10 Most Nourishing Gluten-Free Protein Bars To Buy

Whether you’re looking for a quick dose of protein to keep you going throughout a busy day or that extra push of energy to finish off your workout, protein bars can be a convenient snack to tide you over until your next meal. 

Abiding by a gluten-free diet, though, can sometimes mean grabbing protein bars that have as much sugar as a candy bar because they’re the only gluten-free option. 

Despite the grocery store struggles many of us face, finding a protein bar that’s gluten-free and healthy doesn’t have to be as elusive a task as it seems.

The easiest way to distinguish if a food product is gluten-free is by looking for the Certified Gluten-Free label. To qualify for the gluten-free label, brands must meet the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements to certify their products.

According to the FDA definition, a product must contain less than 20 mg of gluten per kilogram to be labeled gluten-free. Additionally, the product cannot contain wheat, barley, rye, or other grains that contain gluten (1). 

These rules apply to all certified gluten-free labels, as well as any product that states it’s gluten-free on the package (2).

Even though a brand must meet certain requirements to be labeled gluten-free, manufacturers aren’t required to state whether their product is gluten-free on the label.

Protein bars that don’t have a gluten-free label may still be safe to eat on a gluten-free diet, but to be safe, there are a few possible gluten-containing ingredients to avoid:

• Yeast extract
• Wheat and wheat-based derivatives like wheat flour
• Barley
• Rye
• Triticale
• Malt and malt-based ingredients 
• Brewer’s yeast

Eating gluten-free can come with some extra challenges, but when it comes to purchasing gluten-free protein bars, it doesn’t have to. We’ve curated a list of 10 of the most nourishing gluten-free protein bars on the market and tips on how to make the best choice for you.

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How to choose gluten-free protein bars

Perusing the many protein bars at the grocery stores can be overwhelming, so here a couple of things to keep in mind to aid in your search:

• Added sugars. While protein bars might seem like a healthy snack option, GreenChoice’s research team found that close to 80% of nutrition bars contain added sugars. The Daily Value for added sugars is 50 grams per day based on a 2,000 calorie daily diet. To avoid unwanted added sugars, make sure to check the label and consume in moderation (3). 
• Protein content. Protein is more than just a great way to make progress at the gym — it’s also a great way to fight any lingering feelings of hunger after a meal. Choosing a high protein protein bar option will help meet the FDA’s recommended daily 50 grams of protein, based on a 2,000 calorie diet (4, 5). 
• Fiber. A meal packed with protein and fiber will encourage slow and controlled digestion, optimize your daily energy intake, and keep you fuller and energized for longer. The daily recommended intake of fiber is around 28 grams per 2,000 calories a day diet. Look for protein bar options that are higher in protein to help meet your nutrient needs and get the most out of your meal time (6, 7, 8). 
• Artificial additives and flavors. Pre-packaged snacks like protein bars frequently sneak in artificial flavorings and additives to enhance their products. If you’re looking to avoid artificial additives and flavorings, the GreenChoice marketplace is a great resource to check if an item contains highly processed ingredients or additives.

GreenChoice Top Picks

1. Rxbar Chocolate Peanut Butter Nutrition Bars

This gluten-free peanut butter is made with dates, peanuts, egg whites, chocolate, and cocoa. It’s a good source of fiber and protein providing 5g of fiber – 18% of DV – and 12g of protein per serving.

Allergen info: Contains Eggs & Peanuts. May contain peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, soy, and wheat.

2. Rxbar Blueberry

This gluten-free protein bar is filled with almonds, cashews, dates, and blueberries. It’s highly nutritious and one bar offers 12g of protein and 4g of fiber which equals 14% of the daily value.

Allergen info: Contains Eggs, Almonds & Cashews. May contain peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, soy, and wheat.

More gluten-free protein bars

3. Everhemp Cbd Bar Green Power

Everhemp Cbd Bar Green Power is made with raw hemp which is a good source of omega 3s and 6s, sesame seeds, and cranberries. This gluten free bar is a good source of fiber and protein providing 14g of protein and 7g of fiber – 28% of DV – per serving.

