Protein bars are particularly good for on-the-go snacks and as a protein-rich snack before or after a workout. Protein bars are a wonderful way for women to fulfill their protein requirements and make healthy decisions on the go, whether they’re wanting to improve their protein consumption or want a wiser snack. However, finding the finest protein bars for women who want to gain muscle and lose weight might be difficult. In this post, we’ve compiled a list of the best protein bars for women.
What is the Best Protein Bar for Women?
To find the Best Protein Bar for Women for you we have used several of protein bars for ladies and selected the absolute top 8 protein bars for women.
This is based on our first-hand experiences, years of practice as well as individual research on what others have to say, so that we can give you a more well-rounded review.
Feel free to scroll to the end of this article for a short buying guide and some frequently asked questions.
1. Happy Tot Organics Fiber & Protein Oat Bar
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| Price: 💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 1.63 pounds (0.74 kg) Bars in a Pack: 30 Protein Content: 2 grams Gluten-Free: Yes Nuts-Free: Yes Calories per Bar: 90 |
Happy Tot fiber & protein oat bars are made from high-quality organic, non-GMO ingredients including whole grains. These protein bars are designed to provide a healthy snack option for kids. They’re rich in dietary fibers, which help with digestion and absorption of essential nutrients for growth and development. These cholesterol-free snack bars have a lower protein content than other snack options, but they are gluten-free and nut-free, making them suitable for those who have these allergies. They also supply your kids with a variety of nutrients, such as calcium and iron.
Pros
- Healthy and filling snack for toddlers,
- Cholesterol free snacks,
- Packed with dietary fibers,
- Made from organic ingredients
Cons
- It tends to get hard if exposed to air for too long,
- The size may be too small for adults
2. Zone Perfect Protein Bars With Vitamins Minerals
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| Price: 💲💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Bars in a Pack: 36 Protein Content: 14 grams Gluten-Free: Yes Calories per Bar: 220 |
Zone Perfect protein bars are made from organic ingredients and are certified gluten-free. Although each protein bar has a significant amount of added sugars, it also contains a high amount of protein, which can provide enough energy on-the-go. Zone Perfect protein bars contain up to 19 vitamins and minerals, including a significant amount of calcium for healthy bone development and antioxidants to strengthen the immune system. These protein bars may not be suitable for individuals looking out for dairy-free snack bars because they contain milk ingredients.
Pros
- Great source of minerals, vitamins and antioxidants,
- High protein content,
- Perfect balance of taste and nutrition,
- Gluten-free
Cons
- Contains a high amount of added sugars,
- Contains soy and milk ingredients
3. Blake’s Seed Based Snack Bar
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| Price: 💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 1.04 pounds (0.47 kg) Bars in a Pack: 9 Protein Content: 4 grams Gluten-Free: Yes Nuts-Free: Yes Vegan: Yes Calories per Bar: 150 |
This Blake’s seed based snack bar is made from high-quality organic ingredients. They are made in a nut-free, gluten-free facility and are also dairy-free and sesame-free. They are great additions to your breakfast and they provide you with essential nutrients for the day. Despite the unpleasant after-taste some individuals may experience, this seed-based snack bar will fulfill your sweet craving without the use of additional sweeteners. This variety pack features a range of flavors to pick from if you get bored and need a change of flavour. Blake’s seed-based snack bars are an excellent choice for camping, hiking, or during lunch breaks at work or school.
Pros
- Do not contain added sugars,
- Great breakfast addition,
- Suitable for both adults and kids,
- Made from organic ingredients
Cons
- May have an unpleasant after-taste
4. Glucerna Mini Treats for People with Diabetes
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| Price: 💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 1.54 pounds (0.7 kg) Bars in a Pack: 24 Protein Content: 3 grams Calories per Bar: 80 |
Glucerna mini treats may help people with diabetes enjoy sweet treats without compromising their health. Each snack bar is made from high-quality ingredients with a low glycemic index that allows for the slow release of carbs to prevent blood sugar spikes. They are also micronutrient dense and are a good source of 26 different vitamins and minerals with numerous health benefits. Although low in protein content, these mini treats are also cholesterol-free making them a healthy snack option to provide you with enough fuel on the go. These pocket-sized treat bars may provide a handy way to receive the essential nutrients you need while also satisfying your appetite.
