Meal replacement bars come in many varieties and can serve many purposes. How can you find the best one for you? Look no further than your fellow consumer.
All meal replacement bars share some similarities. They almost always contain some form of protein, with carbohydrates, fiber, fats, vitamins, and minerals typically in the mix as well. Protein promotes muscle growth and helps you feel full, while carbohydrates mean more energy.
Many meal replacement bars are intended for specific purposes. For example, some help people lose weight, while others are meant to fuel workouts or help control blood sugar in people with diabetes. Still, others are geared toward hikers or just anyone who needs a convenient energy boost.
It can be difficult to sort through all the options, but the best decider is still the customer. We went to the world’s largest marketplace — Amazon — to track down the meal replacement bars that are most popular with online shoppers.
Quest Protein Bar
Quest is a huge name in nutrition these days, and its meal replacement bars are checking a lot of boxes for a lot of people.
The chocolate peanut butter flavor is backed by a lot of impressive stats. Each bar delivers 20 grams of protein, 13 grams of fiber, only five grams of net carbs, and a mere one gram of sugar. Quest bars also are gluten-free.
But those may not be their most impressive numbers. Quest bars have a 4.5 star rating (out of a maximum five) on Amazon while amassing nearly 60,000 customer reviews. The people, as they say, have spoken.
Pure Protein Bars
Made (as many meal replacement bars are) with dairy-based protein, each of these bars packs 20 grams of protein. All five flavors contain no more than six grams of sugar per bar.
With more than 31,000 global ratings, it’s clear this is a popular product.
Pure Protein Bars get high marks from reviewers for their taste and convenience. They also drew praise for being a solid value–something that’s on a lot of minds these days.
RXBAR protein bar, chocolate sea salt
RXBAR’s claim to fame is that super-simple ingredient list, printed in big type right on the front of the package. And with a 4.5 Amazon star rating and approximately 23,000 reviews, it’s clear this approach has caught on in a big way.
Chocolate sea salt appears to be their biggest seller, but there are several other flavors to choose from (ingredients vary by variety but no single bar contains more than nine). Each bar delivers 12 grams of protein, courtesy of those egg whites, and about five grams of fiber to boot.
Clif Bars energy bar, crunchy peanut butter
The crunchy peanut butter Clif Bar is just one out of dozens of Clif Bar varieties available on Amazon. All are popular, collectively earning tens of thousands of ratings and reviews.
But this classic Clif Bar variety stands out because it has earned the elusive five-star rating from Amazon customers, even with nearly 3,900 reviews under its belt. It received top marks in flavor, ingredient quality, and value.
Although it’s not marketed explicitly as a protein bar, Clif Bars contain about 11 grams of protein apiece, that comes from soy. The two main ingredients — brown rice syrup and rolled oats — are focused more on creating energy.
There are many meal replacement bars available on Amazon, so you’re likely to find one that fits your needs. Some are geared toward fueling your workout, while others are designed to serve as a quick breakfast for those hectic mornings.
These four brands are at the top of the heap on Amazon, based either on number of reviews or star ratings (or a combination of both). All are highly regarded for their taste and their nutritional profiles. But don’t take the internet’s word for it. Try a few for yourself and see what works best for you and your lifestyle (not to mention your tastebuds).
Required Disclaimer: BlissMark provides information regarding health, wellness, and beauty. The information within this article is not intended to be medical advice. Before starting any diet or exercise routine, consult your physician. If you don’t have a primary care physician, the United States Health & Human Services department has a free online tool that can help you locate a clinic in your area. We are not medical professionals, have not verified or vetted any programs, and in no way intend our content to be anything more than informative and inspiring.
