People trying to gain a healthy weight frequently have a difficult time obtaining high-calorie bars in a world where protein bars for losing weight are widespread. To gain weight, you must consume more calories per day than you burn. Getting enough calories, whether you’re attempting to develop muscle mass or just want to gain a few kilos for health reasons, can be difficult at times. So, if you want to gain weight, you’ll need a bar that has the right combination of carbohydrates, protein, and fat. We’ll go through some of the best protein bars for weight gain in this post.
What are the Best Protein Bars for Weight Gain?
To find the Best Protein Bars for Weight Gain for you we have used several of protein bars for bulking and selected the absolute top 6 protein bars for weight gain.
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. CLIF BUILDERS Gluten Free Protein Bars
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| Price: 💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Bars in a Pack: 1 Protein Content: 20 grams Gluten-Free: Yes Nuts-Free: No Calories per Bar: 280 |
CLIF BUILDERS gluten free protein bars include 20g of plant protein manufactured from high-quality ingredients in each chocolate-flavored bar. Whether you’re at the gym or at work, each bar delivers full protein with essential amino acids to help you grow and repair muscles. Builders protein bars have a low glycemic index, which means they digest slowly and provide sustained energy. It’s also gluten-free, making it an excellent protein bar for individuals who want to recuperate after a strenuous workout while avoiding gluten in their diet.
Pros
- Gluten-free,
- Made from low glycemic-index ingredients for prolonged energy release,
- Provides essential amino acids from plant-based proteins,
- Chocolate flavour
Cons
- Contain allergic ingredients including peanuts,
- May leave crumbs while eating
2. Built Bar 18 Pack Protein and Energy High Protein, Whey and Fiber Bars
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| Price: 💲💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 2.2 pounds (1 kg) Bars in a Pack: 18 Protein Content: 17 grams Gluten-Free: Yes Calories per Bar: 130 |
Built Bar high protein energy bars are soft, fluffy, and coated with finely blended exotic chocolate, unlike the normal protein bar, which is thick, granular, and tough to chew. The protein bars do not contain artificial flavoring, coloring or preservatives. Each box contains a variety of flavours for you to enjoy a different experience with every bar. Each protein bar is prepared with ingredients that are low in carbs, gluten-free, and rich in protein. Although the texture may be a bit too sticky when chewing, Built Bar high protein energy bar is still a favorite of professional fitness coaches and fitness fans alike, thanks to its superior nutritional profile and wide variety of tasty flavors.
Pros
- No artificial flavoring or colouring,
- Gluten-free,
- Contains a variety of flavors,
- Low calorie count makes it a healthy choice for a snack
Cons
- The texture may be a bit too sticky when chewing,
- It may not melt easily in the mouth
3. No Nuts! 100% Nut Free Dairy Free Vegan Protein Bars
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| Price: 💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Bars in a Pack: 4 Protein Content: 12 grams Gluten-Free: Yes Nuts-Free: Yes Vegan: Yes |
This vegan protein bar from No Nuts is nut-free and dairy-free. It is produced in a nut-free and gluten-free facility, allowing most individuals with nut allergies to enjoy at the same level. Each pack has a variety of protein bar flavors supported with added sugars, allowing you to try new flavors while still getting the same quantity of nutrients. These dairy free protein energy bars will become one of your new go-to vegan protein bars to help you through those post-workouts or as a quick snack to pack in your bag.
Pros
- Do not contain allergic ingredients such as nuts,
- Gluten-free bars,
- Do not contain dairy ingredients for those who maybe lactose intolerant,
- Suitable for people on vegan diet
Cons
- Price may be a little steep,
- Includes added sugars
4. BSN Whey Protein Bars – Protein Crisp Bar by Syntha-6
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| Price: 💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Bars in a Pack: 12 Protein Content: 20 grams Gluten-Free: Yes Calories per Bar: 230 |
This BSN protein crisp bar is made from premium ingredients. It is packed with high protein content in a unique blend of whey protein concentrate, whey protein isolate, and milk protein concentrate. This high protein content in each bar can provide you with enough fuel on-the-go. Despite its low sugar level, it has a distinct crunchy texture that can let you satisfy your sweet craving without having to worry about consuming too much sugar. This BSN protein bar contains 230 calories per snack bar, making it a great pre- and post-workout snack. It also provides calcium for healthy bone development.
