Best Protein Bars in 2021

Posted on July 11, 2021

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Protein bar innovation is powering ahead in leaps and bounds. Never has it been as easy to meet your daily protein needs- or as enjoyable.

These protein bar formulations contain quality bioavailable protein to support recovery from sports and exercise, and promote lean muscle mass.

Protein bars are often enjoyed between meals to reduce hunger and boost protein intake, as well as after exercise to enhance recovery.

One of the greatest benefits of protein bars is their next-level convenience, even trumping protein shakes. After all, no mixing is needed and perhaps the greatest benefit is not having a shaker bottle left to clean.

These days, protein bars are packed with accessory ingredients too, like fibre and prebiotics to support digestive health, MCTs and specialized amino acids, like creatine and glutamine.

There are also protein bars tailored to suit vegan or ketogenic dietary plans without sacrificing flavour, texture or nutrition.

These days, some protein bars taste so good that they can barely be distinguished from confectionary.

Confectionery stores are stocking them for this reason.

When was the last time you needed a protein hit and were unprepared? The daily challenges and pace of life can really make keeping on top of your nutrition a tricky affair indeed.

This thing called life can really get in the way.

Whether it be post-workout, between meals, before bed, or instead of a chocolate bar for the cinemas, protein bars are designed to help you neither falter nor stumble in getting a protein hit just when you need it.

Let’s take a look at some of the very best protein bars in 2021 within each of the categories.

Best Vegan Protein Bar

Prana Plant Protein Bar

In a market full of whey-based bars, it can be a hard task finding a protein bar that contains zero ingredients from animals.

This is where the Prana Plant Protein Bar can make all the difference, with it’s protein sourced from pea, rice, fababean and peanuts.

The Prana Plant Protein Bar is also packed with prebiotic fibre and Bacillus coagulans to help keep you fuller and satisfied for longer, whilst supporting the health of your gut flora.

To top it all off, Coconut MCT powder is added to keep your mind and body fueled for a past paced day or night.

This product is offered in Vanilla Cherry and Peanut Butter Cookie Dough, and contains only natural flavours and sweeteners.

Best Massive Protein Bar

HPLC Aussie Bodies

The HPLC Bar has been popular for many years for one simple reason: it packs more than 40 grams of protein per bar.

Some protein bars barely scrape through with 20 grams of protein, which has placed Aussie Bodies HPLC Bar at the top of the list for larger athletes, bodybuilders and strongmen/strongwomen.

This protein blend is composed of whey protein isolate and concentrate, calcium caseinate, milk protein isolate and soy protein, delivering a payload of nearly 8 grams of naturally occurring branched chain amino acids per bar.

Aussie Bodies offer this mammoth bar in Chocolate and Cookies and Cream flavours, which will definitely take some of the sting out of meeting your daily protein requirements.

And if you're a large human, you know it can be an arduous daily journey hitting those protein targets.

Whether it’s post-workout, before bed or as a between meal snack throughout the day, this is a bar that gets the job done without wondering if you’ve really had enough protein when the wrapper is empty.

Best Gourmet Protein Bar

Musashi Deluxe Protein Bar

How does a protein bar that contains a chocolate coating, a layer of peanut butter and an inner protein core sound? The Deluxe protein bar is absolutely delicious and offers a solid 21 grams of protein per bar.

The Musashi Deluxe bar really is a tasty delight. It’s a protein bar that will have you eating it even when you don't really need any more protein.

With flavours like Chocberry Mudcake, Jam Donut, Caramel Cookie Crunch, Triple Choc and Peanut Butter Crunch. This is a protein product that needs to be tasted to be believed.

But it’s not all about flavour, right? This product packs some of the highest quality protein available that is also light on the stomach and rapidly absorbed, called hydrolyzed collagen protein.

In addition, soy protein isolate, whey protein protein isolate and calcium caseinate have been added, topping the protein content up to around 21 grams per bar, with around 240 calories.

If you like Tim Tams and all things melt-in-your-mouth, get a cup of coffee ready and try dunking these bad boys.

Best Low-Calorie Protein Bar

Lo Carb Whipped

You have to remember that protein itself contains calories—around 4 per gram. So it's only possible to go so low when it comes to the energy values of protein bars.

For instance, if a protein bar contains 40 grams of protein and no other calorie-containing ingredients, it would deliver around 160 calories.

Of course, flavours, fibre and the other accessory ingredients used in protein bars, like cocoa and glycerol, all contains calories.

So it might come as a surprise that Aussie Bodies have been able to create a mini protein bar that offers a mere 99 calories: the Lo Carb Whipped Protein Bar.

Sure, it contains under ten grams of protein, which means for larger and more intensely active people it might not contain enough to meet your needs.

But if you want to munch on something throughout the day to keep your energy levels up and keep you away from the biscuit jar, this is your bar.

Sporty’s Health offer a great 3 box price on these bars, which keeps the single bar price down so you can snack away without less guilt and more enjoyment.

Best Crunchy Protein Bar

Carb Less Crunch

These delectable bars have been best-sellers at Sporty’s Health for many consecutive years, delivering a unique crunch and some flavours designed to impress.

Each Carb Less Crunch Bar contains around 16 grams of protein, in the form of plant-based protein, and around 160 calories or 685Kj.  

A great feature of these bars is their fibre content, at nearly 12 grams per bar. This helps to keep you fuller and more satisfied for longer as those low-calorie fibres help to keep you regular and support the health of your digestive flora.

With flavours like Rocky Road, Peppermint Rough, Chocolate Peanut and Caramel Deluxe, when it’s time to munch you won’t be disappointed.

Best Keto Protein Bar

Horleys Protein 33

How does 1.3 to 2.7 grams of carbs per bar sound, flavour dependent? The Horleys Protein 33 bar delivers a solid 20 grams of protein per bar, without wreaking havoc on your keto status.

Horleys are a master creator of some fantastic protein options, being one of Australia’s most popular sports nutrition brands for decades.

The Protein 33 Low Carb Bar also offers just under 6 grams of fibre per bar, helping to keep you full and less likely to look for food any time soon.

These bars are gluten-free, contain zero artificial sweeteners and contain sumptuous nougat layers with a high protein chocolate coating.

The Aussie Bodies Keto Wafer bars are definitely worth a mention here as well, as their texture is next-level, delivering a cream-filled centre with plenty of gourmet flavour.

Which bar you go for all depends on your calorie and protein needs. Horleys Protein 33 contains higher levels of both, while the Aussie Bodies Keto Wafer offers under 200 calories and just shy of 9 grams of protein.

Best Quality Protein Bar

Smart Diet Solutions

This is a protein bar that can be enjoyed daily for nine days straight, without eating the same flavour.

There is Marshmallow Choc Biscuit, Peanut Choc Caramel, Cinnamon Donut and Apricot Coconut amongst many other delicious all-natural flavours sweetened with stevia.

Smart Diet Solutions use premium protein sources, including whey protein isolate and milk protein isolate. Each Smart Protein Bar provides 20 grams of high-quality protein to support muscle recovery and optimal health.

With natural prebiotic fibre derived from corn, each bar is more filling than expected and supports digestive health in the process.

The addition of other nourishing ingredients, including almonds, cocoa butter (flavour dependent), cocoa and sea salt makes for a tasty treat that won’t get boring any time soon.

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