The Pea-Nut Square contains a combination of Pea and Nut protein sources that come in at 12g. Throw in some cacao butter, chocolate chips (vegan, of course) and nuts and you have yourself a tasty little bar.<\/p>\n
Flavours include the classic Chocolate Chip and Chocolate Orange as well as the slightly less common Berry flavour.<\/p>\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n
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Buy Here<\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n<\/div><\/div>\nVegan-Friendly Protein Bars: What Are They?<\/h2>\n
Put simply, vegan protein bars are snack bars, often made with some combination of oats, dried fruit and nuts and usually with additional protein-rich ingredients added. Clearly, vegan protein bars contain no ingredients that have derived from animals (such as milk<\/a>, milk derivatives like whey or casein, anything egg-based<\/a>, or honey<\/a>) or indeed any ingredients that have been processed using animal products.<\/p>\nThe thing that differentiates a protein bar from a standard snack bar is \u2013 as you might have guessed \u2013 the amount of protein it contains.\u00a0Here we look at various vegan-friendly snack bars (the first four) and vegan-friendly protein bars (the second four) and compare their protein content.<\/p>\n
\n\n\nName\/Brand of Protein Bar<\/th>\n | Protein content per 100g (g)<\/th>\n | Protein content per bar (g)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n |
\n\nDoves Farm – Gluten-free Chocolate Chip Oat Flapjack (35g)<\/td>\n | 6.6<\/td>\n | 2.3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\nBlackfriars – Date & Walnut Flapjack (110g)<\/td>\n | 6.2<\/td>\n | 6.82<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\nMoo Free – Grab & Go Bar – Orange & Caramel Crunch (35g)<\/td>\n | 3<\/td>\n | 1.05<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\nNakd – Raw Fruit & Nut Bars – Carrot Cake (35g)<\/td>\n | 8<\/td>\n | 2.8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\nTrek – Salted Caramel Protein Flapjack (50g)<\/td>\n | 18.5<\/td>\n | 9.25<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\nEat Natural Vegan Protein Bar – Maple Syrup, Pecans & Peanuts (45g)<\/td>\n | 18.8<\/td>\n | 8.46<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\nClif Builder’s – Chocolate Peanut Butter 20g Protein Bar (68g)<\/td>\n | 29.4<\/td>\n | 20<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n |
\nProtein Pow – Cookie Dough Chocolate Chip – High Protein Bar (52g)<\/td>\n | 23<\/td>\n | 11.96<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n As you can see, unsurprisingly, the protein content tends to be a lot higher in bars specifically marketed as protein bars. Most of the protein bars have in the region of 10g of protein per bar, with twice that being present in the Clif Builder\u2019s bar.<\/p>\n The snack bars, in contrast, almost all have less than 3g of protein per bar. The exception is the Blackfriars Flapjack (with almost 7g of protein) but at 110g that\u2019s almost more like a meal than a snack, and that includes almost 70g of carbs!<\/p>\n What Are Vegan Protein Bars Made From?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n There is such a variety of ingredients that go into vegan-friendly protein bars that it is far easier to explain what they are not<\/em> made from. That being said, any ingredients that have derived from animals (including things like gelatine, milk, whey, dairy butter, eggs and egg derivatives, and so on) or anything that has used animals or animal products during its processing (for instance,\u00a0sugar that has used bone char<\/a> during the refinement process).<\/p>\nOnce all animal products have been eradicated as options, there are still plenty of high protein vegan foods<\/a> that find their way into protein bars. And, many of these plant-based protein sources offer a good range of other nutritional benefits too. Here are some examples of some common ingredients in plant-based protein bars:<\/p>\nProtein Concentrate or Protein Isolate<\/h3>\nUsed to boost the overall protein content in the most efficient way possible, this could be any one of the common plant protein powders, such as soy protein isolate<\/a>.<\/p>\nNuts & Seeds<\/h3>\nPeanuts, almonds, chia seeds and sunflower seeds (among other nuts and seeds) are commonly found in vegan protein bars. These add both protein and often a range of other nutrients, including vitamins and minerals (as outlined in our article on sunflower seed protein powder<\/a>). They tend to be high in both fat and calories too though.<\/p>\nOats<\/h3>\nUsed to bulk out the bar and add texture, but also because they contain roughly 17g of protein per 100g, along with a range of other useful nutrients.<\/p>\n Dried Fruit<\/h3>\nTo add a little sweetness to the bar, as well as a fruit flavour, and provide texture variety, things like dried cranberries, raisins and even freeze-dried raspberries can be found in protein bars.