Supplement Reviews  |  Fat Burners & Weight Loss  |  Bodybuilding Guides  |   Training & Workout  |  Health & Nutrition  |  Diet & Fitness Articles  |  User Reviews
Exercising & Training  |  Diet & Weight Loss  |  Health &Nutrition  | Motivation & Success | Sports Supplements

Bar Hoping: The Best Bars in the Industry

by Jayson Kroner

15 years ago, this article would have been a joke. Sure, there may have been a handful of bars out there that delivered a decent nutrition profile, but when that nutrition comes at the expense of something that is impossible to chew, or tastes like stale sawdust, there’s really not a who lot to write about. At least not from my perspective.

Not anymore, my friends. Things are much different today. You see, today we are living the lap of luxury when it comes to caloric convenience. The nutritional sciences have graduated to a level that not a single one of us could have predicted just 2 decades ago. Not only are today’s bars higher in protein, enzymes and other co-factors, they’ve also adopted a long overdue quality that no one saw coming – taste.

And it goes without saying that there is certainly no shortage of offerings in the nutritional bars category. A person could easily spend an entire month eating nothing but bars in order to find the best of the best, and still be left scratching their head as the calendar ticked away. But don’t worry. You won’t have to go to quite that extreme. I’ve done all of the homework for you. Here are my picks on some of the bars you should definitely keep in mind.

Power Protein Cookies
Powerhouse Nutrition
Ok, so these aren’t technically bars. Get over it. Power Protein Cookies are one of the most delicious tasting post-workout snacks I’ve ever had the privilege of eating. From the first bite, I was hooked. After devouring a case of their Chocolate Chip Cookies (in what seemed like merely days) it didn’t take long to find myself ordering 2 more cases.

And as if the incredible taste wasn’t enough, these things have a stealth nutritional profile to boot. Each cookie packed a powerful 27 grams of cross flow micro-filtered whey isolate protein per serving! Here’s an idea of how good these things are. In a matter of two weeks, they have completely eliminated desserts in my kitchen. If you have the chance, try their Brownies too, they’re amazing.

Power Crunch Bars
BioNutritional Research Group
Like many of you, I pride myself in being a true connoisseur of protein. And when it comes to protein integrity, Power Crunch bars take the cake. Power Crunch bars are fueled by Proto Whey, a specialized micro-peptide protein that was specifically designed to accelerate a broad spectrum of metabolic needs centered on absolute human performance. But their engineers didn’t just take muscle recovery into consideration; they looked at every aspect of protein synthesis, delivery and absorption as well. SoftPsil®, a proprietary blend of micronized Psyllium has been included to increase digestive swell to ensure complete protein utilization. As for taste, you’re not even prepared for how good these are. They remind me of the wafer cookies mom used to pack in my grade school lunches. Buy a case, you won’t regret it! www.bnrg.com

>> CLick here for Power Crunch Bars

Organic Food Bars
Organic Food Bar, Inc.
I can sum these hidden treasures up in one word. Energy! I’d never heard of Organic Food Bars before trying them for the first time. But once I did, I knew instantly that I would be enjoying them for a long time. Aside from their surprisingly addictive taste, Organic Food Bars have one of the most impressive nutritional profiles I’ve ever come across. The 14 grams of protein in each bar is alkaline forming, and help prevent the onset of acidosis (muscle pain and fatigue) thanks in part to a scientifically engineered blend of alkaline forming, cold-processed neutral Ph proteins. Additionally, each bar is loaded with muscle-friendly superfoods such as sprouted flax and quinoa, Hawaiian Spirulina, wheat and barley grass. But don’t let the good stuff scare you away. Organic food bars taste incredible, are very enjoyable and have a pleasant aftertaste. Check them out at www.organicfoodbar.com

Odyssey 40 Oatmeal Raisin Flavored Cookie
Premier Nutrition
I picked up a case of these, and before I knew it, they were long gone. Needless to say, Premier nutrition nailed this one of the head with their massive Oatmeal Raisin flavored mega bar. As I unwrapped it, I recall wondering if the good folks at Premier had grossly over-estimated the dimensions of their cookies during the manufacturing process. But after just a few bites, I realized why they did what they did. Because as you’re eating them, you find yourself literally not wanting it to be gone. These massive, protein-packed cookies offer up 40 grams of isolate blend, sure to keep you well-fueled after even the most intense training session. And if you really want to start your day right, try one in the morning. It serves as a perfect muscle-building breakfast!

