. "This is lower in calories than the other bars and contains 150kcals per bar," says Hope. "It’s less dense and lighter in weight than some of the other options too."
Best protein bar alternative treat
Bulk's Vegan Protein Brownie
Bulk have a great selection of protein inspired sweet treats with protein bar-rivalling benefits, including everything from cookies to brownies and peanut butter cups.
Hope recommended Bulk's Protein Millionaires Slice, pointing out "it’s higher in calories (each one contains 271) than many of the other bars and contains nearly 7g of saturated fats per bar," while delivering 15g of protein. Sadly, this sweet treat is no longer available, but the good news is you can still get your hands on Bulk's Vegan Protein Brownie, which also packs a punch with 15g of protein.
So, there you have it, happy snacking!
Jennifer Savin is Cosmopolitan UK's multiple award-winning Features Editor, who was crowned Digital Journalist of the Year for her work tackling the issues most important to young women. She regularly covers breaking news, cultural trends, health, the royals and more, using her esteemed connections to access the best experts along the way. She's grilled everyone from high-profile politicians to A-list celebrities, and has sensitively interviewed hundreds of people about their real life stories. In addition to this, Jennifer is widely known for her own undercover investigations and campaign work, which includes successfully petitioning the government for change around topics like abortion rights and image-based sexual abuse. Jennifer is also a published author, documentary consultant (helping to create BBC’s Deepfake Porn: Could You Be Next?) and a patron for Y.E.S. (a youth services charity). Alongside Cosmopolitan, Jennifer has written for The Times, Women’s Health, ELLE and numerous other publications, appeared on podcasts, and spoken on (and hosted) panels for the Women of the World Festival, the University of Manchester and more. In her spare time, Jennifer is a big fan of lipstick, leopard print and over-ordering at dinner. Follow Jennifer on Instagram, X or LinkedIn.
Kimberley Bond is a Features Writer at Cosmopolitan. After gaining her MA in Magazine Journalism from the University of Sheffield in 2016, Kimberley first started her career as a showbiz and culture writer, where she interviewed A-Listers (and Z-Listers) on red carpets, at awards ceremonies and at parties.
After the pandemic put a hold on the showbiz circuit, Kimberley turned to features and has written for a number of publications including The Independent, The Telegraph, Evening Standard, Stylist and Glamour amongst countless others.
She’s still a complete celebrity gossip hound, and when she’s not scrolling through the sidebar of shame you can find her on X, LinkedIn or in the gym where’s trying and failing to get an arse like JLo.
Amber O’Connor is Cosmopolitan UK’s junior features writer, who covers everything from breaking news, women’s safety and real life features to fitness, travel, and cultural trends. She works on first-person features, reports, and long reads, plus the hottest stories of the day (if you want to know about the latest wellness craze or TikTok trends, she’s your girl).
Amber has previously worked as a reporter and a lifestyle writer, with her work appearing in numerous publications, including The Mirror, Red Magazine, Evening Standard, Indy100, and Yahoo News. When she’s not working her way through her TBR list, Amber loves dancing, running, and going on adventures with her dog.