<\/p>\n Chocolate\/Cocoa Powder<\/h3>\nChocolate chips, cocoa solids or cocoa powder are often found in the ingredients of vegan protein bars, often to add a chocolatey flavour but also because cocoa powder contains upwards of 20g of protein and around 30g of fibre per 100g.<\/p>\n Obviously, chocolate of any kind included in products labelled as vegan will not contain milk. There is loads of vegan chocolate<\/a> available.<\/p>\nVegetable Oil<\/h3>\nMost protein bars contain at least one vegetable oil with sunflower, coconut and palm oil<\/a> all commonly found.<\/p>\nVitamins & Minerals<\/h3>\nSome bars are fortified with added vitamins and minerals to make them more appealing to the health-conscious customers out there. This is especially the case for vegan products, which may add micronutrients that can be difficult for vegans to obtain, such as iron<\/a> or zinc<\/a>.<\/p>\nHumectant<\/h3>\nAdded to keep bars from drying out too much, a common vegan humectant that is found in protein bars is glycerol that is made from vegetables<\/a>.<\/p>\nEmulsifier<\/h3>\nUsed to help combine and\/or stabilise the various ingredients, one of the most common vegan emulsifiers found in protein bars is soy lecithin<\/a>.<\/p>\nFlavourings, Colouring<\/h3>\nSometimes additional flavourings are added to protein bars. Often it will simply say \u201cnatural flavourings\u201d without specifying exactly what they are, but rest assured that if they are in a bar marked as vegan, these will be plant based too.<\/p>\n Sugar, Natural or Artificial Sweeteners<\/h3>\nOften protein bars add something to add a little sweetness. Ideally, this will be fruit as at least that also includes some worthwhile nutrients. Alternatively, it could simply be sugar or the producers could opt for a natural vegan-friendly sweetener such as maple syrup (note that honey is not vegan<\/a>).<\/p>\nAlternatively, an artificial sweetener of some description may be used. These typically contain very few calories but some are linked with varying degrees of scientific backing to a range of health issues.<\/p>\n How to Pick the Best Protein Bars<\/h2>\nWhen attempting to pick the \u201cbest\u201d of anything it is important to define your goals. As with protein powders<\/a>, some people will simply be seeking the highest possible protein content per serving. Others will be seeking the bar that packs a decent amount of protein but that also tastes nice. Others still will be seeking bars that contain other nutrients (whether fibre or vitamins and minerals) or bars that contain the most protein and the fewest ingredients. Some people will want to avoid gluten or other allergens and some will be seeking bars with the fewest calories, least fat or smallest number of carbs.<\/p>\nIn short, the way to find the best protein bar is to first figure out what you are actually looking for. Then it\u2019s fairly easy to compare the nutritional values of the various bars and then perhaps purchase a few that look as though they tick your boxes and try them out. Luckily, there is a wide variety of vegan-friendly protein bars available these days so, with a little effort, it should be relatively straightforward to find those that work for you. Then give them a try and stick with the tastiest and\/or cheapest!<\/p>\n Protein Bars Versus Protein Powder<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n Here we\u2019ll take a look at some of the factors you might consider when trying to decide between protein powder and protein bars. To give a nutritional comparison, here\u2019s the data from a leading protein powder and a popular protein bar, both produced by the excellent Myvegan brand from Myprotein, one of the leading sports nutrition companies in Europe.<\/p>\n \n\n\nNutrients<\/th>\n | Pea Protein Isolate Powder (per 30g serving)<\/th>\n | Vegan Carb Crusher (per 60g bar)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n | \n\nEnergy<\/td>\n | 453kJ \/ 107kcal<\/td>\n | 883kJ \/ 212kcal<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \nFat<\/td>\n | 1.5g<\/td>\n | 8.4g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \nof which saturates<\/td>\n | 0.6g<\/td>\n | 2.4g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \nCarbohydrates<\/td>\n | 0.9g<\/td>\n | 17g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \nof which sugars<\/td>\n | 0g<\/td>\n | 1.8g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \nFibre<\/td>\n | 0g<\/td>\n | 11g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \nProtein<\/td>\n | 23g<\/td>\n | 15g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n | \nSalt<\/td>\n | 0.75g<\/td>\n | 0.37g<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n As you can see, there is quite a marked difference from a nutritional perspective. A protein isolate is essentially more or less pure<\/em> protein. That means low calories, low fat, low carbs and high protein, but low\/no fibre and micronutrients. In contrast, a bar provides a broader range of nutrients but typically less protein and more calories.