It’s not always convenient toting your Tupperware around, whether you’re out running errands or in need of a quick replenishing snack after a workout. And if you have Celiac’s disease, grabbing just any old protein bar during your next excursion isn’t going to do. Don’t take the risk and be unprepared! I’ve gone through and sampled a number of different gluten-free protein bars and here are my top picks (plus ones that didn’t make the cut).

*For these reviews, I had some preliminary standards set. Obviously, first and foremost, the product had to be gluten-free, with a bare minimum of 10 grams of protein. I’m also looking for those that are widely available, not kinds that you’re searching high and low for (although these days you can find just about anything on the internet). Next, the bars could cost no more than $4.00 each (Yo! Girl on a budget here!), and finally I evaluated them based on taste, texture, nutrition, and quality of ingredients.

1. No Cow

Okay, so I’m kind of a carnivore when it comes to food, so I was hesitant to try something labeled as completely vegan and called “No Cow.” Was I blown away! It actually won first place in my taste test, so it goes to show that you really can’t judge a protein bar by its label. The three flavors in stock at the grocery store I was at (Safeway) were Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, and Dipped Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup. Taste and texture were spot-on, not too sweet or grainy like with some brands that I’ve run into. The nutritional profile varies, but the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (my personal favorite) has 200 calories, 20 grams of protein (complete protein as well, containing all the essential amino acids), 26 carbs, 15 grams of fiber, 5 grams of fat, and only 1 gram of sugar (8 grams from sugar alcohols). They are also dairy- and soy-free, if you are watching out for those allergens as well. They happened to be on sale for $2.50 each, so not too badly priced for in-store. Find more varieties available for a better price on Amazon here https://amzn.to/49R34p4.

2. Aloha

Another vegan protein bar nears the top of my list! Aloha bars are organic, non-GMO, and delicious. The Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough flavor has 240 calories, 14 grams of protein, 25 carbs, 10 grams of fiber, 11 grams of fat, and 5 grams of sugar. In addition to being dairy-, soy-, and gluten-free, they do not contain any sugar alcohols, which may cause some GI upset in certain people. These were on sale for $2.50 each. You can’t go wrong with Cookie Dough, and I can also recommend Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Peanut Butter Cup, and Coconut Chocolate Almond. Buy on Amazon here https://amzn.to/3Qe4nHH.

3. ONE

I was happy to see that ONE bars had several gluten-free options of classic treats I could safely indulge in. The texture and respective flavors were on par, with the only downside being that they contained sucralose. They were filling enough though, and something I would buy again, even if only to just to try out new flavors. I experimented with Maple Glazed Doughnut, Pumpkin Pie, Peanut Butter Pie, Cinnamon Roll, and Vanilla Latte. The nutrition profile a ONE bar certainly bests its dessert counterpart, with the Peanut Butter Pie totaling up with 220 calories, 20 grams of protein, 23 carbs, 8 grams of fiber, 9 grams of fat, and a single gram of sugar (5 grams sugar alcohols). Buy them on Amazon here https://amzn.to/448IaAA.

4. Rx Bar

Clean and simple are words that best describe Rx Bars. As close to natural eating you can get, these bars are chewier than the others, but given that they’re all made with real, minimally processed ingredients, I ranked them at #4. All the kinds I’ve tried had a pleasant balance of taste. They are a little higher in sugar content due to the dried fruit, but nothing you probably need to feel too guilty about, coming from a natural source. The Chocolate Sea Salt has 210 calories, 12 grams of protein, 23 carbs, 5 grams of fiber, 9 grams of fat, and 13 grams of sugar. The Blueberry, Mint Chocolate, and Vanilla Almond are also excellent choices. Prices were comparable with the others at $2.50 per bar.

5. Pure Protein

The Pure Protein line put me most in mind of a chocolate-covered candy bar, yet it was as satisfying as it was delicious. It had both a good taste and texture, slightly firmer than the plant-based bars, and although the particular store I was at only sold them in boxes of four marked at $8.99, I have had them previously and knew that I liked them, so it was a deal. My favorite flavor had been Marshmallow Crispy Treat, but it appears that this has since been discontinued. However, Chocolate Deluxe, Chewy Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Peanut Butter, and Birthday Cake are all decent too. I placed these bars at #5 due to them being more processed and containing artificial sweeteners. Each kind varies slightly, but as an example, Chocolate Deluxe provides 180 calories, 21 grams of protein, 17 carbs, 2 grams of fiber, 4.5 grams of fat, and 3 grams of sugar (4 grams sugar alcohols).

