Many of us have made it a priority to eat fresh and clean meals filled with whole foods and vegetables. However, that might not serve all of our nutritional needs or even be possible to maintain. That’s where clean protein bars come in. They can uplift you whenever you need a snack or get ready for your workout session. Check out our guide on the best clean protein bars.
Are Clean Protein Bars Healthy?
Clean protein bars are an incredible way to restore your energy in-between meals, after workouts, during traveling, and workout; basically, they are a portable snack solution throughout your entire day. They help maintain muscle mass and keep your blood sugar balanced even when you are on a tight schedule.
However, people often raise concerns about whether protein bars are healthy. Well, the answer is it depends. All brands carry different ingredient labels, and you need to understand what they are offering in order to determine if it’s healthy.
To begin with, your clean protein bar needs to contain a minimum of 8 grams of protein. In fact, a bar cannot qualify as a protein bar without if it does not contain at least that amount.
If you’re expecting to gain muscle and following a workout routine for the purpose, you’ll want to look at the daily grams of protein per pounds or kilograms of body weight.
A study found that a minimum of 0.7 grams of protein per pound of body weight is ideal to gain muscle mass (source).
Your protein intake is also key when it comes to weight loss. Consuming more protein reduces your appetite and therefore reduces your calorie intake.
A study conducted on a group of women who increased their protein intake to 30% of calories ended up eating 441 fewer calories per day and lost 11 pounds in 12 weeks (source)!
Protein also does a better job of keeping you feeling full compared to fat and carbs (source).
Since you are trying to focus on clean eating, your protein bar should only contain natural sweeteners derived from whole fruits and cane sugar.
Take a close look at the ingredients. You want to have protein sources that are organic and free of harsh chemicals. Try to avoid protein bars that contain carrageenan, maltitol, sucralose, processed soy, and such.
All things considered, clean protein bars are a healthy solution for you to maintain a nutritious and tasty diet. However, you are going to have to consider the ingredient and nutrition content available in the bar in order to decide if it’s healthy for you or not.
We have spent hours dissecting protein bar labels for you, so don’t have to. Find some healthy, clean protein bars options below in this article.
When Should You Eat Protein Bars?
A straightforward answer to this question is that it’s best to eat protein bars near a workout session. It may be pre or post-workout, or both especially if you are trying to build muscles. While there are several recommendations regarding when you should eat protein bars, you can decide a schedule for yourself.
If you are working on building muscles, eating protein bars within 2 hours of the workout may help muscle growth. And be sure to not begin your workout with an empty stomach. You should have a protein bar prior to your workout if you’re hungry.
However, you can also consume protein bars to reduce hunger or restore your energy if you haven’t eaten anything in 4 or 5 hours. It will help your blood sugar remain stable and give you an energy boost.
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6 Best Clean Protein Bars
1. Your Super Chocolate Lover Bar
You’ll never go back to a sugar-laden snack bar again! These Chocolate Lover bars have the flavors of your favorite brownie but without all that added junk! And it’ll also help to give your mood an extra boost!
Made with real ingredients, one serving of superfoods, and fueled by plants for easier digestion – these organic plant-based treats are worth every bite.
These superfood clean protein bars also come in 3 other delicious flavors that can help boost your energy, reduce inflammation or fill your body with a full serving of nutrient-dense greens!
Features:
- Superfood health benefits
- All organic natural ingredients
2. RXBAR Coffee Chocolate Protein Bar
RXBAR always makes a wholesome snack no matter what time of a day it is. It comes in a variety of flavors for people of every taste; you can enjoy its nutritional values no matter what. A bar contains only 4 simple, real food ingredients with egg whites as the primary source of protein.
The natural simplicity and affordable pricing of the RXBAR make it a great addition to your snack time or workout routine.
Features:
- Affordable
- Simple natural ingredients
3. Aloha Organic Plant-Based Protein Bars
Available in many flavors besides Peanut Butter Chocolate chip, Aloha is one of the most delicious protein bars in the market. Each bar contains 14 grams of plant-based protein, 13 grams of fiber, and only 4 grams of sugar which makes it a healthy solution. It contains no artificial ingredients.
Features:
- Non-GMO organic ingredients
- Soy-free
- Vegan friendly
4. Primal Kitchen Collagen Protein Bars
Offering 7.5 grams of bovine collagen peptides per serving, Primal Kitchen Protein Bars weighs 20.3 ounces and offers great nutritional values to keep you healthy on a clean diet.
It offers 15 grams of protein per serving, which makes it an ideal choice for workout routines. It is sweetened with monk fruits and honey; there is no added sugar which makes it all the more appealing.
Features:
- Available in various flavors
- Gluten and dairy-free
- Prebiotic fiber for gut health
5. Go Macro Mocha Chocolate Protein Bar
Composed of organic ingredients ideal for vegans and people who are trying to build muscles, Go Macro has been offering protein bars that offer plant-based nutrition that is not only healthy but also absolutely delicious.
Besides the ingredients, the entire process that follows the production of these protein bars is sustainable and carried out by non-GMO certified growers. These bars are offered in 11 other delicious flavors!
Features:
- USDA organic
- Vegan certified clean protein bars
- Available in many flavors besides mocha chocolate
6. Epic Provisions Lemon Protein Bars
With 12 grams of protein derived from cage-free egg white and nuts, Epic Provisions offers an incredible snack that is ideal for before and after a workout. These clean protein bars are gluten-free and only contain 5 non-GMO ingredients to offer you the highest quality nutrition during the day. While we particularly love the lemon flavor, you will find many other flavors available for these protein bars, including peanut butter, almond butter, and chocolate.
Features:
- Fueled by organic ingredients
- No added sugar
- Vegetarian friendly
We hope these best clean protein bars help to keep you active throughout the day. All of them offer great nutritional values and taste.
