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Let's be honest.
We've all picked up a protein bar, squinted at the label, and thought, “What the heck is all this stuff?”
Isomalto-Oligosaccharides?
Polydextrose? Xylitol?
Partially Defatted Peanut Flour?
… do you mean peanut flour?
Sometimes I feel like I need a PhD in food science and chemistry just to make sense of ingredient lists. I often find myself stuck in the snack aisle, reading through nutrition labels and googling whether maltodextrin is safe or not. (Or why Red 3 is banned in Europe but not in the US.)
Which is why I tried to find the cleanest protein bars with the most pronounce-able ingredients.
But first of all…
When it comes to Clean Protein Bars, the bar is set high – pun intended. These bars not only satisfy your taste buds but also keep your health in check. But what exactly makes a protein bar clean? Let’s break it down:
But it’s not just what’s in Clean Protein Bars that matters; it's also what’s not. Here are a few things you won’t find in a clean bar:
Put simply, the cleanest protein bars are made with high-quality, natural ingredients. That much is pretty obvious.
They should also have a short and simple ingredient list — without artificial additives, preservatives, colors, flavorings, bulking agents, anti-caking agents, emulsifiers, humectants, or stabilizers.
Phew! That was a mouthful.
Hope I didn’t miss anything… but you never know.
When it comes to Clean Protein Bars, the ingredient list is your new bestfriend. You want to see a lineup that's cleaner than a whistle and tastier than a double chocolate fudge sundae on a Sunday afternoon.
So, what makes these bars the superheroes of snacks? Let's spill the (clean) beans:
In compiling my list of the cleanest protein bars, I had some pretty simple but important criteria… the most important being on whole food ingredients, which are ingredients you can actually pronounce and should recognize! Think nuts, seeds, coconut oil, and superfoods like chia and flax seeds for that extra health boost.
The best and cleanest protein bars should also contain a good balance of macronutrients, including protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats. They should be an excellent source of energy and help support muscle recovery after workouts. I mean that's kind of the point of a protein bar, isn’t it?
Some of my top picks also include additional superfood ingredients with functional health benefits like MCT Oil, adaptogenic mushrooms, and specific seeds and prebiotic fiber for appetite control and GLP-1 production. But that’s entirely optional, and is usually reserved for the best of the best.
You’ll see that many of the protein bars on this list don’t have any unique superfood ingredients or functional health benefits, but that’s a reason to exclude them from my list of the cleanest bars on the market.
When it comes to clean protein bars, taste is just as important as nutrition. I rolled up my sleeves (and opened our taste buds) to put some of the top contenders to the test. The bars listed below aren't just snacks; they're a powerful fuel source that satisfies cravings while keeping it pure.
From elevating your energy levels naturally to passing the ultimate taste test, my top choices for clean protein bars deliver on all fronts.
Remember, what's inside counts, and these bars are packed with goodness that your body will thank you for.
Okay let’s go from best to worst.
LyfeFuel might be the cleanest bar on this solely because of their macros, ingredients, and the fact that I’ve spoken to their founder Chris Manderino (which I covered in this post).
With 12 grams of plant based protein, 11 grams of fiber, and only 9 grams of net carbs, this bar is definitely gonna fill you up. This is the most fiber you’ll find in any protein bar... that's not on this list. Plus superfoods?
Why?
“For the same reasons we never set out to create basic protein shakes (a complete waste of time and money IMO), just creating a protein bar seemed too basic.”
— Chris Manderino
So, instead of a basic protein bar, Chris created a protein bar with a little something extra in ‘em.
For example, his Essentials Bars have:
You won’t find this anywhere else because Chris created his own supply chain to get these niche ingredients to his manufacturer. (You can read more here.)
Plus he made sure to avoid all the crappy ingredients I talk about in the detailed product reviews. No artificial ingredients, no preservatives, no fillers.
Just real whole foods — which is why these bars only last 6 months.
✅ - Vegan
✅ - Excellent Source of Fiber
✅ - High Protein (12g per bar)
✅ - Low in Net Carbs (9g Net Carbs)
✅ - Grain-Free + Gluten-Free
✅ - Soy-Free
✅ - Additional Vitamins & Minerals
✅ - Functional Superfoods
✅ - Made from 100% Real Whole Foods
The BodyHealth Perfect Amino bar also has none of the bad stuff you’d find in other protein bars. No artificial ingredients, no preservatives, no fillers.
Actually, wait.
Sunflower Tocopherol is a preservative. And you’ll see it at the bottom of the ingredient list.
But everything else looks clean.
And even BodyHealth boasts superfoods in the form of:
But BodyHealth doesn't mention vitamins or minerals anywhere on their product page, which leads me to believe that this fruit and vegetable mix might just be for show.
Saying “support your immune system with organic superfoods” without having enough of it to mention in your nutrition facts isn’t a great look.
They also have pretty low amounts of protein with just 9 grams in their bar. But they have a lot of fiber (11 grams) and low net carbs.