Pros
- Cholesterol-free snack bars,
- Made from low glycemic index ingredients,
- Nutritionally-dense mini treats,
- Excellent snack option for diabetics
Cons
- Have a low protein content,
- May not be suitable for individuals with nut allergies
5. NEOH Low Carb Protein & Candy Bar
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| Price: 💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 0.99 pounds (0.45 kg) Bars in a Pack: 12 Protein Content: 7 grams Calories per Bar: 90 |
NEOH protein candy bar is a low carb, low calorie snack bar made from premium quality ingredients. Each NEOH protein bar has low sugar content and contains only 90 calories thereby allowing you to supplement your protein intake in a healthy way without worrying about excess sugar intake. This snack bar also contains dietary fiber for easy digestion and improved gut health. Its high protein and low carbs content make it a suitable snack option if you are on a keto diet. This NEOH candy bar may be an excellent on-the-go snack for an energy boost, with a low glycemic index, alkaline ingredients, antioxidants, and other beneficial components like calcium and iron.
Pros
- Contains healthy antioxidants,
- It has a low glycemic index so you don’t have to worry about blood sugar spikes,
- High protein and low carbs content makes it an excellent keto-friendly snack option,
- Contains dietary fiber for improved digestion
Cons
- Low calorie content may make it unsuitable for pre- intensive workout snacks,
- May contain traces of nuts and gluten
6. Quest Nutrition Chocolate Brownie Keto Friendly Protein Bars
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| Price: 💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Bars in a Pack: 12 Protein Content: 20 grams Gluten-Free: Yes |
Made from high-quality ingredients containing complete, dairy-based proteins that provide your body with essential amino acids, the Quest chocolate brownie protein bars taste like freshly-baked brownies. In addition to it’s high protein content, these yummy chocolate protein bars are low in carbs, and gluten-free as well, making them perfect for anyone on a keto diet. Each Quest chocolate protein bar is packed with fiber, which gives your body a more balanced macronutrient composition. You can also satisfy your sweet tooth and brownie cravings with this protein bar without worrying about added sugars.
Pros
- Do not contain added sugars,
- Gluten-free protein bars,
- Suitable for individuals on a keto diet,
- Packed with fiber
Cons
- Manufactured in a facility that also processes peanuts and tree nuts,
- They might be a bit difficult to chew
7. Glucerna Snack Bars to Help Manage Blood Sugar
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| Price: 💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 2.31 pounds (1.05 kg) Bars in a Pack: 20 Protein Content: 10 grams Nuts-Free: No Calories per Bar: 160 |
Glucerna snack bars can allow you satisfy your sweet cravings without worrying about spikes in your blood sugar level. This snack bar is made with high-quality ingredients and has a special combination of slow-releasing carbs with a low glycemic index that stops your blood sugar from rapidly rising after you eat it. Its high protein and low sugar content make it an ideal keto-friendly snack option. In addition to the wide variety of vitamins and minerals these snack bars provide, they are also cholesterol-free making them a healthy snack choice. These snack bars are also made from oats and nuts, giving them a crispy and crunchy texture.
Pros
- Low glycemic index ingredients,
- Cholesterol-free,
- Designed to help control blood sugar spikes,
- Good source of minerals and vitamins
Cons
- May not be suitable for individuals with nut allergies,
8. Love Good Fats Plant-Based Bars
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| Price: 💲💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Bars in a Pack: 12 Protein Content: 7 grams Gluten-Free: Yes Nuts-Free: No |
Love Good Fats snack bars are made from premium quality natural ingredients. These bars are rich in protein and have a low carbs content making them suitable snack options for a keto diet. These gluten-free snacks include no sugar alcohols, artificial flavors, or preservatives, giving them a natural feel and making them a healthy snack choice. They also include peanuts and milk, which give them a chewy and nutty texture but may not be suitable for people who are allergic to nuts. These keto-friendly bars can be ideal snack options for traveling, work, breakfast, or as a pre-workout snack since they provide enough fuel to keep you going.
