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Whether youโre an athlete, a busy student, or simply need a quick afternoon bite, many people are looking for tasty yet nutritious protein bars.
Unfortunately, many snack bars on the market are laden with sugar, artificial sweeteners or flavors, and iffy ingredients.
The list dwindles even further if you have dietary restrictions, like being gluten-free.
Thatโs why weโve come up with a list of the top ten best gluten-free protein bars that also happen to be delicious and made with healthy ingredients.
With these convenient bars at your disposal, youโll never be caught snack-free and โhangryโ again.
RXBARs are a healthy, gluten-free, dairy-free protein bar option with just a handful of minimally processed and natural ingredients.
While you might recognize their simple packaging that boasts their ingredients on the front with a cheeky โNo B.S.โ tagline, the bars also contain a few extra ingredients that can be viewed on the back.
0g of added sugar (with 13-15g total sugar from dates)
5g of fiber
Keep in mind that while RXBARS do not use gluten-containing ingredientsโfor example, they use gluten-free oatsโthe bars are not Certified Gluten-Free because they are made in a facility that also produces wheat-containing products.
No Cow bars are high in plant-based proteinโ21 grams per bar!โand low in sugar and carbohydrates.
If youโre following a dairy-free keto diet, No Cow bars might be the right fit for you, especially the tasty Dipped Chocolate Salted Caramel or Sprinkled Donut bars.
The vegan protein in these gluten-free bars comes from a combination of brown rice and pea protein, adding up to:
20-21g of protein (Brown Rice Protein, Pea Protein)
1g of added sugar (Stevia, Monkfruit, and 6g of Erythritol)
5g of fiber
Best Plant Protein: Simply Protein
Simply Protein Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Bars
With three flavorsโDark Chocolate Almond, Peanut Butter Chocolate, and Lemon AlmondโSimply Protein bars are gluten-free and high in plant-based protein.
Each bar contains:
12g of protein (Soy Protein Isolate, Almonds)
2g of added sugar (Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips; Sugar Alcohol Glycerin)
7g of fiber
Best Refrigerated Protein: Perfect Bar
Perfect Bar Peanut Butter Refrigerated Protein Bar
A unique plant-based protein bar, Mezcla has interesting flavor combinations that are not seen elsewhere, like Peruvian Cocoa Peanut Butter and Japanese Matcha Vanilla.
These crispy bars are vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and non-GMO, containing:
10g of protein (Pea Protein, Quinoa Crisps, Pumpkin Seeds)
7g of added sugar (White Chocolate, Tapioca Syrup)
Another prebiotic snack bar, Exo Bars are disrupting the protein bar industry by using a unique and sustainable source of proteinโcrickets.
This cricket-based protein is called Acheta Protein, and consumers say it does not taste like cricketsโit actually has a nutty, earthy flavor similar to cashews.
While Exo Bars are not vegan protein bars, they are dairy-free and gluten-free, containing:
14g of protein (Acheta Cricket Protein, Pea Protein)
2g of added sugar (Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips; Allulose)
Another one of our favorite brands is Perfect Keto, which provides us with healthy, zero-sugar collagen protein bars in addition to dozens of other keto-friendly and gluten-free products.
With six flavors, including Banana Bread, Cinnamon Roll, and Almond Butter Brownie, all Perfect Keto protein bars contain:
Last but not least, remember that protein bars donโt have to be sweetโsavory bars like Epic Meat Bars are great options for gluten-free people on paleo, Whole30, or keto diets.
These jerky-style bars are packed with protein with high-quality meat like bison, venison, chicken, and beef.
Epic is also the only bar on this list with an EOV (Ecological Outcome Verified) Certification, which assesses key indicators of ecosystem health, including soil health, biodiversity, and water and mineral cycles.
Two top-rated Epic Bars are the Chicken BBQ and Beef Jalapeno, which contain:
11g of protein (differs based on the bar; Epic uses grass-fed, pasture-raised, or humanely sourced chicken, beef, venison, and bison.)
0-1g of added sugar
2g of fiber
All About Protein Bars: The Basics
While โprotein barโ isnโt a regulated phrase, it typically describes a pre-packaged, ready-to-eat bar high in protein.
