Nutrition Products The Best-Tasting Protein Bars—a Dietician’s Top Picks Fuel your needs with these delicious snacks By Eliza Savage, MS, RD, CDN Eliza Savage, MS, RD, CDN Eliza Savage, MS, RD is a senior editor at Verywell Fit, a registered dietitian, and a published author. Learn about our editorial process Updated on August 11, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Fit articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and nutrition and exercise healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Mia Syn, MS, RDN Medically reviewed by Mia Syn, MS, RDN Mia Syn, MS, RDN is a registered dietitian nutritionist with a master of science in human nutrition. She is also the host of Good Food Friday on ABC News 4. Learn about our Medical Review Board Fact checked Verywell Fit content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Emily Swaim Fact checked by Emily Swaim LinkedIn Emily is a fact checker, editor, and writer who has expertise in psychology, health and lifestyle content. Learn about our editorial process Print We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products. Healthcare professionals review articles for medical accuracy. Learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. When it comes to protein bars, flavor preference is highly individual. Whether you prefer a nut-butter, chocolate, or fruit-flavored bar, there’s an option for everyone. Some bars come in inventive and enticing flavors like birthday cake and s'mores; however, it’s always good to check out the ingredient list to ensure that your bar is free of artificial flavors, colors, and added sugars. Many bars on the market are comparable in sugar to candy bars, so choosing a bar made from high-quality ingredients and minimally processed sugars is ideal. Here, the best-tasting bars. In This Article Expand Our Picks What to Look for What Experts Say Why Trust Verywell Fit? How We Select Supplements Best Overall: Elemental Superfood Dark Chocolate + Almond Butter Seed Bar Courtesy of Amazon. View On Amazon View On Elemental-raw.com View On Instacart.com Great-tasting bars go beyond the typical fruit and nut flavors and have an indulgent texture that makes you think you're eating a bakery treat rather than a protein-packed nutrition bar. With a cookie-like texture and tons of inventive flavors—including Dark Chocolate + Almond Butter, Currant Cacao + Hemp Seed, and Mulberry Cacao + Spirulina—Elemental Superfoods bars will keep your taste buds excited and your body fueled with energy-boosting protein and nutrient-rich superfoods. With 230 calories, 8 grams of sugar, and 7 grams of protein, the Dark Chocolate + Almond Butter bar is an indulgent and incredibly nutritious snack. These bars are also incredibly allergy friendly and were created out of the founder’s need for on-the-go snacks that would fit her daughter’s dietary restrictions. Free of soy, egg, gluten, and dairy, these bars are great for anyone following an allergen-free or anti-inflammatory diet or merely looking for snacks that support a whole food, plant-based style of eating. The Non-GMO Project Verified, raw ingredients are easy for the body to digest and absorb. Note that these bars do require refrigeration. Best Budget: KIND Bars Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon Finding a bar that tastes great, is made from quality ingredients, and is budget friendly can be quite a challenge. Luckily, KIND makes a deliciously indulgent Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt bar that is low in sugar but tastes outrageously good. The satisfying crunch of peanuts and almonds is a welcome alternative to typical soft and chewy bars. Plus, the bars are widely available and aren’t as expensive as comparable products on the market. The hint of sea salt provides a savory twist to the nutty and chocolate-flavored bar. The Dark Chocolate Nuts & Sea Salt bar contains 180 calories, 5 grams of sugar, and 6 grams of protein. If you’re not a fan of dark chocolate, KIND also makes other varieties with 5 grams of sugar or less, including Madagascar Vanilla Almond (4 grams) and Maple Glazed Pecan & Sea Salt (5 grams). Best Gluten-Free: Raw Crunch Bars Courtesy of Amazon https://www.amazon.com//dp/B0046HCDMG/?tag=verywellfit-20 View On Amazon View On Rawcrunchbar.com If the ideal gluten-free snack existed in a package, Raw Crunch Bars would take a gold medal. These delicious handmade bars are full of wholesome nuts, seeds, honey, and fruit (or chocolate, depending on the flavor). Every ingredient except the chocolate is raw. The raw ingredients are soaked and dehydrated in small batches—rather than being cooked—to maintain the nutrients and enzymes. If allergens such as gluten are a concern, you'll be reassured to know that Raw Crunch's facility is gluten-, dairy-, soy-, and peanut-free. The organic bars are full of plant-based protein and fiber from a variety of nuts and seeds. One Raw Crunch bar contains 5 grams of easily digestible plant protein, 5 grams of natural sugar, and only 150 calories. The bars come in a variety of flavors, including Blueberry Lemon, Cranberry Orange, Dark Chocolate, Dark Chocolate Cherry, and Goji Berry. These Are the Best Protein Bars for Men, According to a Dietitian Best Chocolate: The YES Bar Dark Chocolate Chip Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon It can be challenging to find a chocolate-flavored bar that checks all the nutrition boxes and still tastes great. Many chocolate protein bars have a chalky taste or use artificial flavors and sweeteners to achieve a rich, velvety taste. With whole food ingredients and delicious cookie-like taste, the Yes Bar is the best chocolate-flavored bar. The Dark Chocolate Chip flavor tastes like a chewy chocolate chip cookie and contains 5 grams of plant-based protein. It's made from ingredients that you can read, including almonds, dark chocolate, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and cashews. Each bar contains 220 calories, 3 grams of fiber, and 8 grams of sugar from natural ingredients such as maple syrup and coconut nectar. While the bar is primarily made from nuts and seeds, it is free of gluten, grains, dairy, corn, soy, peanuts, eggs, and refined sugars. It's vegan and paleo friendly. The tasty, convenient bar comes in other