Allergen info: Gluten-free

4. Protein Bar Blueberry Good & Gather

Good & Gather Blueberry Protein Bar is made with dates, egg whites, almonds, cashews, and freeze-dried blueberries. This bar is an excellent source of protein offering 13g per serving. Plus, this bar contains 3g of fiber which equals 11% of the daily value.

Allergen info: Contains egg, almond, and cashew may contain other nuts.

5. Probar Organic Peanut Butter Bar

This gluten free certified bar is made with oats, peanut butter, dates, and seeds. One bar offers 12g of protein, 6g of fiber – 21% of DV -, and 12% of the daily value of iron.

Allergen info: Contains: Peanuts

6. Perfect Bar Blueberry Cashew Gluten-Free

This protein bar is filled with cashew butter, honey, almond butter, and, dried blueberries. It contains 12g of protein. It’s also a good source of a variety of minerals such as calcium, magnesium, copper, and zinc.

Allergen info: Contains cashews, milk almonds, and eggs. Produced on the equipment also handling peanuts and other tree nuts. May contain occasional nut shells.

7. Bulletproof Vanilla Shortbread Collagen Protein Bar

Bulletproof Vanilla Shortbread Collagen Protein Bars are made with grass-fed collagen protein, MCT oil powder, cashew butter, and ground vanilla beans. This keto-friendly bar is an excellent source of fiber and protein providing 8g of fiber – 29% of DV – and 11g of protein per serving.

Allergen info: Gluten-free, dairy-free

8. Skout Protein Bar Salted Chocolate

This protein bar is made with dates, sunflower seed protein powder, cocoa liquor, cocoa powder, and Himalayan sea salt. It provides 10g of protein, 8g of fiber – 29% of DV -, and 20% of the daily value of iron per serving. Plus, it’s certified organic and gluten free.

Allergen info: certified gluten free.

9. Skout Protein Bar Chocolate Cherry

Skout Chocolate Cherry Protein Bar is made with dates, cherries, cocoa powder, sunflower seed protein powder, and sunflower butter. It offers 10g of protein, 6g of fiber – 21% of DV -, and 20% of iron per serving. Plus, it’s certified organic, gluten-free, and vegan.

Allergen info: Certified gluten-free.

10. Hemp Yeah Dark Chocolate Almond Sea Salt Bars

This gluten-free protein bar is filled with hemp seeds which are a good source of omega 3 & 6 and protein. It offers 10g of protein and 3g of fiber which equals 11% of the daily value of fiber. Also, this bar is a good source of vitamins and minerals like iron, manganese, magnesium, and niacin.

Allergen info: Contains: almond, coconut. May contain: peanuts, other tree nuts.

Key takeaways for buying gluten-free protein bars

While looking for a gluten-free protein bar can be a bit of a scavenger hunt, they’re not as hard to find as they seem, and you’ll soon find there are plenty of gluten-free protein bars available to satisfy your craving for a high protein snack. 

Aside from gluten content, look out for excess added sugars, consume in moderation and keep in mind the recommended daily value of added sugars is 50 grams per day based on a 2,000 calorie daily diet.

When choosing, consider options higher in protein to keep you feeling energized and fuller longer, and pair a high protein content with a high fiber content for a nutritional pairing that will maximize your mealtime. 

Lastly, pre-packaged snacks like protein bars can contain many artificial additives and flavors to enhance their products. If you’re looking to avoid them, make sure to read the label and use helpful tools like the GreenChoice filter system to make the search even simpler.

We hope our list of 10 of the most nourishing gluten-free protein bars and how to find them connects you with the gluten-free protein bar of your dreams.

There are 1,000s of food products that won’t be right for you

Let GreenChoice find the ones that are

Tell us your dietary needs & values and we’ll show you foods that match!

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GreenChoice, PBC has evaluated and rated more than 340,000 food & beverage products across hundreds of attributes related to diet, health, and sustainability. Easily find the best products for you, the planet, & your budget. Sign up to access the GreenChoice marketplace, the first carbon-neutral online grocery marketplace for healthy, climate-friendly shopping.

Katherine

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Merve

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Sydney W

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