Pros
- High protein content makes it an excellent pre- and post-workout snack option,
- Gluten-free snack bar,
- It has a distinct crunchy texture,
- Contains a high amount of calcium
Cons
- Its low sugar content may reduce its sweetness,
- May contain nuts making them unsuitable for individuals with nut allergies
5. MET-Rx Big 100 Colossal Protein Bars
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| Price: 💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 3.28 pounds (1.49 kg) Bars in a Pack: 12 Protein Content: 30 grams Calories per Bar: 410 |
MET-Rx protein bars are crafted with high-quality ingredients that are high in protein to help you stay on track with your nutrition, and give your body the energy it requires. Each protein bar contains 430 calories, making it an ideal snack option for before and after your workout sessions. It also contains a variety of vitamins and minerals that can provide you with the nutrition you need to improve your workout, muscle growth, and post-workout recovery. The unique metamosyn protein combination in MET-Rx Big 100 protein bars puts together fast and slow absorbing protein sources that may help you improve your performance level. These protein bars are made in a facility that also processes nuts and may contain nuts in them.
Pros
- Unique protein blend provides high protein content,
- Each bar contains a high amount of calories that provide adequate fuel during workout sessions,
- Contains a wide variety of vitamins and minerals,
- Makes an excellent breakfast option
Cons
- Made in a nut-processing facility
6. Redcon1 MRE Bar – Meal Replacement Protein Bar
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| Price: 💲💲💲 (fewer 💲 = cheaper) Weight: 2.05 pounds (0.93 kg) Bars in a Pack: 12 Protein Content: 20 grams Calories per Bar: 260 |
Redcon1 MRE protein bars are produced from real food sources and do not contain artificial sweeteners or additives. Each snack bar has 260 calories, which can make it an ideal snack size meal to have on the go or as a pre-workout snack to give your body the energy it requires. It also has a high calcium content, which aids in bone formation and growth. Because they’re prepared at a facility that also handles nuts, this Redcon1 MRE snack bar might contain nuts, making it unsuitable for anyone with nut allergies. The snack bar is easy to break apart and has a fantastic food-like texture that may be enjoyable to eat and easy to digest. They however contain a high amount of saturated fat which may provide potential health risks.
Pros
- Made from real food sources,
- No artificial sweeteners and additives,
- Easy to digest and won’t cause stomach upsets,
- High protein content
Cons
- It may contain nuts making it unsuitable for individuals with nut allergies,
- Contains a high amount of saturated fat
Verdict
To sum up, out of the top 6 Best Protein Bars for Weight Gain, our absolute top pick is CLIF BUILDERS Gluten Free Protein Bars.
If you have the money, you can go for Built Bar 18 Pack Protein and Energy High Protein, Whey and Fiber Bars which is our premium pick.
However, there’s nothing wrong with going for the budget option, which we found to be the No Nuts! 100% Nut Free Dairy Free Vegan Protein Bars.
Our other reviews you may find useful in your research:
What You Should Know Before Buying protein bars for weight gain
Protein quantity for muscle gain
Growing muscle mass in a healthy way requires an increase in our protein intake. The average protein intake for building muscle is around 1.2-1.8 grams of protein per kilogram. A healthy protein bar contains about 10-20 grams of protein and the average sedentary human being will requires about 46-56 grams. So a protein bar can be a really good source for fulfilling the protein needs for building muscle mass. However, do note that the required daily average of protein depends on age, sex, and physical activities. Hence, make sure you’re taking the appropriate amount of protein according to your required daily intake.
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.
Allergens
Protein bars are a really good option as a snack and for fulfilling your protein needs. However, most of the protein bars contain one or more common allergens like gluten, fish, peanuts, milk, soy protein, eggs, and nuts. If you are allergic to any one of these options or you are a vegan, then be careful to research and look at the ingredients of the protein bar before buying any.
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 weight gain
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.
Why do bodybuilding enthusiasts eat protein bars?
In bodybuilding, the main goal of a bodybuilder is to increase strength, gain stamina and most importantly, muscles. The main component of diet which helps us to gain muscle is protein. A protein-rich diet and regularly strength base workout help in physiological hypertrophy of muscle and with time. muscle growth as an output.
How soon before a workout should I eat a protein bar?
There is no hard and fast rule for protein intake. Pre-workout protein bars give you energy and essential amino acids for your body and muscles. As we don’t want to feel heavy before a workout so we can eat a protein bar almost 30-60 mins before the workout. The intake of protein bars entirely depends on body needs and may vary from person to person but as we don’t want to feel heavy and bloated before a workout.
Can I eat protein bar everyday?
Yes, a protein bar is a healthy snack for daily consumption. You can consume a protein bar every day but make sure you are consuming a healthy and nutritious protein bar and not a sugar loaded candy disguised as a bar. Some protein bars have high-fat, sugar content and calories which can lead to diabetes, obesity, and several other diseases. Before buying any protein bar, review its nutrition values and sugar content.
