Best Low Carb Protein Bars

Protein bars are much more accessible than they used to be, making them a widely-available option for people who need to build muscle, keep themselves fuelled on long walks, or just want a snack that tastes good without being as diet-breaking as a chocolate bar. However, some people also use them as part of a low-carb lifestyle or diet, and more suitable options are appearing each year – if you're wanting to catch your carb intake, the right bar can make a massive difference while still giving you all of the fuel you need to grow stronger muscles and keep your energy up. The only problem is finding them without getting caught up in thousands of possible choices.

Below are ten low-carb protein bars that might be perfect for you.

10 Best Low Carb Protein Bars

• Epic Beef Apple Protein Bacon Bars
• SimplyProtein Bar
• Pure Protein Bars
• ZonePerfect Protein Bars
• Perfect Keto Protein Snacks
• Orgain Organic Plant Based Protein Bar
• NuGo Slim Dark Chocolate Mint Vegan Protein Bar
• Stoka Protein Bars
• Raw Rev Glo Protein Bars
• Primal Kitchen Protein Bars

The Epic Beef Apple Bacon bars contain, as the name suggests, fully grass-fed beef, apple, and bacon, giving you nine grams of protein in a single 1.5-ounce bar. Not only are they low-carb, but they contain roughly the same amount of calories as your average cereal bar, and they're also both gluten free and suitable for a paleo diet. Unlike a lot of protein bars, they're designed to avoid a sweet, treat-like taste, instead tasting like a real meat snack that keeps you feeling ready to go at any time.

These high protein and low carb bars are fully suitable for a range of diets and lifestyles, including veganism, gluten intolerance, and plant-based meals. The bar itself contains a mixture of chocolate and peanut butter, giving it a great taste without relying on GMO ingredients or high-carb mixtures - all ingredients are taken directly from plants in an environmentally sustainable way. This also means that it has a satisfying, crunchy taste, and each bar offers a whopping fifteen grams of protein, with only one gram of sugar and 150 calories behind it.

These simple, straightforward protein bars come in a massive range of sweet flavors, all of which are gluten-free and full of up to twenty grams of protein per bar. Not only are they suitable for exercise and keeping yourself going at the gym, but they can also work well for weight management and loss, letting you fill up on protein while only getting a  mere 190 calories in return, as well as three grams of sugar. Thanks to the variety of flavors, it's easy to switch to a different type of you start to get bored of the taste, too!

These oatmeal-based protein bars come in multiple flavors and offer between ten and fifteen grams of protein depending on the bar type, as well as up to nineteen individual vitamins and minerals to help your immune system stay strong. This even includes antioxidants, which many other bars struggle to provide. Despite this, they're only 180 calories, meaning that they're perfect for keeping your calorie and carb intake down without having to starve yourself.

These keto-friendly protein bars are one of the best low carb options on the market, offering a sweet almond butter taste alongside nineteen grams of healthy fats and ten grams of grass-fed collagen to keep you well-fed and active. There's no unnecessary extra ingredients to pad out the bars, making them suitable for managing your blood sugar and keto diet, as well as excellent digestion thanks to the fiber they offer. Not only that, but they're only 240 calories total, most of which is useful fiber and nutrition.

These vegan-friendly bars are free of gluten, dairy, soy, lactose and GMO ingredients, making them a reliable source of nutrition, fiber and high protein. Each bar contains ten grams of organic plant-based protein, five grams of sugar and six grams of dietary fiber, all packed into a mere 140 calories each. The flavors, including chocolate chip, peanut butter and more, are all tasty without causing much change in your blood sugar levels, and the low net carbs make them ideal for keeping your diet balanced.

These dark chocolate low-carb protein bars contain eighteen grams protein, three grams of sugar, six grams of fiber and only five grams of net carbs, making them a low carb and low fat options that's high in fiber and as tasty as other snack bars. There are multiple flavors, including crunchy peanut butter and toasted coconut, and all of them are certified as a vegan option that contains no whey protein or sugar alcohols. They're also great for managing your blood sugar levels if you have diabetes, etc.

Each Stoka ketogenic protein bar contains only three grams of net carbs, making one of the best low-carb options for people who still value taste and texture first. All of the ingredients within are completely natural, and they can even be broken down into a protein-heavy topping for other snacks if you need more than just a small protein bar to keep you going. Not only that, but they're vegan-friendly, providing natural energy and fiber almost instantly.

These peanut butter based protein bars contain real natural ingredients, including sea salt, and are free of both gluten and GMO interference. Not only that, but each one contains a huge fifteen grams of protein and fourteen grams of fiber, as well as two grams of sugar. Thanks to the ingredients used in the bars, they're vegan, gluten-free, corn-free, soy-free and kosher, and don't use any artificially-created extras to boost the flavor or texture.

These chocolate and almond collagen protein bars contain only fifteen grams of protein overall, seven and a half grams of collagen protein and three grams of sugar. Their recipe makes them completely gluten and grain free, as well as ensuring that they're free of all soy, whey, and dairy to make them a more accessible option to people with allergies or intolerances. Not only that, but the great taste and texture makes them an excellent low carb snack for nearly any exercise or situation.

Low Carb Protein Bars Buyer's Guide

What are the best low carb protein bars?

Low-carb protein bars are incredibly useful for managing your diet and avoiding unnecessary weight gain, as well as improving your general health when you're out and about. As you might have noticed from this list, the best options for low-carb diets simply the ones that contain the least carbs and/or sugars, since these are the two things that are most likely to affect your performance and physical health when it comes to snack bars.

It usually comes down to personal preference. If you prefer dark chocolate to peanut butter, then you'll choose the protein bar that you enjoy the taste of more. The best low-carb option is whichever one you're most comfortable using on a regular basis, after all.

What is the healthiest protein bar?

Again, the “best” option depends on what you need and the diet you're following. Remember that more protein isn't always better – the more protein you're taking in, the larger the bar might be, and that increases the amount of extra ingredients you'll be eating. The healthiest option for you should be one that’s an appropriate size for your level of activity and muscle development.

The best protein bar brands will focus on more than just cab count and collagen protein – they'll also handle fiber, nutrition and other important dietary elements well too. If your protein bar lacks a decent amount of fiber, it'll probably be worse for you overall than a high-fiber bar.

What are good high protein low carb snacks?

While there are various foods that contain plenty of protein and very few carbs (including cottage cheese, jerky, trail mix and tuna), very few are as portable and space-efficient as good snack bars. That doesn't mean you should ignore them entirely, but don't be afraid to use a snack bar if you're hungry and don't have time for a full meal.

A decent protein bar won't just cut down on your carb intake, but will also give other kinds of nutrition. For example, fiber is a major part of any diet, and dropping it entirely to lower your carb intake will end badly for your body.

What bars are keto friendly?

Bars that offer ketogenic-friendly ingredients will usually display that on their packaging. Keto diets essentially involve cutting down on carbs and eating more fat instead, so any bar that contains more fat than carbs can be suitable – you'll also one that with a suitable amount of sugar, since keto can affect your blood sugar levels too.

Expert tip:

Sugar won't always be called sugar on the packaging: look for things like maple syrup, honey, agave nectar, etc. to get an idea of how much sugar a bar may actually contain.

Did you know?

Sugar alcohols are some of the worst types of sugar to deal with in a protein bar – avoid them as best as possible.