<\/p>\nProtein Bars Are More Convenient Than Powders<\/h3>\nThe primary advantage of protein bars over powders is convenience. Unless you are making your own bars (see below<\/a>), they will almost always come as individually wrapped bars that can be carried around in a gym bag, handbag or pocket with minimal fuss. When you want to get your protein boost from a bar, you just need to open it and get stuck in.<\/p>\nThis contrasts markedly with protein powders which must usually be measured out and mixed with your chosen fluid, then often blended or vigorously shaken to ensure the protein shake is well mixed. Of course, you can buy premixed protein shakes, which can increase convenience. But a half-litre bottle is still significantly bulkier than a 60g bar. In addition, for those really serious about adding muscle mass, who want to keep their protein levels topped up regularly throughout the day, a bar is a really convenient and easy way to do this whilst out and about.<\/p>\n On the flip side, protein products are often taken before, after or even during exercise and some people prefer drinking to eating at those times. This will come down to personal preference, but if you tend to get very hungry after a workout at the gym, bars could certainly fill a hole while giving a nice protein boost at the same time.<\/p>\n Flavour \u2013 Personal Choice<\/h3>\nAnother thing that comes down to personal preference is the flavour of the various protein products. Many people are happy enough to mix something like pea protein isolate<\/a> with their vegan milk alternative of choice and knock it back with no bother. Others prefer protein powders that are already flavoured, whether chocolate, vanilla or any number of other more out-there flavours. But there are plenty of protein-seekers who can\u2019t get on with the flavours on offer with the powders and instead much prefer the bars.<\/p>\nIf you are partial to cereal or snack bars in general, most protein bars compare well to those in terms of flavour and consistency, some having a crunch to them but most being fairly moist and soft. As with any food products though, it is likely some will be more to your taste than others. In addition, if you are swapping your protein hit for a meal, clearly eating a protein bar is a more satisfying meal than simply drinking a protein shake.<\/p>\n Protein Content Often Higher in Powder<\/h3>\nAs said, it is often \u2013 though not always \u2013 the case that the protein content is higher in protein powder than it is in a protein bar, both in terms of the per 100g value and the per serving level. Some protein bars pack in around 20g of protein per bar, but most offer in the region of 10g to 15g per bar. Based on the comparison above, which is fairly typical, you can generally expect to get upwards of 20g of protein per serving of vegan protein powder, at least with the protein isolates. A less refined powder, such as hemp protein powder<\/a>, is more likely to offer around 15g of protein per serving.<\/p>\nThe per 100g differential is greater still, meaning powders give more bang for your buck. A vegan protein powder typically has between 60-80g of protein per 100g. A bar, on the other hand, will range from around 15-30g.<\/p>\n In terms of the type and quantity of amino acids contained within protein bars, this will depend on the protein sources added. For instance, the Myvegan Carb Crusher bar includes a blend of pea, brown rice and soy protein, so it has all the essential amino acids well covered, including the three branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) that are most associated with building and repairing muscles. If just one main protein source is used in a bar, one or more of the amino acids may not be present in significant quantities.<\/p>\n Bars Higher in Fibre, Carbs & Fat<\/h3>\nGiven that protein powders and isolates, in particular, are generally refined to remove as much fibre, fat and carbs as possible, protein bars will tend to be significantly higher in these nutrients. This is because the nuts, seeds, oats and dried fruits contained within many bars contain these nutrients in varying quantities and the addition of vegetable oil and glycerol will bump up the fat content further.<\/p>\n Thus, the calorie content of bars tends to be quite a bit higher than powder. But, of course, if you are mixing your powder with vegan-friendly milk rather than water, this will bump up some of these nutrients too, though not by all that much in truth.<\/p>\n Cost \u2013 Convenience of Bars Comes at a Price<\/h3>\nThe cost of both protein powder and protein bars can vary greatly. Buying bars individually, for instance, can cost anything between around \u00a31.00 and \u00a33.00, with many pitching around the \u00a32.49 price point. The unit cost can be reduced somewhat by buying bars in boxes of 12, 18, 24 or more, but they often still hover around the \u00a32.00 per bar mark.