delicious flavors such as Salted Maple Pecan and is the perfect quick snack any time of day. The 8 Best Protein Bars for Women, According to a Dietician Best Savory: Wild Zora Meat & Veggie Bars Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon A savory bar is a great alternative to typical sweet, chocolatey protein bars, especially if you prefer salty, meat, and veggie flavors. Wild Zora’s paleo and Whole30 diet-approved meat and veggie bars are the perfect satisfying snack for savory snackers. Unlike many comparable, jerky-like products, Wild Zora bars contain the highest quality ingredients without extra sugar, MSG, or other additives. They’re minimally processed, and the meat is free of antibiotics and hormones. With tons of mouth-watering flavors including Apple Pork, BBQ Beef, Curry Turkey, and Mediterranean Lamb, there are tons of options to satisfy every savory craving. Best Salty: EPIC Provisions Sea Salt and Pepper Bar Courtesy of Epic View On Amazon View On Epicprovisions.com If you're a fan of spicy, salty snacks, reach for EPIC's top-quality, tasty beef jerky bars. The spice comes from a blend of onion powder, garlic powder, sea salt, black pepper, and cultured celery powder. EPIC uses 100% grass-fed and pasture-raised sources from the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. The brand is committed to transparency and offers consumers information about the sourcing and standards of its beef. Each gluten-free and keto-friendly bar contains 11 grams of protein, zero grams of sugar, 130 calories, and 590 milligrams of sodium, making this an excellent choice for any salt lover. While you may love the delicious salt and pepper taste, note that one bar does contain 25 percent of the recommended daily value of sodium, so you may want to plan your meals—and water intake—accordingly. Final Verdict Taste is a highly individual preference, so if you want a bar with a ton of different flavors to choose from, try Health Warrior Chia Bar (view on Amazon). For a delicious bar that has a cookie-like consistency and great taste, try Elemental Superfood Seed Bars (view on Amazon). What to Look for in a Great-Tasting Bar Ingredients The fewer ingredients, the better. Aim to select a bar with fewer than 10 ingredients. When possible, choose bars made from whole food ingredients that you can recognize like nuts, seeds, whole grains, and dried fruit. Protein When searching for a protein bar, look for a bar with more grams of protein than grams of sugar. Also, consider the source of the protein. If you prefer plant-based or vegan products, a nut or seed-based bar is likely best for you. If you want a higher-protein bar, choose one that includes a protein powder such as whey, hemp, pea, or brown-rice protein. Sugar Avoid bars that use artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols, as these can cause stomach upset. Choose a bar that uses natural sweeteners like fruit, maple syrup, or honey. Aim to select a bar with 10 to 15 grams of total sugar at most to stay below the recommended 50 gram limit per day or 10% of total daily calories. Fiber Try to choose a bar with 3 or more grams of dietary fiber to help meet your recommended 25-34 grams per day. Calories Protein bars range in calories from approximately 100 to 250 calories. Consider your needs when selecting a bar. If you're choosing a bar as a small snack, you may want a lower-calorie option, whereas if you are using a bar as a meal replacement, you may want a bit more. Frequently Asked Questions What is the best-tasting protein bar? Taste is highly individual, so what tastes great to one person may taste terrible to the next. When looking for a great-tasting bar, it’s important to consider the overall nutrition components and ingredients before choosing a flavor. Look for a bar with high-quality ingredients and a balance of protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates that suits your individual needs and activity levels. Once you find a bar that meets your criteria, select a flavor that appeals to you. When possible, avoid artificial flavors and sweeteners. What is the best-tasting paleo bar? People following a paleo diet avoid gluten, dairy, grains, legumes, artificial sweeteners, and most forms of sugar. If you're looking for a great tasting bar that's compliant with the paleo diet rules, you may opt for something like EPIC Provision's Sea Salt and Pepper Bar, as it's a paleo-friendly product made with 100 percent grass-fed beef and no sugar. What Experts Say "Bars can make for an easy and delicious snack on the go, especially on days when you’re craving something sweet but want to avoid the blood sugar crash that can come with other sweet snacks and treats. In terms of flavor and nutrient composition, not all bars are created equal. I always recommend choosing options with short ingredient lists that you can recognize, less than 10 grams [of] sugar, and ideally, contain some fiber and protein to keep you full and satisfied."—Lauren Bloch, MS, RD Why Trust Verywell Fit? A personal note on my recommendations written above. As a dietitian, I am frequently asked about the best bars—in terms of nutrition and taste. In writing this article, I spent time looking at multiple products and brands and consulted with my peers in dietetics. I believe the products in the roundup are made by trusted brands and are composed of high-quality ingredients. I would recommend the above products to friends, family, and clients, and I have personally tried all of the products. You can currently find EPIC, Yes, and Health Warrior bars in my pantry. —Eliza Savage, MS, RD, CDN How We Select Supplements Our team works hard to be transparent about why we recommend certain supplements; you can read more about our dietary supplement methodology here. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get one simple hack every day to make your life healthier. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 1 Source Verywell Fit uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Makinen KK. Gastrointestinal disturbances associated with the consumption of sugar alcohols with special consideration of xylitol: scientific review and instructions for dentists and other health-care professionals. Int J Dent. 2016;2016:5967907. doi:10.1155/2016/5967907