15 Best Protein Bars You Can Buy at Target
Whether you're looking for an on-the-go snack or a tide-over on those days you just don't have time to do lunch, protein bars are here for you. Although they sound like sugary treats with flavors like chocolate peanut butter and glazed donut, protein bars aren't just "healthy" candy bars. A good protein bar should be enough to satisfy you—whether that's with the sugary hit you crave or with enough sustenance to keep you energized. Plus, it's easy to find solid ones at a store many of us frequent: Target.
"You should look for over 10 grams of a higher quality protein from a less processed source ('pea protein' vs 'soy isolate,' for example)," says Beth Warren, RDN, founder of Beth Warren Nutrition and author of Secrets of a Kosher Girl. She also suggests less than 10 grams of sugar, ideally from a natural source.
Luckily, you can get lots of great protein bars right at your local Target. Below, we've rounded up 15 protein bars you can find during your next shopping trip.
RXBar Chocolate Sea Salt Protein Bar
RXBars are nutritionist-approved. Warren loves that these bars have a high-quality protein source from whole food ingredients and sweetened with all-natural sugars. This flavor is made with egg whites, almonds, cashews, and dates, plus a wallop of rich chocolate and a hint of sea salt and comes in at 12 grams of protein per bar.
Kind Breakfast Protein Peanut Butter Banana Dark Chocolate
Looking for a grab n' go breakfast bar? These protein bars from Kind are a good option. While they aren't super high in protein coming in at just 8 grams, Warren likes that these aren't as processed as some other bars on the market. What's more, these bars have a peanut buttery, chocolately, banana taste that'll keep you satisfied until lunch.
Quest Protein Cookie Chocolate Chip
Who needs a protein bar when you can have a protein cookie? Quest cookies are a tasty treat with an extra kick of staying power thanks to protein and fiber. Just be careful. "They do add sugar alcohols, which can cause bloating and stomach upset in some people," Warren says.
Clif Builder's Chocolate Mint Protein Bar
Cliff bars are a favorite among protein bars—and that's because they simply taste great. The chocolate mint version is a bit high in sodium coming in at 200 milligrams, Warren says, if you're not watching your salt or are being overly mindful of how much you're consuming each day, it shouldn't be a problem to munch one of these. This bar is also pretty high calorie, she says, too, and while she likes a bar that uses more whole-food ingredients, for those who are Cliff bars fans, these chocolate mint bars are worth a try as they pack in 20 grams of protein.
GoMacro Peanut Butter Chocolate Macrobar
11 grams of protein for a bar that is also vegan and gluten-free? Add this one in your shopping cart during your next Target run.
think! High Protein Lemon Delight Bars
Lemon delight sounds, well… delightful. And these bars sure are a tasty treat with a big punch of protein—a full 20 grams! And there are zero grams of sugar in these treats, too.
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ONE Protein Bar Maple Glazed Donut
A protein bar that tastes like a donut? What else would you want for breakfast? These ONE protein bars meet Warren's high protein, low sugar criteria, but fall flat on her wish for whole food ingredients. If you're looking to satisfy your sweet tooth though and still get your protein fix, then this is the bar for you. It's better than succumbing to eating an actual donut, right?
think! High Protein Creamy Peanut Butter Bars
Chocolate-covered peanut butter is a classic protein bar mashup and these think! bars deliver with a solid serving of 12 grams of protein.
Epic Chocolate Cocoa Performance Bar
EPIC is a brand that delivers on the whole food ingredients Warren loves. These are made with egg whites, dates, almonds, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa, and sea salt, this bar is a solid source of protein at 12 grams.
ONE Birthday Cake
It doesn't have to be your birthday to enjoy this bar. And while you might think you're eating a slice of cake, this bar is packing in 20 whole grams of protein. It also contains polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats which can help reduce harmful LDL cholesterol.
Perfect Bar Chocolate Walnut Brownie Protein Bar
With all organic, whole food ingredients and 10 grams of protein, this Perfect Bar really does seem perfect. And it tastes like a chocolately, nutty brownie to boot. Although a bit high in sugar,
Special K Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Meal Bar
This bar is all the goodness of your favorite rice cereal packed into a peanut buttery crunch covered in chocolate. These Special K bars are high protein (12 grams), but also made up of processed soy protein, which Warren doesn't fully love, but if you eat these sparingly, they're still a solid option.
Power Crunch French Vanilla Creme Protein Energy Bar
French vanilla is a bit out of the regular wheelhouse for protein bars, but you'll be glad to give this one a try, especially since each bar has 13 grams of protein. Power Crunch uses whey protein though, so beware if you're lactose intolerant!
Vega Snack Vegan Bar Chocolate Peanut Butter
Vegans deserve protein bars, too and Vega is a great vegan-approved brand. This is a vegan take on the classic chocolate peanut butter, using peanuts as the main ingredient, giving it that whole food feel that Warren loves with 10 grams of protein per bar.
Vega Protein Vegan Bar Coconut Almond
Coconut almond is another fun Vega flavor, with 10 grams of protein and 11 grams of sugar. This one is made primarily of pea protein crisps, so it's definitely more processed than other bars but not the worst by, according to Warren, so you can munch on this one guilt-free.