Products to Skip

Sorry to say, not all protein bars pass the test. Here are a few that I tried, but didn’t meet my standards for taste, quality, nutrition, and overall value (in no particular order).

FitCrunch

These bars, though having an okay taste and combination of creamy and crunchy textures, did not receive my approval given the number of less-than-ideal ingredients and artificial flavors and sweeteners. The Peanut Butter and Jelly flavor has 210 calories, 16 grams of protein, 13 carbs, 2 grams of fiber, 11 grams of fat, and 1 gram of sugar (9 grams sugar alcohols). Note: the wafer varieties are not gluten free.

Unite

I was eager to try the Unite bars, which offered some unique flavors instead of the same old, same old. The three flavors I purchased were Churro, Mexican Hot Chocolate, and PB & Jelly. However, they fell short of my expectations. The taste just seemed…off? and for the price I paid ($3.99 each!) the protein content was relatively low. As far as nutrition goes, they all have 190 calories, 10 to 11 grams of protein, 18 to 19 carbohydrates, 5 grams of fiber, 9 to 10 grams of fat, and 8 to 9 grams of sugar.

Quest

I know Quest is a popular brand in this realm, but I wasn’t overly impressed with their protein bars I sampled. Taste was okay, some had a bit of a gritty texture, but the biggest downside was how hard they were. My jaw got a pretty intense workout gnawing my way through them, and they weren’t expired or anything like that. So unless you want a snack that’s really going to keep you busy chewing for a while, I would suggest passing on these. Here is the nutritional info, if you’re curious (on the gold-standard Cookie Dough flavor, of course 🙂 ): 190 calories, 21 grams of protein, 22 carbs, 12 grams of fiber, 9 grams of fat, and 1 gram of sugar (6 grams sugar alcohols). The other kinds I tried were White Chocolate Raspberry, Cookies & Cream, S’mores, and Birthday Cake. At $3.29, it wasn’t a great value either.

think! High Protein

Thinking think!? Think again! While the taste and consistency faired well for the Brownie Crunch and Creamy Peanut Butter flavors I sampled, for some reason I didn’t find them very satiating (perhaps because of the lower fiber content?). I would also under normal circumstances avoid soy protein, as it contains phytates that inhibit the body’s absorption of iron and zinc (and reduced nutrient uptake is NOT something that someone with Celiac’s disease needs!). Each think! High Protein bar provides 230-240 calories, 20 grams of protein, 22-24 carbs, 0-2 grams of fiber, 7-10 grams of fat, and no sugar (but 8-14 grams of sugar alcohols).

Fulfil

Checking out an unfamiliar product to me, the first red flag I noticed was the ingredients list. Heavily processed, questionable additives, then spiked with vitamins to pump up the micronutrient profile. Further investigation yielded that these bars are actually manufactured by Hershey Company. And yes, it did taste like a candy bar. Because it essentially was a candy bar. So unless you’re searching for an overpriced packaged sweet treat misnomered as a protein bar, skip Fulfil. The Chocolate Salted Caramel flavor has 150 calories, 15 carbohydrates, no fiber, 5 grams of fat, and 1 gram of sugar (8 grams sugar alcohols).

Conclusion

In summary, protein bars can function effectively as a replenishing snack or even a small meal replacement. However, not all products are created equal, so do your research if you’re going to be consuming them regularly. If you are exploring other brands that I haven’t listed (and there are many), look for minimally processed, wholesome ingredients, a macronutrient split that is suitable for your needs and goals, and ideally, the certified gluten-free label. This latter factor is not mandatory for an item to be considered safe for those with Celiac’s disease, but the additional inspection a facility undergoes for this certification makes the company more reputable as a manufacturer of gluten-free foods.

Give your body the right fuel so you can feel and perform your best! Enjoy your activities and adventures, and the food and passion that drives them!