Pros
- Made from plant-sourced ingredients,
- No added sugar alcohols and artificial flavors,
- Keto-friendly snack options,
- Low carbohydrates content
Cons
- High fat content,
- Contains peanuts and milk, which may cause allergic reactions in some people
Verdict
To sum up, out of the top 8 Best Protein Bar for Women, our absolute top pick is Happy Tot Organics Fiber & Protein Oat Bar.
If you have the money, you can go for Zone Perfect Protein Bars With Vitamins Minerals which is our premium pick.
However, there’s nothing wrong with going for the budget option, which we found to be the Blake’s Seed Based Snack Bar.
Our other reviews you may find useful in your research:
What You Should Know Before Buying protein bars for women
Vegan options
Protein bars are a beneficial and convenient snack. However, if you are a vegan, you should look for a vegan protein bar that doesn’t contain ingredients such as yogurt powder or milk. They are many plants-based protein bars such as soy or brown rice bars. Similarly, there is also an alternative of nut-based protein bars where the origin of protein is nuts and seeds. These bars are specially designed for vegan people.
Gluten free options
Protein bars are a really good source of healthy protein and a quick healthy solution for your hunger pangs. However for those who cannot consumer gluten, you may suffer from gluten allergy and your immune system will trigger an autoimmune response in the small intestine. For handling this issue, there are many gluten-free protein bars in the market which contain a blend of numerous ingredients such as whey and milk protein, brown rice, pea, rice flour, and chia seeds.
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Sugar content
Opting for a protein bar to replace a snack is a good habit to nurture. But in some cases, many protein bars in the market are a candy bar in disguise. A protein bar should contain ideally low-fat content and high protein content to give you the most benefits. So if you want a good and nutritious protein bar, aim for a bar not more than 5-8g of sugar per bar.
Flavours
Protein bars come in flavors such as dark chocolate, cookie dough caramel, mint, apple pie and more. You can choose a flavor of protein bars by your taste preference. However, there are some with a lot of artificial flavouring or sweetener, which could make it more unhealthy.
Not recommended for
Protein bars are a good source of energy and essential nutrients for everyone. But in some cases, it is not good for some people with specific health conditions. If you are a diabetic patient, then you should avoid taking the conventional protein bars as it might contain too much artificial sweeteners and sugars. If you are suffering from Amyloidosis, protein in these bars can also affect your body adversely and can damage your heart, liver spleen, and GIT. So its important to be careful and consult your doctor as well.
Questions and Answers About protein bars for women
Do protein bars make you gain muscle?
Yes, protein bars can help you gain muscles. Our skeletal muscles are composed of almost 80% of protein excluding water. Skeletal muscles are made up of bundles of thread-like structures called myofibrils which are made up of thick and thin filaments comprising of myosin and actin respectively.
These are large protein molecules so we can say the building block of our muscles is proteins. Because of this, we can say protein bars help with muscle gain. But remember balance is the key. Take proteins in a balance with other nutrients because taking excess can cause more harm than benefit.
How many calories are in a good protein bar for women?
The recommended and safe amount of calories for an average female consumption of a protein bar is 130-200 calories. But if you want to gain weight and it is recommended by your nutritionist to increase your calories intake, then you can go for a bar with high-calorie content.
Does protein bars raise blood sugar?
Raise of blood sugar level from consuming a protein bar depends entirely on the protein bar you are consuming. Some protein bars are rich in natural ingredients and low in sugar and cholesterol as well. Such protein bars don’t have any significant effect on blood sugar levels. If the protein bar is rich in sugar and ingredients such as corn syrup, instead of providing essential nutrients it can increase blood sugar levels above normal and can harm the body.
When should runners eat protein bars?
Protein bars are recommended after a workout because they help in building any slight muscle fibers tear because of running. A bar rich in carbohydrates is usually recommended instead of a protein bar before 45 mins of workout because protein sugars and fiber slow down the digestive system. In addition to that, no two bodies are the same and in most of the runners, it is observed pre-workout protein cause GI disturbances. If your workout window is more than 90 minutes you can take an energy-rich source such as an energy drink in between the run.