✅ - Vegan
✅ - Soy-Free
✅ - Made from 100% Real Whole Foods
✅ - Functional Superfoods
✅ - Low in Net Carbs (8g Net Carbs per bar)
❌ - High Protein (9g per bar)
❌ - Additional Vitamins & Minerals
❌ - Grain-Free + Gluten-Free
Tusol is another clean “superfood” protein bar you can try. Again, no artificial ingredients, no preservatives, no fillers.
The superfoods here are:
Each of these sets of superfoods are found in their three flavors.
This one just like BodyHealth’s bar has only 9 grams of protein. But it’s also on the higher side of carbs with 20 grams of carbs and 12 grams of net carbs.
If you’re looking for a clean low carb protein bar, then this isn’t the best option.
✅ - Vegan
✅ - Soy-Free
✅ - Made from 100% Real Whole Foods
✅ - Functional Superfoods
❌ - High Protein (9g per bar)
❌ - Additional Vitamins & Minerals
❌ - Low in Net Carbs (12g Net Carbs per bar)
❌ - Grain-Free + Gluten-Free
Aloha has the highest protein out of the list with 14 grams of protein.
Plus they have a lot of fiber, around 8-10 grams. But they still end up with 16 grams of net carbs. So, they might not be the best option if you want a low carb bar.
On top of that some of their bars like Chocolate Mint uses sunflower butter and oil, and their peppermint candy flavor even has palm oil in it. As long as you avoid those flavors, you should be fine.
But they’re still pretty clean compared to everything else on the market.
✅ - Vegan
✅ - Soy-Free
✅ - High Protein (14g per bar)
✅ - Made from 100% Real Whole Foods
❌ - Additional Vitamins & Minerals
❌ - Low in Net Carbs (16g Net Carbs per bar)
❌ - Grain-Free + Gluten-Free
❌ - Functional Superfoods
Truvani might be the simplest clean protein bar on this list. Why? Because some of their flavors (like the coconut cashew) have as little as 5-6 ingredients.
Just one problem.
Barely any protein.
All their bars have 7 grams of protein, but their coconut cashew has just 5 grams. Yeah, that’s nothing.
Second problem:
All of their bars have over 15 grams of net carbs. The coconut cashew has 22 grams of net carbs, out which 14 grams is just sugar.
Not the best.
✅ - Vegan
✅ - Soy-Free
✅ - Made from 100% Real Whole Foods
❌ - High Protein (7g per bar)
❌ - Additional Vitamins & Minerals
❌ - Low in Net Carbs (22g Net Carbs per bar)
❌ - Grain-Free + Gluten-Free
❌ - Functional Superfoods
Another protein bar with just 6 ingredients (on average) is Kize. 😢
10 grams of protein is pretty good in a 43 gram bar. But the problem with so few ingredients is you end up with too much sugar and barely any fiber.
All their bars have around 19 grams of carbs and 16-17 grams of net carbs.
Also they are not vegan if that’s something you want in your bar. Their bars use egg protein or whey protein to hit their 10 gram protein target.
✅ - Made from 100% Real Whole Foods
✅ - Grain-Free + Gluten-Free
✅ - Soy-Free
❌ - Vegan
❌ - High Protein (10g per bar)
❌ - Additional Vitamins & Minerals
❌ - Low in Net Carbs (16g Net Carbs per bar)
❌ - Functional Superfoods
Well, there you have it. My rundown on the cleanest protein bars I could find online. You can’t really go wrong with any of these bars, as long they match your goals. Whether it’s high protein or low carb or something else.
Find what works for you.
I would personally pick LyfeFuel's Essentials Bar mainly because I like Chris. He’s really passionate about his protein bar and he created it for himself. Plus he’s a chill dude.
A: A clean protein bar typically contains minimal, whole food ingredients, with no artificial additives, flavors, or sweeteners. It prioritizes natural sources of protein and avoids processed ingredients.
A: Clean protein bars are important because they provide a convenient and healthy snack option for individuals looking to maintain a balanced diet. They offer a source of protein without the added sugars, preservatives, and artificial ingredients commonly found in traditional protein bars.
Before making a final decision, evaluate your pick against the following points:
A: While clean protein bars can be a nutritious option for many people, it's essential to consider individual dietary preferences and restrictions. Some clean protein bars may contain allergens such as nuts or soy, so it's crucial to check the ingredient list for any potential allergens before consumption.
A: Look for protein bars that list whole food ingredients such as nuts, seeds, and natural sweeteners like dates or honey. High-quality protein sources such as whey protein isolate, pea protein, or hemp protein are also desirable. Additionally, fiber-rich ingredients like oats or flax seeds can add nutritional value to the bar.
A: To determine if a protein bar is clean, carefully read the ingredient list and nutrition label. Look for bars with a short list of recognizable ingredients and minimal added sugars. Avoid bars containing artificial additives, flavors, or sweeteners. Third-party certifications like USDA Organic or Non-GMO Project Verified can also indicate a cleaner product.
A: Clean protein bars can be a convenient snack option for individuals looking to support their weight loss or muscle gain goals. However, it's essential to consider overall dietary habits and physical activity levels in conjunction with protein bar consumption for optimal results.
Unearth the cleanest protein bars you can buy right now. (Some might even have superfoods)
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