Elev8ME Bars
PROsnack Natural Foods Inc
It only took one bite to realize that Elev8Me bars were a true contender in the battle of the bars. After trying their Coffee Bean Cocoa Crunch flavored bars for the first, I seriously thought the factory might have made a mistake during packaging. Talk about an ENJOYABLE bar. As a competitive mountain biker, I particularly enjoyed these after some of my most grueling rides. But it wasn’t just the taste that sold me. Elev8ME bars are non-GMO, made with only organic or unsulphured whole dried fruits, are low fat and high fiber and deliver an impressive 18 grams of whey protein isolate. Remember, when you’re trying to take your physique, you need to fuel it with the nutrients it needs to augment in the direction you want it to. Elev8ME bars are something you should certainly take a look at, if you haven’t already. www.prosnack.com

Detour Bars
Detour Bars have an outstanding taste, a great nutritional profile and are available in more flavors than I have time to list. From the company that introduced us to Designer Whey, Detour Bars are jam packed with 30 grams of whey concentrate – perfect for after an intense workout or anytime during the day. And unlike some other bars that typically deliver high amounts of protein at the expense of equally high sugar or trans-fat, Detour Bars are completely free of trans fats, and serve up only about 5 grams of carbohydrates from sugar per bar. Both the texture and aftertaste were remarkably pleasant resembling an enjoyable snack, as to something that was a struggle to consume. If you’ve never had the pleasure, this is a bar I’d definitely check out. www.nextproteins.com

>> Click here for Detour Bars

Big 100
MetRx
You probably won’t find too many ballerinas scarfing down a MetRx Big 100 anytime in the near future. This massive, 100 gram, behemoth of a bar gets my top pick for “something you’ll want to try after a really, really amazing workout” award. Before I even had the opportunity to unwrap it, I understood completely why the good folks at MetRx had decided to sum this one up as “Colossal”. The Peanut Butter Caramel Crunch bar had a great taste that really showcased to 31 grams of Metamyosyn Protein. A word of warning though – this is not for the lighthearted. The Big 100 is the real deal when it comes to satisfying the most powerful, post-work or mass cycle appetite. Each 100 gram bar delivers 400 calories with 45 grams of carbohydrates and an impressive 160 mg of potassium. www.metrx.com

Virta Bars
Virta Bar, Inc
You may not have heard of this one yet, but after blazing through my first case in under a week, I’m confident in saying that you will be soon. Virta Organic Raw Sprout Bars offer up something a little different than you might be used to, but nonetheless, something that you definitely need to consume if you want to grow to your full potential. Each delicious 60 gram bar contains 4000 mg of organic sprouts - live, raw foods that are rich in a number of nutrients, enzymes, and fiber. In addition, they're completely free of trans-fats and cholesterol, low in saturated fat and sodium. They’re available in two flavors, Chocolate Coconut and Raspberry. www.virtabar.com

Sensation Bars
Ultimate Nutrition
I was really impressed by the Sensation bar, not only for its great taste and texture, but for the unique blend of high BV proteins and all around nutritional profile. Each Triple Layer Flavor bar offers up 30 grams of protein at just 5 net carbs per serving with a delicious taste, texture and aftertaste to boot. One of the most impressive qualities was the versatility that comes along with them. You don’t have to be starving to eat one, yet if you are, you feel completely satisfied afterwards, and not too full. The chocolate peanut butter caramel taste was perfect after my Saturday cardio session. I’m sure you’ll enjoy them too. www.ultimatenutrition.com

Real Omega Bars
NOW Foods
Listen up my friends. If you want to reach your absolute full potential, you can not afford to be deficient in essential fatty acids. It’s just that simple. Not only do Real Omega Bars serve as an excellent break from all of the chocolate, caramel and peanut butter, but they also fuel you with the Omega-3’s you need to get the most out of your workouts. And as for taste – just wait until you try one of these things for the first time. I was instantly hooked. Imagine the best tasting fruit roll-up you’ve ever had, compressed into a bar. In addition, they’re loaded with fiber and antioxidants to keep your cells protected from the damage caused by free radicals.

>> Click here for the best Protein Bars

About the Author:

Jayson Kroner is a professional health and fitness writer from Chicago, competitive mountain biker and long-time bodybuilding/supplement industry advocate.