Sometimes lately, I feel like I must be pregnant. As I've been starting to gain back hunger and appetite cues, I have had the strangest cravings. Earlier this summer it was peanut butter and sour cream ranch dip, two things that I've never in my life been particularly inclined to. This month, I rarely feel like eating anything except watermelon and snack bars. Since I got out of the hospital, granola and energy bars have often been a go-to snack for me because they tend to be energy-dense but mild enough that I can tolerate them with a lacking appetite. Throughout my weight-gain journey there are often times where I just don't enjoy food, and for some reason bars have continued to be something that at least moderately taste good most of the time. But the past several weeks, that's all I want to eat. Like, it's kind of embarrassing how many protein and snack bars I eat every day.
Even if you're not having pregnancy-like cravings for protein bars, I still highly recommend them as an easy addition to your day when you don't have an appetite or you're on a high-calorie diet. Also, bars are great convenient snacks for college students and anyone on the go, and I think most of the current readers of this blog are people who heard about it from my parents, which means you're probably an athlete and snack bars are a go-to for you as well.
Protein bars are also not cheap and can be incredibly hit-or-miss. Since I eat so many of them I'm constantly on the hunt for variety, and I have come across a fair share of new favorites and ones I have to throw away because I can't swallow another bite. So I thought I'd share my list of favorites to spare you from playing guessing games the next time you're at the grocery store. Today I'm going to be specifically reviewing products marketed as "protein" bars, but I will more than likely write more posts in the future about my other favorite energy/granola/breakfast bars, so if you're not a protein bar fan stay tuned. Please also note that, because I am trying to gain weight, nutritional value is not a top priority for me, so these bars are ranked purely by which ones I think taste best. If you're looking for a ranking that takes into consideration macros, grams of sugar, etc, this probably isn't the most helpful list for you :)
1) Nugo Dark Chocolate Pretzel with Sea Salt Protein Bar
I hesitantly bought one of these on a whim of curiosity one time when I saw they were on sale at my local grocery store, and as soon as I took a bite I knew it was going to be one of my new favorites. I'm extremely picky when it comes to chocolate, usually the darker the better. The chocolate coating kind of tastes like the Ghirardelli dark chocolate chips that I never buy because they're way more expensive than the store brand. It's not so sweet that it's overwhelming, but it tastes like real chocolate and not the chalky protein-y chocolate that some bars have. The sea salt is what makes this my favorite flavor of Nugo, which is funny because I'm not always big on sweet and salty. But it balances out the sweetness the perfect amount, which is nice for when too strong of flavors sounds unappetizing. There's no real pretzels in the bar; the inside is made or crisped rice instead, which definitely gives it one of the more appealing textures that I've found in protein bars. I would especially recommend these for anyone who doesn't normally like protein bars, as they definitely stand out from the stereotypical whey-tasting, gummy-textured bars.
2) Lenny and Larry's The Complete Cookie Chocolate Chip
You know those skillet-cookie things that are all the rage around restaurants right now? The idea of a warm, gooey cookie sounds amazing, but I was raised eating home baked goods that use yogurt or applesauce in place of butter, and because that's what tastes normal to me I really, really don't like buttery-tasting desserts. Every time I've tried one of these skillet-cookie things with friends, I am disappointed at the overwhelming buttery-ness, so I rudely pick out the melty chocolate chips and leave the rest for them to eat. To be honest, I've never tried a Lenny and Larry's Cookie straight out of the package, but put them in the microwave for 30 seconds and they taste exactly the way I wish these skillet cookie desserts tasted. The cookie gets soft and chewy and the chocolate chips melt just enough that they taste freshly baked but don't drip all over the place. Of course, the downside is that it's exponentially less convenient to have to microwave one of these before eating (also note that microwave times WILL vary; start with 10-15 seconds and check frequently). But I promise you, it's worth it. Okay, I guess I did say I've never tried one cold, but I will also admit that when you open the cookie package it doesn't smell incredibly appetizing, so I have to imagine that eating it right out of the container wouldn't taste quite as good. I've tried a bunch of Lenny and Larry's flavors, but Chocolate Chip is definitely my favorite, and it's the only one I added to this list because many of the other flavors seem difficult to find. I really like the Lemon Poppyseed too, but I've never seen it except on Amazon and at my school's overpriced on-campus marketplace.
