From vegan to low calories and posh treats, we test protein-packed chocolate bars
AS we become more aware of our health we are ditching conventional snacks and turning to protein-packed products.
Last year the global protein bar market was valued at £2.72billion.
While they are no substitute for whole foods, these bars do offer a quick and convenient way to add protein to your diet to help fuel a workout, support muscle repair and curb your appetite.
Jane Atkinson looks at the choccy protein bars that can do just that . . .
Low cal
POP Rolls from MyProtein are amazing.
I tried the salted caramel flavour and before even writing this review I went online and purchased a box of these lovely little chewy bars.
They remind me of Gold Bars that I used to munch on as a kid before I cared about calories.
They don’t have the same crunch but they have a satisfying chewiness with a gooey centre.
Made with milk – and palm oil, annoyingly.
I munched on one after lunch and even though there is just 7.8g of protein per 27g bar, it filled me up.
And with 95cal, 4.2g of fibre and 2.1g of fat per bar, there was no guilt either.
On special offer at 83p per bar at myprotein.com.
Vegan
THE Protein Works’ Ridiculous Vegan Protein Bar is supposedly designed to balance your conscience and your cravings.
It is 100 per cent vegan, with 197kcal per 47.5g bar, 19 per cent fat, six per cent fibre, 0.8g sugar and 15g of protein.
The Chocolate Caramelicious flavour is described as a multi-layered experience of a biscuit dough, nuts and caramel body, smothered in plant- based chocolate and smattered with high-protein crispies.
This sadly didn’t have the same satisfaction as the other two.
It had that slight protein bar taste to it and was a bit grainy for my liking. From £1.53 per bar.
For more information, see theproteinworks.com/ridiculous-vegan-protein-bar.
Posh choc
THE Hotel Chocolat Layered Protein Bar from Myprotein tastes amazing.
Unlike the majority of the protein bars I have tried this doesn’t have that horrid aftertaste to it.
It is a delight of dark chocolate wrapped around six layers of different textured chocolate.
It has a very subtle ginger flavour. Not suitable for vegetarians as it contains bovine collagen.
This is the biggest of the three at 60g and contains the most protein at 18g, plus 9g of fat, 8g of fibre and 239kcal.
This is the tastiest protein bar I’ve ever tried but I won’t be buying any more as I know I’d just devour them and at 239kcal they are not low calorie. £2.83 per bar.
See myprotein.com.