If protein bars are part of your regular routine, whether as a “healthy” sweet treat or a convenient midday snack or post-workout fuel, make sure your favorite bars are nutritious as you think
Some can pack in as much as a day’s worth of added sugar, and others don’t even provide that much protein. In today’s FUELED, we’re sharing three of our current favorite protein bars to consider adding to your lineup
What makes for a better protein bar?
Minimally processed ingredients
Look for at least 15 grams of protein with not more than 5 grams of sugar
Lower sugar; limit artificial sweeteners
Search for natural, plant-based zero-calorie sweeteners
What to avoid in a protein bar:
High sugar; ideally no more than 5 grams of sugar in one protein bar
Avoid artificial sweeteners like sucralose and synthetic food dyes
Sweeteners such as honey, maple syrup, agave, date syrup and brown rice syrup are still added sugars
Three current favorite bars
Julian Bakery Protein Bars
Proteinte protein and whey protein
20 grams of protein and less than 1 gram of sugar
Sweetened with monk fruit extract, very clean and minimal ingredients
David Protein Bars
Best ratio of calories to protein; also the lowest sugar option
Protein
25 grams of protein and zero sugar
Be aware that David bars can cause GI upset in sensitive individuals; for others, there’s no issue
Junkless Protein Bars
Higher-fiber option
15 grams of protein, 8 grams of fiber, 3 grams of sugar
Sweetened with stevia
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Molly Kimball, RD, CSSDÂ is a registered dietitian and nutrition journalist in New Orleans, and founder of the Ochsner Eat Fit nonprofit restaurant initiative
Tune in to her podcast, FUELED | Wellness + Nutrition, and follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @MollyKimballRD. Download the Eat Fit mobile app to stay in the know about Eat Fit partners, new dishes, festivals, and more
To schedule a nutrition consult with Molly’s Lifestyle Nutrition team, email nutrition@ochsner.org
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