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Enjoy post-workout snacks that deliver on nutrition and flavour
Let’s be honest, we’ve all tasted a protein bar at some point and thought: “That is actually disgusting”. Despite this, protein – which provides the building blocks for essential stuff such as cells, muscles, bone, nails, hormones and enzymes – has achieved a hallowed status in the health and fitness world, mainly due to its ability to help you recover after a vigorous workout and gain muscle mass.
It’s big business – just look at the supermarket shelves: extra-protein Weetabix, protein powders that come in every flavour you can think of, protein shakes, protein bars, protein yoghurts. We can’t get enough of the stuff.
No longer reserved just for top athletes, protein has crept into every boutique gym and inner-city kitchen alike. Globally, the protein bar market size was valued at $4.66bn (£3.29bn) in 2019 and is expected to reach $7.03bn (£4.97bn) by 2027.
Over the years, we have tried many protein bars and, without fail, two things happen. The first is they taste gross – like a mixture of earwax and chalk. The second thing is they get shunned to the back of the snack drawer, never to be seen again (until they go past their sell-by date and end up in the bin, of course).
With this in mind, we set out to find the best protein bars that deliver nutrition and flavour.
During our quest to find a protein bar that actually tasted, well, nice – while also being healthy enough to serve as a filling post-workout boost (and not just a glorified chocolate bar) – we tested some of the biggest names in the market. We tried them both pre- and post-workout, after training in the gym and tempo run sessions and mid-way through long cycle rides out on the bike, to see which ones delivered on taste, high protein and low sugar. These are the ones that really packed a punch.
As with most things, protein bars can be good for you and a great source of extra protein when eaten in moderation. In a 2023 study published in the Journal of Functional Foods, researchers found that daily intake of protein bars increased energy but also increased body fat mass.
While it’s always best to get your nutritional needs through food, a protein bar can tide you over after the gym or until you get home to have your next meal. Always check the nutritional label, some protein bars are filled with so much sugar that they become glorified chocolate bars.
We found it incredibly hard to choose an overall winner here, as several of these bars met our number-one requirement: being a protein bar that doesn’t taste like one. Our favourites include Barebells, Tribe and MyProtein flapjack but it’s Grenade’s Carb Killa chocolate chip salted caramel bar that earned our top spot – proving it’s actually possible to make delicious treats that are high in protein and low in sugar.
Alice Barraclough is currently nutrition editor at Women’s Health, she has written for The Independent since 2021. Alice has tried and tested a whole host of fitness products for IndyBest, including supplements and workout gear, and is a name to trust when it comes to health and wellbeing. When not writing about fitness, she’s run London Marathons and completed a 70.3 IronMan, which cements her as an expert you can trust.
Want more inspiration? Read our review of the best vegan protein powders