Protein bars have become the snack of choice for anyone leading an active lifestyle, providing a portable alternative to more cumbersome shakes and time-intensive meals.
Here’s our pick of the best high protein snacks to fuel your recovery…
MF BEST BUY:
Bio-Synergy Rebel Vegan Protein Bar
£44.82 (box of 18), bio-synergy.uk
Its 12g of protein may be lower than others in the list, but the plant-based version of Bio-Synergy’s Rebel Protein Bar (there’s also a non-vegan option), with its layers of caramel, dates and nuts, gets full marks for flavour and texture.
Its list of ingredients is in the single digits – always a good sign – and the fact it’s 100 per cent natural makes this bar your best bet for both body and planet.
Protein: 4/5
Taste: 5/5
Texture: 5/5
Health: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
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Pulsin Protein Booster
£32.22 (box of 18), pulsin.co.uk
Taste, texture and a decent-enough 13g of protein combine to make the Pulsin Protein Booster a close runner-up in our roundup.
The all-natural bar contains an optimum blend of pea and rice protein for a complete amino acid profile, and the Peanut Choc flavour in particular will have you powering through your sessions.
Protein: 3.5/5
Taste: 5/5
Texture: 5/5
Health: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
Vive Natural Protein Snack Bar
£16 (box of 12), eatvive.com
The all-natural option, Vive bars are gluten-free and vegan-friendly, with a coating of organic dark chocolate housing your choice of either peanuts or hazelnuts, a pea and rice protein mix, and organic cacao butter.
The protein/calories ratio isn’t the best, at 10g in each 227-calorie bar, but there is at least none of the chalky texture you get from less natural, higher protein options.
Protein: 2.5/5
Taste: 3/5
Texture: 4/5
Health: 5/5
Overall: 3.5/5
My Vegan Protein Cookie
£16.49 (box of 12), myvegan.com
Chewy, chocolatey and with enough calories (289) to curb your post-workout hunger, these are an indulgent recovery treat.
As with many protein products, they’re slightly dense and don’t taste quite the same as a conventional cookie, but not a bad effort at all from the all-new, all-vegan brand.
Protein: 3.5/5
Taste: 3.5/5
Texture: 3/5
Health: 3.5/5
Overall: 3.5/5
RELATED: Nine of the Best Vegan Protein Powders
The Protein Works Loaded Legends
£26.99 (box of 12), theproteinworks.com
These taste as good as anything we tried, and pack an impressive 15g of protein into each 185 calorie bar. However, although there’s only half a teaspoon of sugar per bar, the ingredients list is long and contains some difficult-to-pronounce additions, but a solid choice if you’re looking for a post-workout treat a few times a week.
Protein: 2.5/5
Taste: 3.5/5
Texture: 4/5
Health: 3/5
Overall: 4/5
The Protein Ball Co
£17.99 (box of 10), theproteinballco.com
Available in a wide range of flavours – from the conventional Peanut Butter (our favourite), to the less obvious Goji + Coconut – each bag contains six miniature protein balls that weigh in with a combined total of 10g of protein and 175 calories.
Less heavy than traditional bars, these are made from natural ingredients with no added nasties.
Protein: 2.5/5
Taste: 3.5/5
Texture: 3.5/5
Health: 5/5
Overall: 4/5
Science In Sport PLANT20 Bar
£30 (box of 12), scienceinsport.com
With 20g protein per par, these are a genuine alternative to your post-workout shake. Suitable for vegans, the bars are also naturally sweetened with lucuma (a fruit extract) and stevia.
We’re all for plant-based goodness, but the taste does leave a little to be desired, although in terms of high-quality protein these bars are hard to beat.
Protein: 5/5
Taste: 2.5/5
Texture: 3/5
Health: 5/5
Overall: 4/5
Optimum Nutrition Protein Crisp
£25 (box of 10), optimumnutrition.com
Optimum Nutrition knows its stuff when it comes to protein, and these bars continue the brand’s high-quality range of products.
All-natural types should look elsewhere, but if it’s just a tasty training treat you’re after, these boast 20g of muscle-building protein, a nice crisp texture and a calorie count (215) compatible with most diets.
Protein: 5/5
Taste: 4/5
Texture: 4/5
Health: 3/5
Overall: 4/5
CLIF Builder’s Protein Bar
£2.49 per bar, sigmasports.com
As the name suggests, these bars are far from a light post-workout option, but what they lack in subtlety they make up for in both protein content – an impressive 20g – chocolatey indulgence and a satisfying crunch.
Given how good they taste, they’re also pleasantly short of eyebrow-raising ingredients.
Protein: 5/5
Taste: 4/5
Texture: 4/5
Health: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
Beachbody BEACHBAR
£39.79 (box of 15), teambeachbody.com
Punchy pricetag aside, these are a tasty, guilt-free option perfect for anyone looking to get enough protein without cramming in too many calories – just 151kcal per bar.
The 10g protein content can be bettered elsewhere but, when it comes to taste and texture, sweet-toothed gym-goers will find few better options.
Protein: 2.5/5
Taste: 4.5/5
Texture: 4.5/5
Health: 3/5
Overall: 3/5
