Based on all the different diets that my clients cover, the paleo diet is possibly one of the most difficult ones to pick supplements for.
While it’s reasonably manageable to pick paleo-friendly foods for your meal plan, finding paleo bars to choose from seems to be a much more difficult task.
What’s the problem I hear you say?
Well, of the more than 40 paleo bars that we researched and taste-tested, an awful lot of them tasted delicious because of a load of hidden and artificial junk thrown in.
However, we were able to narrow things down to some of the best paleo bars for your protein fix.
Our Top Paleo Protein Bars (September 2023)
1 - Rise Whey Protein Bar (Editor's Choice)
In our opinion, this is the best paleo bar for the majority of athletes.
It’s got plenty of whey protein to possibly help with your recovery periods and muscle building.
With no sweeteners or other crap thrown in, the ingredient list is limited to a few completely natural items.
As for the purity, it’s good to see sustainability and wild-caught on the supplement label.
I would just mention that there is a bit of an aftertaste so make sure to take the paleo bars immediately before a meal.
- Calories : 280
- Protein : 20g
- Fat : 16g
- Carbs : 20g
- Large enough to work as a healthy breakfast
- Uses only natural ingredients from whole foods
- Contains some dietary fiber that may help with digestion
- GMO and gluten-free for added peace of mind
- Some more added vitamins and minerals would be great
2 - Caveman Foods Nutrition Bar
I’ll be totally honest; it was the really cool name that got me to pick up these paleo bars.
The team here laughed at first, but once we took a closer look at reviews and nutritional info, we were all quite impressed with this protein supplement bar.
The paleo-friendly flavors are natural, and it seems like most reviewers favor the almond coconut one.
- Calories : 220
- Protein : 5g
- Fat : 15g
- Carbs : 15g
- Dairy and soy-free option to reduce allergens
- Claims to contain zero trans fats for a healthier snack
- Almond coconut and sea salt flavors seem to be the favorites
- May not provide the full amino acid profile
3 - IQBar Brain+Body Protein Bar
For most of our clients, having little sugar in protein bars is one of their highest priorities to ensure that it does not mess up their diet, and IQBar fills that gap rather well.
Despite not having all that tasty sugar, the chocolate sea salt and peanut butter chip still seem to have a very popular flavor.
This is a great protein bar for any diabetic.
- Calories : 180
- Protein : 12g
- Fat : 14g
- Carbs : 11g
- One of the lowest sugar options to not cause blood glucose
- Contains only plant-based protein sources
- Available in a wide selection of flavors for more variety
- Some reports that it has a slight stevia aftertaste
4 - Lärabar Gluten-Free Fruit and Nut Bar
This protein supplement bar seems to be popular with people who want to replace a light breakfast or use it as a morning snack.
With only a small amount of bad fats on the nutrition label, it also looks like a healthy option.
- Calories : 190 to 220
- Protein : 3 to 6g
- Fat : 9 to 12g
- Carbs : 23 to 28g
- Comes in a large pack for better value
- Low in saturated and trans fats for better heart health
- Each gluten-free box provides a good range of flavors
- The protein bars are slightly high in sugar
5 - Amrita Energy Bar
There might not be that many vegan paleo dieters, but there are many good reasons to diversify with plant-based protein bars.
Some research suggests that plant protein might be easier to digest [1] it's good to keep your options open. What we liked with this product is that you feel quite full after snacking on one of these.
- Calories : 185
- Protein : 7g
- Fat : 7g
- Carbs : 27g
- Uses only plant-based, gluten-free ingredients
- Reports that they are quite filling to bridge gaps between meals
- Available flavor options are natural and tasty
- It’s quite a high-carb option which may not suit all diets
6 - RxBars Real Food Protein Bars
These Real Food paleo bars are unique because they use egg white as a source of protein.
Some studies suggest that this is a more suitable source of essential amino acids to support muscle growth [2].
The only problem is that there’s quite a bit of sugar in these, but the apple cinnamon flavor is definitely one to check out.
However, it's one of the cleanest protein bars which only uses whole food ingredients like dates, almonds, cashews, and apples and skips any artificial sweeteners, flavors, and additives.
- Calories : 210
- Protein : 12g
- Fat : 8g
- Carbs : 24g
- Natural whole food ingredients with no unnecessary additives
- Uses egg whites as a healthy protein source
- Comes in the largest variety of flavors
- Quite a high sugar content that could mess up your diet
7 - Steve's Paleogoods Paleokrunch
This paleo bar is popular because it claims to contain only natural ingredients like almonds, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds.
With just a little bit of sugar, most of the carbohydrates are from fiber, which may explain why they seem to be so filling.
The only downside to this product is that it's only available in one flavor which is Original Grainless Granola. But if you plan to eat it with a flavorful food, then it's a perfect snack partner.