3) Clif Kid Z Bar Protein - Chocolate Mint
I've probably said at least five times between this blog and our podcast how much I love Clif products, but that isn't going to stop me from saying it again. I would consider becoming an athlete just so that I could be a Clif brand ambassador and get free products. Clif Kid Z Bars are my absolute favorite, but their protein bars are great too. Even though I said I wasn't taking nutritional value into consideration, these didn't rank first because they're a bit smaller than the average protein bar, so they aren't the most substantial option in terms of energy density. But don't be deterred by the "Kid" label; everyone needs to try these bars. They have the texture of a Rice Krispies Treat but with a chocolate coating on the bottom, and the taste is reminiscent of mint chocolate chip ice cream. These used to be my one of my go-to breakfasts when I was dragged to races with my parents as a kid, so the Chocolate Mint flavor always has a nostalgically childhood taste. Because they're made for kids, Protein Z Bars don't taste artificial or "protein-y" at all, so I highly recommend if you prefer a more natural-tasting snack.
4) Special K Strawberry Protein Meal Bars
When Ashley and I were little, Kellogg's made this red berry cereal bar that was one of our favorite snacks ever...and then they all of a sudden disappeared from existence. The inside of Special K Strawberry Protein Meal Bars taste almost exactly like those cereal bars. There are several protein bars that I think I would like except that they're completely encased in a white chocolate coating, and I hate white chocolate. Luckily, this particular coating is a vanilla yogurt that doesn't taste like white chocolate at all. I love these bars first and foremost because they brings me back to childhood. It kind of tastes like eating a bar made of sugary cereal (which Ashley and I are huge fans of). The fruit in these is actually cranberries, which was a good choice because dried strawberries tend to be really, well, dry. Since so many protein bars are chocolatey, the strawberry bars are a refreshing break. One downside of these bars is that they contain a lot of artificial ingredients (the first ingredient is polydextrose which I'd never even heard of until today), so eating them in abundance could possibly be upsetting to your stomach. I've never had a problem with eating these, though, (and there have been plenty of bars that make me feel sick) so I still say go ahead and buy a box!
5) Nugo Dark Mint Chocolate Chip Protein Bar
I know I already have a Nugo bar and a mint chocolate one on this list, but I had to include Nugo Dark Mint Chocolate Chip Protein Bars too! As far as texture and dark chocolate-y flavor, these are pretty similar to the Salted Pretzel flavor. Of course, this one doesn't have any sea salt in it. I have always loved mint chocolate chip, which is why this flavor had to make my list too. I find that lot of things flavored chocolate mint either have too much mint or too much sweetness, and Nugo did a nice job with the balance. It's the worst when you eat something minty that tastes like toothpaste! You definitely can taste mint in this though, so this ranks a bit lower on my list because it's not always a good option when I don't have much of an appetite. When I do feel up to eating mint, though, this bar would probably take first place!
6) Clif Kid Z Bar Protein - Cinnamon Crunch
Yes, I'm sorry, another repeat brand. But it's necessary. Anyone who knows me knows I love cinnamon. Like, I put cinnamon in everything. It's probably because spices remind me of Christmas and I always want it to be the holiday season, but if I had to choose between the two I would give up chocolate in a heartbeat over cinnamon. So naturally, Cinnamon Crunch Z Bars are among my favorite snacks of all time. Like the chocolate mint flavor, they have a marshmallow cereal treat texture with a coating on the bottom. I'm not sure if the coating on these is technically white chocolate or not, but it's flavored like cinnamon so I don't mind it at all. The only reason I rank this bar lower than chocolate mint is because there are white chocolate chips in it that I really don't like, but there's very few of them and they're usually concentrated into one little area, so it certainly doesn't ruin the whole thing.
7) Fiber One Caramel Nut Chewy Protein Bars
It's funny that I like these, because I was always the kid who set aside my Snickers and Baby Ruths after Halloween for my Grandpa to eat when he came to visit. I never used to like nuts at all, and as I've gotten older I've come to like most nuts, but I've just never been a big peanut person. The inside of Fiber One Caramel Nut bars kind of tastes how I remember those chocolate bars tasting, except there is more of a caramel flavor than peanut that I actually really enjoy. I also don't usually like milk chocolate candies; to me the chocolate tastes funny and artificially sweet and melts way too fast. I like these bars because the chocolate isn't overly sweet and (I think because it's fake chocolate) doesn't melt into an icky mess. My favorite part about it is probably the texture though; it's chewy in a good way and not sticky or chalky. These are also on the smaller side, so they are also great when I need a quicker snack option.
