9 Healthiest Protein Bars That Pack Clean, Natural Ingredients

Protein bars have become synonymous with on-the-go, muscle-building snacking. Whether it's to fuel up before or after your workout or to get you through that afternoon slump, there are entire aisles at the grocery store now filled with countless options.

When sorting through them all to find the healthiest protein bars, there are certain ingredients to look for to help up your protein count in a balanced, healthy way that doesn't taste like you're gnawing on a dog treat (yes, quality protein can be tasty).

Best Protein Bars With Healthy, Natural Ingredients

Can Protein Bars Be Healthy?

Protein bars are a popular snack food to get protein on-the-go or fill those in-between hunger pangs, but—as with most foods—not all are created equal.

Some are glorified candy bars, but natural protein bars pack a strong nutrition punch with clean ingredients. Here are some guidelines to look for:

• High-quality protein sources: Prioritize protein bars that source protein from high-quality isolates and concentrates such as grass-fed whey protein, just as you would a clean plant-based protein powder or whey protein powder. 

• Natural sweeteners: Choose bars with natural sources of sugar like cane sugar, honey, agave, or from real fruit like dates.

• Whole-food ingredients: Clean protein bars only use whole foods or natural ingredients. Look for minimal or no artificial ingredients, if possible.

• Healthy fats: Fats are essential for your body to absorb certain nutrients and help keep you full. Opt for protein bars that contain healthy fats from nuts and seeds rather than those that use vegetable or hydrogenated oils.

What to Avoid When Buying Protein Bars

Even the best tasting protein bars can be deceiving. Look at the label and avoid protein bars with lots of added sugars, artificial ingredients, and processed ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oil.

Start with the ingredient list, where less is usually more, and whole-food ingredients outperform anything that looks overly complicated. The optimal clean protein bar will also depend on your specific goals. Are you using them to fuel up away from home, bridge the gap between meals, or support weight loss or muscle growth? The best choice will vary accordingly, but here are some good general criteria to aim for:

• Energy: Organic protein bars should have a nice balance of healthy fats, protein, and fiber to keep you satisfied and between 100 to 400 calories per serving from real-food ingredients.

• Protein: The difference between snack bars and protein bars boils down to protein. Aim for at least 10g.

• Fiber: Look for natural protein bars with at least 3g fiber.

Is It OK to Eat a Protein Bar Every Day?

Sure, you can enjoy a protein bar daily—as long as it’s part of an overall balanced and healthy diet. There’s a time and a place for natural protein bars, just make sure you choose ones that are full of real, wholesome ingredients to provide some good nutrition and keep you feeling satiated. They're a great option in between meals, as a post-workout snack, or as on-the-go nutrition. Some can appease a sweet tooth while others are more savory.

Related: The 20 Best High-Protein Meats to Build Muscle

Can You Replace a Meal With a Protein Bar?

Clean protein bars are often used as a quick way to replace a meal, especially for breakfast. While a protein bar does not replace a wholesome, nutritious breakfast made with real foods, some natural protein bars can be a decent substitute in a time crunch. If this is the case, opt for bars that are low in sugar and low or void of hydrogenated oils for lasting energy.

If you want a bar to serve as a meal replacement, you want at least 10 to 15g of fat—too little will prevent you from staying full. "We fully support a higher-fat diet as long as the quality and type are top-notch and it matches demands and goals," says Julie Burns, M.S., R.D., founder of SportFuel Inc. (The one time you don't want fat is immediately before or immediately after a typical hour-long gym session; research published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism shows a high-fat meal can blunt the production of growth hormone. It can also disrupt digestion prior to workouts and slow down digestion after.)

When to Eat a Protein Bar

Before a workout, the type of carbs matter most. "You want slow-releasing carbs, which you can use before any type of workout," Burns says. For weightlifting, powerlifting, and endurance workouts, slow-release complex carbs, like modified starch and fiber, give you sustained energy; you won't need as much if you're doing HIIT or circuit training.

Split any of the more calorie-dense bars in half for a snack. Just be careful; you don't want to eat too many bars in place of food or you could gain unwanted weight.