<\/p>\n In contrast, buying protein powder generally offers much better value per serving. For instance, purchase a 1kg packet of Myvegan Vegan Protein Blend powder would usually cost around \u00a324.00; that would include around 33 servings, making each protein-packed serving cost just 73p. This increases to just under \u00a31.00 per serving if you opt for a 250g packet of protein powder in this example, but that is still way cheaper than any of the top quality protein bars.<\/p>\n Though that is just one example, it is indicative of the trade-off: bars are more convenient but you have to pay for that convenience and the difference is often substantial.<\/p>\n How Are Protein Bars Made?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n Protein bars that you will find in your local health food shop or on most websites will generally have been made in a factory of some sort. It is possible to get artisan, small-batch vegan protein bars but these are less widely available. Most will follow a largely automated production line, as outlined in this video<\/a>, though the specific processes will differ from producer to producer.<\/p>\nDoes Baking the Bars Destroy the Protein?<\/h3>\nThere is some debate about whether or not baking protein bars (and indeed other food products) destroys or denatures the protein within them. If that were the case, a product that is based around the premise of having a high protein content would be tarnished, to say the least. But what if protein being denatured by heat actually improves<\/em> it when it comes to how well the human body can utilise it?<\/p>\nOne of the reasons humans evolved to enjoyed cooked food over raw is that some of the nutrients contained in food become more accessible when cooked. As detailed by the European Food Information Council (EUFIC)<\/a>, heating protein-rich foods can indeed denature the proteins, but it doesn\u2019t tend to destroy the proteins completely (unless cooked at very high temperatures for a long time).<\/p>\nDelving a little deeper, the EUFIC suggests that most cooking of protein-rich food will tend to break the weak (mostly hydrogen) bonds that link amino acid strands within the protein together but, crucially, the strong peptide bonds that form the amino acid strands themselves tend to stay intact. So, freeing the amino acids from the hydrogen bonds can actually make them more accessible to our bodies.<\/p>\n Some people overestimate the consequences of (or simply misunderstand) how heat affects protein. For these people and advocates of a raw vegan diet<\/a>, there are various raw vegan protein bars available to buy, or you can simply make your own. Whilst there is some debate on the issue, the broad consensus is that protein bars, heated\/baked or otherwise, still provide a good protein boost.<\/p>\nProtein Bars Ingredients: Less Is More?<\/h3>\nIt is often the case with food products in general that the fewer ingredient they contain, the better. Whether we are talking about vegan ice cream<\/a>, breakfast cereals<\/a> or anything else that has had ingredients added, the healthier options tend to have the fewest ingredients. Here we present examples of three popular vegan protein bars to show how the quantity (and possibly quality) of ingredients can vary greatly.<\/p>\n\n- Squirrel Sisters Peanut Caramel Natural Protein Bar 40g<\/strong> – Ingredients:<\/strong> Roasted peanuts (34%), chopped dates, sultanas, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, vegetable glycerine.<\/li>\n
- Protein Pow – Cookie Dough Chocolate Chip – High Protein Bar (52g)<\/strong> – Ingredients:<\/strong> Almonds, Isomalto-oligosaccharide (source of glucose), Pea Protein, Chocolate Chips (8%) (Cocoa Mass, Xylitol, Cocoa Butter, Sunflower Lecithin), Vegetable Fibre (Chicory), Sunflower Lecithin, Vegetable Glycerine, Rice Flour, Erythritol, Chickpea Flour, Natural Flavour, Guar Gum, Maize Starch, Salt, Stevia Lea Extract.<\/li>\n
- MyProtein – MyVegan Carb Crusher – Chocolate Sea Salt Protein Bar (60g) – Ingredients:<\/strong> Protein Blend (31%)[Pea Protein, Brown Rice Protein, Soy Protein Nuggets (Isolated Soy Protein, Cocoa Powder, Tapioca Starch)], Corn Fibre, Humectant (Vegetable Glycerol), Caramel (10%)[Chicory Root Fibre, Humectant (Vegetable Glycerol), Palm Kernal, Water, Palm Oil, Emulsifiers [Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, Sorbitan Tri- Stearate, Rapeseed Lecithin)], Gelling Agent (Pectin), Salt, Cocoa Powder, Natural Flavouring)], Rapeseed Oil, Dark Chocolate Flavour Coating (7%)[Sweeteners (Isomalt, Sucralose), Palm Oil, Cocoa Powder, Emulsifiers (Soya Lecithin, Polyglycerol Polyricinoleate)], Cacao Nibs (3%), Cocoa Powder, Thickener (Acacia Gum), Natural Flavourings, Emulsifier (Sunflower Lecithin), Sea Salt, Antioxidant (Vitamin E)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
As you can see, there is a big difference in the number of ingredients in the examples given. Having a greater number of ingredients is not necessarily a bad thing, especially as lots of the items mentioned will be included in very small quantities. Moreover, lots of them are 100% natural and, of course, all of them are safe and licensed to be used.<\/p>\n | |