Are Protein Bars Good for You?

CLEVELAND - With so many fitness influencers promoting protein bars these days, it can be hard to know which ones are actually good for you.

“Protein bars can have some ingredients that we don't necessarily need or want to have on a regular basis, like added sugars, hydrogenated oils, preservatives, maybe even dyes or artificial sweeteners. So, we want to be mindful of those ingredients when we look at the ingredient list when we're choosing protein bars,” explained Julia Zumpano, RD, registered dietitian at Cleveland Clinic.

Zumpano said she likes protein bars that have nuts or seeds in them and use a natural sweetener like honey, maple syrup, stevia or monk fruit.

It’s best to avoid brands that include a lot of added ingredients and ingredients you don’t recognize.

She adds that protein bars can be fine to supplement on days where you’re busy, but ultimately, you should be getting protein from whole foods.

Some options include a hard-boiled egg, turkey or some other kind of meat, Greek yogurt, cheese, nuts and seeds.

She also discourages using protein bars as a meal replacement.

“If you're on the go and you're traveling and that is one of your best options, I would still try to create a complete meal out of it. You may have a protein bar, and that may meet some of your protein needs, but then you supplement that with a piece of whole fruit, some raw veggies you can snack on, and maybe even an additional source of protein because that's likely most bars are not able to meet your meal requirement for protein. You might have a turkey or a beef stick,” she said.

Zumpano said protein shakes can be another good alternative.

They are easy to make at home and you can add exactly how much protein you want versus only getting a certain amount with a protein bar.