Protein Bars

Protein bars: protein bars and breakfast bars

Protein bars are bars in which protein plays the leading role. You eat them as a snack, as a supplement alongside your meals, or after a workout. The main advantage is practical: no shaker, no water, just eat it straight from the wrapper. What many people do not know is how much the bars differ, both in protein content and calories.

This collection contains the protein bars we carry. Most come in boxes of twelve, making the price per bar lower than when sold individually. Below you will read how the different types differ and what to look out for when choosing.

What exactly is a protein bar

A protein bar is a food product, not a pill. The base usually consists of whey protein, milk protein, or a plant-based protein source, supplemented with fiber, fats, and carbohydrates for texture and flavor. Protein contributes to an increase in muscle mass. A bar usually contains between ten and twenty grams of protein. That is close to a large serving of quark, but in a form you can put in your bag.

Protein bars and breakfast bars, the difference

A protein bar such as the ESN Designer Bar is compact and has a coated exterior. You eat it as a snack. A breakfast bar such as the ESN GOAT Bar has oats as a base and is both softer and firmer. Because of that oat base, it contains more carbohydrates. In short: one is a snack, the other is suitable for breakfast.

How much protein is in a bar

This varies by product and flavor. Always look at the nutritional table on the product page and pay attention to the serving size that the values refer to. A 45-gram bar with fourteen grams of protein is different from a 55-gram bar with eighteen grams. Calculate it as protein per hundred grams if you really want to compare. Then you will see which bar is high in protein and which is mainly tasty.

Vegan protein bars

If you do not use dairy, there is the Designer Vegan Protein Bar with plant-based protein sources. Plant-based bars often have a slightly different texture, more grainy or chewy, because pea and rice proteins behave differently than whey. Check the ingredients list of every vegan bar for allergens. Nuts and soy are frequently included.

Protein bar or protein shake

A shake is usually more economical per gram of protein and contains less fat and sugar. A bar wins on convenience. You do not need water, there is nothing to wash, and you can put it in your bag weeks in advance. Many people use both: a shake at home, a bar for on the go. What you stick with matters more than what seems smartest on paper.

The difference with an energy bar

This is often confused. An energy bar is made for during physical activity and revolves around quick carbohydrates. You can find those in our collection of energy bars. A protein bar is intended as a snack or as a supplement to your protein intake, not as fuel halfway through a long ride. If you eat a protein bar while cycling, it will sit heavy in your stomach.

What to look out for when choosing

Look at three things at once: the protein content, the total number of calories, and the sweeteners used. A high-protein bar is not automatically low in calories, because the fat and carbohydrate content varies widely. Also pay attention to sugar alcohols such as maltitol; excessive use of them can have a laxative effect. And compare the price per bar, not per box.

When you eat a protein bar

There is no fixed time. Many people grab one after a workout, because it is simply the easiest then. Others use a bar around four o'clock, when hunger strikes and dinner is still far away. Protein contributes to the maintenance of muscle mass.

Which bar suits you depends mainly on what you use it for. Are you looking for a snack, then look at the compact protein bars. If you prefer to eat a bar at breakfast, then an oat-based breakfast bar is more obvious.