The Best Protein Bars for Men 2022

Protein bars seem like the miracle snack: They promise the protein you need to feed your muscles, while boasting flavors so delicious you’ll want to sub them for dessert.

But the unfortunate truth is that many of these protein bars are just candy bars in disguise. Too often, protein bars are processed to the point of being jammed full of sugar (real and/or fake). Many contain far too many empty calories. And a good bulk of them house less-than-deal sources of protein, which means many of their protein promises may fall flat when it comes to muscle-building.

So finding a well-balanced, high-quality protein bar is rough—especially considering how many of these things there are out there on the market (or gas station, or health food store, or...).

So what makes a high-quality protein bar to begin with?

Here's what dietitians tend to agree on: You want to buy a protein bar with at least 20 grams of protein from a dairy-based source (whey, casein, or a combination of both), with 300 calories or fewer, 15 grams of fat or below, and around five grams of fiber, says Kris Sollid, R.D., senior director at the International Food Information Council Foundation.

Yes, fiber!

“Men only eat about half of the fiber recommended each day, so it’s important to incorporate it whenever possible,” says Sollid. That's because fiber helps you stay regular, as you know, but it also helps you stay full enough to prevent mindless snacking on foods with empty calories. (Plus, research shows that people who eat diets high in fiber have been shown to have less risk of cardiovascular diseases)

One other key factor: flavor. You can have a protein bar that checks all the nutritional boxes, but if it tastes like licking a telephone pole, then why even bother?

Many of the protein bars below hit these marks (and taste awesome), but also know that you can still enjoy a protein bar that falls short—just pair it with something else that helps shore up the missing nutrient. So, if your protein bar is low in fiber, eat it with an apple or a pear. Lower in protein? Have it with a hard-boiled egg.

Easy, right?

Here are the best protein bars for men.