8) ZonePerfect Salted Caramel Brownie Nutrition Bar
ZonePerfect bars are definitely the most unique of this list. The Salted Caramel Brownie flavor has a really soft, almost cake-y texture as the base, but then it has caramel on top and chocolate on the bottom. This might sound ridiculous, but when you're constantly eating all day sometimes eating just feels like a lot of work, so the softness of these make them easier to swallow. The multiple layers in these bars are what give them a great taste, there's not too much of the caramel or chocolate or sea salt that any one is overpowering. These are kind of how I wish real brownies tasted, it's more chocolaty and balanced than a brownie you'd buy from the store that is often either too fudgy or too buttery. My two cons for these are that they can sometimes be a little bit too sweet (so not the best choice for low appetites) and that the chocolate coating on the bottom melts all over the wrapper if you don't finish it in a few minutes, but overall I say these are a must-try. The only other ZonePerfect flavor I've tasted is the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough; these didn't make the list because I've only had one and didn't think I could adequately give a review yet, but the Cookie Dough flavor is definitely on my next grocery list as well.
9) Special K Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Meal Bars
You know how I just said a minute ago how I'm not the biggest peanut fan? I've always liked peanut butter more than raw peanuts, but it's still not something I'd normally choose out of a crowd. And actually, after my strange peanut butter addiction phase a few months ago, I've swung to the opposite end and have been experiencing an aversion to most peanut buttery things. So, Special K Chocolate Peanut Butter bars are never a product I would have decided to taste on my own. But at the end of last semester, Ashley and I both had tons of "Dining Dollars" left on our required meal plans at school, and since we didn't want the money to go to waste we headed to the campus marketplace and stocked up on every snack they had. Ashley bought a couple of these, but they had just been sitting in our basement for the last six months. I stopped buying new bars a few weeks ago so that I could finish what we had in the house before going off to school and leaving them to get thrown out, which meant coming across a lot of the misfits that I'd avoided (including these). And I was shocked at how much I liked them! The peanut butter flavor is more mixed in with the crisps inside, so you don't get any big globs of peanut butter that I was worried about. Some of the other Special K Meal Bars with chocolate have a protein-y aftertaste, but these don't at all. The nuts prevent the overwhelming sweetness that some protein bars have, so it doesn't feel like eating a giant chocolate bar. Whether you're usually a peanut butter lover or a peanut butter passer, I think you'll find this is an enjoyable snack for you.
10) Pure Protein -
Chocolate Deluxe
I'll preface my final review by saying that, of all the bars on this list, Pure Protein Chocolate Deluxe is the most like what you would imagine when you think of a standard protein bar. Still, I'm kind of obsessed with Pure Protein Bars. I think the Chocolate Deluxe flavor tastes like a Tootsie Roll. It doesn't have as much sugar as most of the others I reviewed, and you might notice hints of artificial sweetener in the chocolate coating on the outside. But they have just the right amount of chocolate; sometimes bars have so much that it seems like they are trying to pass as a piece of candy. Of course, I know those might be an exciting option for someone who doesn't incorporate chocolate into their diet. But for me, if I wanted something that tastes like a candy bar I'd eat candy and not a protein bar. I had been on the hunt for a while for a bar with the texture that these have; it's chewy but not in the way that it sticks to your teeth like some other options (I won't name brands but I swear I broke a tooth eating a protein bar one time that was stickier than gumdrop candies!) I used to love another kind of bar with this kind of texture that was discontinued several years ago, so I was super excited when I found these. Pure Protein Bars are definitely on the more expensive side of this list, and I haven't tried any of the other flavors yet because I'm waiting for a good deal. But if you can afford them, I would definitely add these to your "try" list!
So there you have it: my top recommendations of protein bars you should try. If you've had any of these, let me know if you agree, or what your go-tos are, in the comments below. And as always, be sure to follow our blog for more from "Just Keep Eating" and our musings on life in general!