Protein and nutrition bars are designed to be a convenient source of quick and sustained energy. Many people eat them as breakfast replacements, pre and post-workout meals, and on-the-go snacks.
Consuming protein in bar form can simplify meeting recommended macronutrient levels, particularly for those with an active lifestyle. Many bars also include some kind of fortification with vitamins and minerals. If you are out for the day hiking, cycling, or even just at work, the bar-style format makes for a convenient source of energy and nutrition.
Proteins are essential amino acids that support healthy body function. Proteins are particularly important in building and repairing muscle tissue after exercise. While a balanced plant-based diet can provide sufficient protein—even for fitness enthusiasts, —quick snacks and supplements like protein powders or bars can help ensure healthy protein intake.
The Five Best Vegan Protein Bars
These five vegan bars use ingredients such as nuts, seeds, pea protein, and hemp protein to ensure well-rounded nutrition. Nuts and seeds also contain healthy fat, calories, and other nutrients that provide slow-release energy for the body. Most bars are high in fiber, which supports bowel health and reduces the risk of certain cancers. Many also contain fruit sugars, syrups, and similar to provide quick fuel in addition to slow-release energy.
Dates, agave, and rice syrup—which is free from fructose and sucrose—are frequently used as alternative sweeteners to cane or beet sugar. Both fruit sugar and added sugar provide an immediate boost, which is perfect for pre or mid-exercise snacking. But be sure to check labels for sugar content and adjust consumption according to preference and lifestyle.
1. Vega Protein Bar
Vega’s 100 percent plant-based protein bars contain a considerable 20g of protein per serving. The company blends pea and brown rice protein with nuts, and each bar also contains three to four grams of fiber. The high protein vegan bars are available in both Salted Caramel and Chocolate Peanut Butter flavors.
Founded in 2004, Vega specializes in plant-based nutrition and is known for its various protein powders and supplements. While extremely high in protein, it’s worth noting that Vega’s protein bars contain a significant amount of sweetener in the form of cane sugar, agave, and molasses. A box of 12 bars is available from the Vega website for $29.99.
Check them out on Amazon here.
2. Skout Organic
First founded in 2008 in Portland, Oregon, Skout Organic aims to provide plant-based nutrition for those looking for a healthier protein bar. The brand is stalwart in its dedication to simplicity, and each Skout Bar is made using 7 or fewer premium ingredients.
Dates are part of all Skout bars, combining slow-burning fiber and easily digestible glucose. They are also rich in vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron, phosphorus, thiamin, and folate.
For protein, Skout incorporates Organic sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and peanuts into its bars. Sunflower seeds are rich in vitamin E, copper, manganese, and selenium. While pumpkin seeds contain magnesium, zinc, and manganese, too. Organic peanuts are rich in vitamin E, fiber, and monounsaturated fat—which supports good heart health.
Skout Organic offers its high-protein nutrition bars in several flavors including Salted Chocolate, Coconut, Chocolate Cherry, and Peanut Butter. Each bar is certified gluten-free and contains 10g of protein, along with some combination of dates, nuts and/or seeds.
The entire range is free from gluten, dairy, soy, and grain, and contains only the naturally occurring sugars found in dates—with no artificial colors, sweeteners, or preservatives.
Protein bars are available in packs of 12 and 24 on the official website, priced $29.99 and $49.99, respectively. Skout also offers Kid’s Fruit Bars, which are available in packs of six, 18, and 36 at $6.99, $19.99, and $34.99 respectively.
Check them out here, and for a limited time, get 20 percent off with code LIVEKINDLY.
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3. Rise Bars
LA-based company Rise offers several vegan options, all made with pea protein. These are Lemon Cashew, Chocolatey Coconut, and Sunflower Cinnamon Protein Bars. Each bar contains a maximum of five ingredients and 15g of plant-based protein.
Lemon Cashew flavor combines nuts, pea protein, coconut nectar, and lemon. Chocolate Coconut includes carob powder and coconut shreds. Rise uses minimal ingredients for maximum nutrition, with no unnecessary additives or extras. Twelve-item multipacks of Rise vegan protein bars are available for $27.99 per box.
Check out Rise’s Simplest Protein Bar on Amazon here.
4. R.E.D.D. Bar
R.E.D.D., which stands for “Radiant Energy Deliciously Delivered,” produces low-sugar, gluten-free, soy-free, GMO-free, and vegan protein bars in a variety of flavors. The Portland, Maine, company was founded in 2016. Earlier this year it launched updated packaging and ingredients for its new generation of high-protein nutrition bars.
Founder Alden Blease created R.E.D.D. bars with simple, whole ingredients from his local health food shop. According to the company, recipes are constructed around the desired flavors and each handmade bar has a soft and chewy texture.
Flavors include peanut butter, oatmeal, chocolate, salted caramel, and mint chocolate. Each bar contains 10g of plant-based protein, along with so-called “superfood” ingredients such as chia seeds, maca powder, cordyceps mushroom, reishi mushroom, chaga mushroom, goji berry powder, turmeric, and quinoa.
R.E.D.D. bars also contain 11 to 16 grams of fiber per portion, depending on the flavor, and both prebiotics and probiotics. These support the body to cultivate a healthy colony of bacteria and other microorganisms to aid digestion and a healthy gut.
The company sells a variety pack of protein bars on its website, including eight products for $24.72. A 12-bar box of one flavor is available for $35.88.
Check them out here.
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5. Clif Bars
Clif Bar & Company is a protein bar institution having been founded in 1986 as an alternative to existing nutrition products. It offers several vegan-friendly options, including Spiced Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin Walnut, Peppermint Bark, and the popular White Chocolate Macadamia Nut.
Clif Bars typically contain rolled oats, fruit, nuts, and are fortified with B vitamins. Each bar contains around 10g of protein, and by combining slow-release energy from oats and quick-release energy from brown rice syrup and sugar, Clif Bars ensure both an immediate and lasting energy boost. A box of 12 bars costs approximately $15.
You can buy Clif Bars on Amazon here.
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