- Calories : 209
- Protein : 7g
- Fat : 13g
- Carbs : 16g
- Uses natural granola, pumpkin seeds, and nuts to provide slow-releasing energy
- Reports that it may work well as a filling snack
- Doesn’t have an overly sweet taste due to the pumpkin seeds, making it more healthy
- Currently only available in one flavor option
8 - Aloha Organic Plant-Based Protein Bar
If you’re looking for organic protein bars with a natural chocolate chip flavor, then you should check out the Aloha range.
The bars also have 14 grams of protein, which could help with most fitness and weight loss goals.
These protein bars are quite popular with the female demographic. Here are some other great protein bars for women.
- Calories : 230
- Protein : 14g
- Fat : 10g
- Carbs : 25g
- 14 grams of plant protein makes it suitable for vegan athletes
- Low in cholesterol and trans fats without compromising healthy fats
- Contains a good dose of dietary fiber to fill you up
- Some people say the texture isn’t crunchy enough
9 - Bulletproof Collagen Protein Bar
The Bulletproof paleo-friendly range includes this beef collagen bar.
Don’t worry, though; you're not going to get a taste combination of beef and vanilla shortbread.
If anything, the flavors seem to be quite popular while avoiding adding tons of sugar to improve taste.
With a texture of shortbread, some users say that this bar crumbles too easily.
- Calories : 220
- Protein : 11g
- Fat : 12g
- Carbs : 12g
- Bars contain a strong dose of collagen for joint health
- Very low in sugar to provide healthier snacks
- Good choice of delicious flavors
- Some people found that they crumble too easily
10 - Raw Rev Organic Superfood Protein Bar
Our final paleo-friendly bar recommendation comes from Raw Rev and is another organic option.
What’s different about this one is that it claims to have some extra minerals and vitamins to support your immune system and metabolism.
With 240 calories and the added extra minerals and vitamins, this could be used as a meal replacement bar.
- Calories : 240
- Protein : 7g
- Fat : 16g
- Carbs : 23g
- Simple plant-based ingredients and free of gluten
- Has some added minerals and vitamins for immune health
- Positive comments about it being quite a filling option
- Not the best choice for high-protein bar
Paleo-Friendly Protein Bars - Buyer’s Guide
As mentioned above, finding paleo-friendly protein bars and supplements is a bit of a challenge.
But beyond checking if the ingredients are suitable for the paleo diet, there are a couple of things to consider.
Watch Out For Common Allergens
Whether it’s gluten, soy, nuts, or dairy you might struggle with, it’s always important to look at the list of allergens.
Good protein bars will make it very clear what they contain without needing an advanced nutrition degree, such as a gluten-free indicator.
Even with these labels, it's best to do your own research and determine whether hidden ingredients exist within the protein bars. That way, you know what you're getting for, especially if you already know you're allergic to something.
Don’t Ignore The Protein Profile
It’s important to not just look at the grams of protein per bar. Yes, for certain levels of fitness activity, you need a maximum dose. But you also have to check the source to ensure you get the full range of amino acids.
That might mean you need to buy a couple of different paleo bars if you’re not choosing a whey product [3].
Many consumers report headaches, dizziness, rashes, bloating, nausea, diarrhea, and digestive problems after ingesting artificial sweeteners. These side effects could build up over time and cause serious long term health conditions with regular consumption of processed sugars.
- DrPeterOsborne.com
Avoid Artificial Ingredients
Believe it or not, but we actually found some products marketed as a paleo protein bar that contained chemical sweeteners and flavors. These should not just be avoided for paleo, but some research suggests that they could mess with your digestive system [4].
FAQs
Is the Perfect Bar Paleo-Friendly?
No, the Perfect Bar is not paleo-friendly. While we wouldn’t classify it as unhealthy, it does seem to heavily rely on highly-processed protein powder that most people wouldn’t consider an option for paleo.
Are Quest Bars Paleo-Friendly?
No, Quest bars aren’t paleo-friendly due to some use of powdered ingredients. Even though this may make it easier to boost your daily dose, more natural and less processed protein bars are available.
Our #1 Recommended Paleo Bars
For us, the best paleo bars available are the Rise ones. We tend to keep them in stock at the office for those mid-morning and afternoon energy boosts. But the main reason we like them is that they could be one of the best ways to increase your daily protein intake.
If you’ve been doing the paleo diet for a while, then you’ll appreciate the simple ingredients with healthy fats that should make it easier to stay on track.
And if you have any feedback on the above products, then reach out to us on social media to share your experience.
Our #1 Recommendation
Rise Whey Protein Bar
- Large enough to work as a healthy breakfast
- Uses only natural ingredients from whole foods
- Contains some dietary fiber that may help with digestion
- GMO and gluten-free for added peace of mind
- Some more added vitamins and minerals would be great
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