Nutrition info: 200 cal, 12g protein, 7g fat, 25g total carb
Ingredients: Dates, peanuts, egg whites, natural flavors, and sea salt
Founded in 2012, RxBar revolutionized the protein bar industry with its emphasis on simple ingredients and packaging. Every bar has the same base of whole foods: egg whites for protein; dates for sweetness; peanuts, almonds, cashews, pecans, or walnuts; and a touch of sea salt. These dairy-free bars are slightly chewier than the Quest Bars—about 90% of each bite will get stuck in your teeth—but they taste pleasantly nutty and much more natural.
Protein source: Soy
Nutrition info: 250 cal, 12g protein, 18g fat, 17g total carb
Ingredients: Peanuts, chicory root, soy protein isolate (or soybeans that have been dehulled, defatted, and processed into an isolate), honey, glucose syrup, palm kernel oil, sugar, peanut flour, peanut butter (including peanuts and sea salt), nonfat milk powder, sea salt, soy lecithin, and peanut oil
Most protein bars resemble a large eraser made up of thick, uniform paste. Gluten-free Kind Protein Bars, on the other hand, have actual texture and crunch. They’re quite similar to the original Kind bars in taste and appearance—they’re packed full of almonds and peanuts, but they have double the amount of protein and keep you full longer thanks to 5 grams of fiber from chicory roots. The main protein supplement here is soy protein isolate, so if you have any soy sensitivities, these should be avoided.
The Bar With a Sustainable Protein Source: Exo
Protein source: Cricket
Nutrition info: 160 cal, 14g protein, 7g fat, 22g total carb
*Ingredients: Prebiotic tapioca concentrate; sunflower butter; an acheta protein blend made of pea protein and acheta domesticus (a.k.a cricket), allulose; egg whites; pea crisps made using pea protein isolates, pea starch, and rice flour; semi-sweet chocolate chips made with sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, and vanilla extract; cocoa processed with alkali, natural flavor, salt, and monk fruit extract
The foundation of Exo’s bars is acheta, otherwise known as cricket, a good-for-you and good-for-the-planet source of protein. According to the brand’s website, acheta powder has 40% more potassium than whey protein, the protein source found in many other bars, as well as three times the amount of iron as spinach. Exo’s bars have a soft and chewy texture, and though the chocolate fudge brownie flavor gives off some faux dessert vibes, with only two grams added sugar (and no sugar alcohols!) they don’t taste overly sweet.
The Best Vegan Protein Bar: Aloha
Protein source: Brown rice, pumpkin seed