The Best Dairy Protein Bars

Protein bars offer a practical, palatable way to inch you towards your macro targets when grilled chicken just won’t cut it. Flavour and mouthfeel count for a lot in this category. So, our panellists chewed it over.

BEST ALL-ROUNDER Barebells White Salty Peanut Bar, £2.49 each

Score: 8.7/10

Our winning bar ticks all the boxes: 20g of protein per 200 calories with negligible sugar, a soft, chewy texture and a Snickers-like flavour – with no artificial protein aftertaste. Testers reported that it sated their appetites when they faced afternoon sugar cravings, while crunchy peanuts and soya crispies add a little extra indulgence, making it more confectionary than gym supp. This is what we call a true crowd-pleaser.

BEST FOR FLAVOUR Maxi Nutrition Creamy Core Peanut Caramel Protein Bar, £2.50 each

Score: 7.6/10

This newly launched snack from Maximuscle scored highly for flavour. A little smaller than some other bars on the market, it weighs in at a modest 182 calories with 14g of protein, but it made a big impact thanks to its liquid caramel core and crunchy chocolate and peanut coating. It’s surprisingly low in sugar, too, – just 1.7g – and our panel described the texture and mouthfeel as spot on.

BEST ON THE GO Grenade Peanut Butter And Jelly Bar, £2.75 each

Score: 7.2/10

Now spotted in many supermarkets, this is a strong option if you’re looking for a quick bite to tide you over between meals. Testers liked the sweet, jammy filling and deep-roasted peanut flavour with a hint of saltiness. Providing 20g of protein and only 1.8g of sugar, it’s a match for Barebells in the macro stakes, albeit a little higher in calories.