Chocolate Protein Bars | Easy Vegan No-Bake Recipe - Elavegan (2024)

FAQs

What to avoid when buying protein bars? ›

A good bar shouldn't have any trans fats and should be low in saturated fats (less than three grams per serving). Oils. Avoid any bars with palm oil or kernel oil (often included in bars coated with chocolate) Sugar.

Traditional protein bars often use whey protein from dairy, whereas vegan protein bars get their protein from plant sources, including peas, brown rice, beans, nuts, and seeds. These protein bars avoid other animal-derived products like egg and honey.

Homemade protein bars are much more cost-effective than buying protein bars at the store. A single protein bar can range from $. 99 to $3.99. This entire recipe (for 16 bars) will cost you less than $5 and you likely already have these ingredients on hand!

For example, in place of protein powder, you can use: whole or chopped nuts: peanuts, almonds, walnuts, cashews. nut or seed butter: peanut, almond, cashew, sunflower, tahini. seeds: hemp, flax, pumpkin, sunflower, chia.

A closer look at the ingredients and sugar levels in some of these bars can make you question whether they're a good idea to eat every day. While there's no problem with the occasional sugary snack or 'unhealthy' treat, eating certain types of protein bars every day might be problematic long term.

Digestive Issues: Certain protein bars may contain high amounts of fibre or sugar alcohols (like sorbitol or maltitol) to boost their nutritional profile. These ingredients can cause digestive issues such as bloating, gas, or diarrhoea, particularly in individuals with sensitive stomachs.

Vegan protein bars are rich in both of these things: they're low on sugar because they don't contain any animal products, and they're high in fiber because they're made from whole grains. These two qualities make vegan protein bars an excellent choice for anyone who wants to improve their digestive health.

Vegan protein powder can be made from virtually any legume, seed, or grain, from hemp seeds to brown rice to watermelon seeds. According to Wolfram, “vegan protein powders based on legumes like soy and pea protein powder” are going to provide the most high-quality, bioavailable protein.

GoMacro Bars are a sustainably sourced protein bar jam-packed with nutrient-dense, plant-based foods and available in 16 flavors. It's not uncommon for vegan protein supplements to include pea protein in their ingredient lists, but GoMacro really does it well.

Peanut butter is rich in heart-healthy fats and is a good source of protein, which can be helpful for vegetarians looking to include more protein in their diets. A 2-tablespoon serving of peanut butter contains up to 8 grams of protein and 2 to 3 grams of fiber.

What is the least expensive way to get protein? ›

Yes, Greek yogurt is an excellent good source of protein, providing 2 to 3 times the amount of protein as regular yogurt.

Protein shakes: Protein shakes typically contain fewer carbohydrates and fats than protein bars, making them a more concentrated source of protein. A serving of protein powder usually provides 20 to 30 grams of protein with minimal carbohydrates and fats.

Protein powder usually has a lower fat and carbohydrate content than bars. Because of this, it may leave you feeling hungry sooner after drinking. Some protein bars have extra sugar and calories⁴ and so the best protein bars to get are low sugar protein bars.

But while they pack a protein punch, most are also high in calories and many are high in unhealthy saturated fats. Most are also classed as ultra-processed foods. Studies into their health benefits are limited.

Some examples of ultra-processed foods include packaged cookies, frozen entrees, protein bars, and flavored chips. “Most of the foods we eat every day are processed to some degree, but ultra-processed foods take things a step further,” Garone said.