Protein bars are most often designed to be consumed as a snack but could potentially be eaten as a meal replacement if high enough in calories and protein.
Other terms for protein bars include snack bars, nutrition bars, or energy bars, but โprotein barsโ will always contain protein.
In addition to being high in protein, these bars come in wide varieties, including gluten-free, dairy-free, plant-based or vegan, nut-free, keto, or low-carb.
A common way to add protein to bars is with protein powder sourced from brown rice, egg white, hemp, whey, or pea protein.
In recent years, snack bars have gotten even more creative, using savory animal protein sources like cricket and grass-fed beef.
What is Gluten-Free?
Gluten is a protein in certain grains, including wheat, barley, rye, and a wheat-rye hybrid called triticale.
People may be gluten-free for many reasons, most commonly because they have celiac diseaseโan autoimmune response to glutenโor are gluten-intolerant, which can cause both digestive and non-digestive symptoms.
As gluten is a component of wheat, people with a wheat allergy may also consume gluten-free foods.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, gluten-free foods must contain fewer than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten.
However, gluten-free labeling is optional, which is why some food brands go a step further and receive a certification.
The โcertified gluten-freeโ symbol on a food package means the manufacturer has followed strict steps to prevent gluten cross-contamination and that a third party has independently tested the food for gluten.
This is the primary difference between โcertified gluten-freeโ and gluten-free labeling, as the FDA does not require manufacturers to test for gluten in food products.
What to Look For in Gluten-Free Snack Bars
In addition to looking for a gluten-free labelโideally โcertified gluten-freeโโthere are other aspects to consider, including:
Protein content: A protein bar should ideally contain 10-25g of protein, with a minimum of 8g to be considered moderate in protein.
Sugar: You should aim for no more than 8-12g of added sugar per barโand the lower, the better. Many snack bars now utilize non-nutritive sweeteners, like monk fruit, stevia, and sugar alcohols like erythritol.
Fiber: Gluten-free fiber bars will increase satiety from the bar, keeping you full for longer and supporting digestive health.
Taste: This is a personal preference, so look for flavor combinations you think youโd enjoy. While protein bars used to be solely sweet flavors, now there are many savory bars on the market that you can try.
FAQs About Gluten-Free Protein Bars
Do ONE Protein Bars Have Gluten?
No, ONE protein bars do not have gluten; they are Non-GMO Project Verified, vegan, and gluten-free bars.
Is Nature Valley Protein Chewy Bars Gluten Free?
Many Nature Valley products are gluten-free.
The gluten-free flavors of the Nature Valley Protein Chewy Bars include Salted Caramel Nut, Peanut, Almond & Dark Chocolate, Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate, and Blueberry Nut.
Are Clif Bars Gluten Friendly?
While Clif Bars are not 100% Gluten-Free Certified, they are gluten-friendly.
This means that most of their bars are gluten-free but may have cross-contamination with some ingredients during processing.
Some Clif products, like the Clif Builders Protein Bars, are gluten-free options.
Are Kellogg’s Protein Bars Gluten Free?
No, the Kelloggโs Protein Bar line is not gluten-free.
These bars include non-gluten-free oats and wheat starch.
Are the Green Nature Valley Bars Gluten-Free?
Some Nature Valley bars are gluten-free, including the Protein Chewy Bars in the flavors of Salted Caramel Nut, Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate, Blueberry Nut, and Peanut, Almond & Dark Chocolate.
The classic โgreenโ Nature Valley barsโthe Crunchy Granola Barsโclaim to be gluten-free, although they do not specify if their oats are Certified Gluten-Free.
Are Quest Bars Gluten-Free?
Yes, the Quest Protein Bars are gluten-freeโall are considered to contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten.
Key Takeaways
Many people require gluten-free foodโand convenient protein snack bars are no exception.
Some nutritional values to look for when buying a protein bar are sugar, protein, and fiber content, as well as Certified Gluten-Free labels and taste preferences.
Ten brands with tasty and nutritious gluten-free protein bar options are GoMacro, RXBAR, No Cow, Simply Protein, Mezcla, Truth Bar, Exo Bar, Perfect Keto, and Epic.
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