Best Protein Bars for Energy, Cravings, and Muscle Support

It can be challenging to find a protein bar that satisfies your sweet tooth (and hunger) without a crazy amount of added sugar and chalky aftertaste. That’s why Quest Bars are a great pick: They come in some childhood favorite flavors like birthday cake, chocolate chip cookie dough, and cookies & cream, maxing out at just 1 to 2 grams of the sweet stuff. Even better, the amount of fiber in these minis is comparable to some other brands’ full-size options, meaning it will keep you fuller for longer. You can even have two. As someone who personally dislikes the full size Quest Bars, I was shocked at how much better the texture of these are.

Prepping for a long hike or bike ride? You might want to add one of these oat bars to your pack. This bar is much higher in sugar than other options, but those extra carbs are essential for a quick energy boost—especially if you’re doing long-distance exercise, says Heather Mangieri, R.D.N., C.S.S.D. And unlike many other bars, they won’t become a melted mess two miles into your sweaty trek (unless you grab the chocolate chip flavor).

This bar isn’t about snacking; it’s about maximizing your strength training workout and helping build muscle. So if you’re looking for a sweet treat, this might not be for you. However, One protein bars have a whopping 20 grams of protein and just 1 gram of sugar per serving, making them an ideal post-lifting treat. With flavors like maple glazed doughnut and birthday cake, they don’t taste bad by any means. Plus, these bars are sweetened with stevia, so they won’t skyrocket your blood sugar levels. With a hefty dose of the muscle-building macronutrient, it’s best to eat them after a tough workout.

A quick bar can be an easy snack—unless you have several dietary restrictions to follow. Luckily, Aloha’s bars rely on whole foods like brown rice and pumpkin seeds to infuse flavor and protein. The ingredient list is vegan, gluten-free, and paleo-friendly, so it’s likely to be safe for several nutritional restrictions. With 14 grams of protein and only 4 to 5 grams of sugar, these bars are a good choice for basically any diet out there, whether you’re going low-carb or high-protein.

The RXBar claim to fame is its “No B.S.” ingredients list, which is why the brand comes so heavily recommended by multiple nutritionists. It fits on the front of the bar’s packaging because it’s that short. While they tend to be a bit higher in the sugar department, the sweet stuff only comes from whole foods, like dates and dark chocolate. As for protein? A typical bar will offer more than 10 grams in the form of egg whites and nuts, which is pretty great. Best of all, I love that this bar tastes good without any of the chalky taste you can get from whey or veggie proteins.

When you need an energy boost, this bar from Think is for you. Packed with soy protein isolate and whey protein, it’s great when you need sustained energy fast. It’s also an ideal option post-workout because it contains quality protein to boost muscle recovery. Just pair one with a fiber-packed food (like a pear or apple) to balance the bar (which offers zero grams of fiber). But don’t worry about what flavor to choose for this one—they all taste incredible.

Pick from flavors that range from banana nut to apple cinnamon and mix up your routine day to day. These gluten-free bars are marketed as a surprisingly filling alternative to breakfast, relying mostly on oats to keep you fueled as you start your day. That, beyond delivering on protein (each type varies, but overall these bars have between 8 and 11 grams of it), also means you get an antioxidant boost.

While you’re on a deadline or studying and need some extra fuel, these chocolate-flavored bars are the perfect way to crush your candy cravings and pack in some great protein and fiber at the same time. They also contain six nutrients specifically included as brain boosters, like magnesium and vitamin E, to get you through busy workdays.

“Vitamin E is an anti-inflammatory, which helps to keep DNA healthy and replicating correctly while maintaining the structure of healthy brain cell membranes,” Robin Foroutan, M.S., R.D.N., a functional dietitian previously told Prevention. They both can also help protect cells from oxidative stress, which can contribute to cognitive decline, and a recent study showed magnesium can reduce the chances of dementia.