paleo protein bars – Page 11 – Paleo Protein Bar Reviews & Deals

Quest Bar – Is It Paleo?

Quest Nutrition makes protein bars for those of us who don’t want to give our desserts – but don’t want to feel guilty either.

You can tell by just looking at some of the names: “Apple Pie”, “Chocolate Brownie” and “Strawberry Cheesecake”. If they weren’t in the nutrition section of the store, we might mistake them for cookies.

What’s Good About Them:

Good points about the Quest bars is that they contain a significant amount of protein and fiber. If you’ve shopped at all for paleo bars, you’ve noticed that there are lots of all-natural nut-and-seed bars that adhere to the diet, but they don’t contain as much protein. For gym rats, the 5-6 grams of protein per serving may not cut it.

Another advantage to these bars is that they can curb your need for the real desserts. The high amount of fiber combined with about 20 grams of protein can fill you up after dinner so you don’t actually go for the real apple pie a la mode. They are low in carbs (most of the carbs they contain are from the fiber), so you don’t get a spike in your blood sugar level which can cause those cravings.

But are They Paleo?

Some people may call these bars paleo while others would not – due to the fact that some contain sucralose and dairy. That said, if you want to avoid the sucralose, you can simply choose these flavors:

The bottom line is really what you consider paleo. Do you include dairy? Are occasional sweeteners ok?

Who Quest Bars are Not For…

If you want to eat packaged food with only ingredients that have been picked from a tree or the ground, these bars are probably not for you. Although natural, these bars are more processed and may contain some stuff that you may not have heard of.

Quest Bar This variety pack contains 1 bar of each flavor if you want to take these for a test drive – or simply want to stock your pantry with a variety of after-workout snacks that won’t become boring.

About the Author: Cara Rennie is a paleo cooking chef, writer and advocate for healthy living. With over a decade of experience in the culinary industry, Cara has established herself as an expert in the paleo lifestyle, emphasizing the use of natural ingredients that promote a balanced and sustainable lifestyle. She firmly believes in the power of food to transform people's lives, while helping others discover the joys of paleo eating. Facebook | Pinterest

Are Primal Protein Bars Paleo?

Get 6 Different Flavors in the Variety Pack

In short, each Primal Protein Bar contains 20 grams of protein, has no added sugar, gluten or grain. Plus, these bars contain lots of fiber, minimal carbs and feature lots of organic ingredients.

For the amount of fiber and protein that you get, these snacks are surprisingly low in calories. They rind in at 190 calories each.

Bite Out of a Primal Protein Bar Showing Texture Another big plus to this high-protein, high fiber snack is that it is easily digested.

For example, many competing products contain sugar alcohols which can cause an upset stomach or gas. The Primal Protein Bars use organic prebiotic tiber from tapioca which helps improve digestion while curbing appetite without bloating.

Instead of using cheap milk protein isolate (which is mucus forming), these bars use high quality grass-fed pastured protein which is the most bio-available protein on the market.

Another cool thing is that they are sweetened with monk fruit, which keeps the sugar, carbs and calories low or causing a huge spike in insulin.

What Do I Like About Primal Protein Bars?

After looking at the product labels (check them out below if you want), I really like the high protein content and high fiber content. Why?

This is a great choice for people who want to replenish their protein after a workout and/or who want an easy way to incorporate more fiber into their diet (without adding a lot of carbs or calories at the same time).
The combination of high protein with high fiber is extremely satiating and can be a great snack solution for those who are looking to lose weight or want to control hunger cravings.

What Concerned Me About Primal Protein Bars?

However, we checked the ingredients that keep the sugar content low and the fiber content high. Are they paleo? We have listed the information you need to know below:

Is Tapioca Starch Paleo?

According to Aimee McNew, a Certified Nutritionist at PaleoPlan.com, companies often use tapioca flour (aka tapioca starch) as a paleo flour alternative because it is grain-free and gluten-free. In addition, tapioca flour makes the hypoallergenic food list. Furthermore, you can digest it easily.

By the way, this “flour” comes naturally from the yucca plant, a root vegetable.

Is Monk Fruit Paleo?

I found out that some companies use monk fruit as a natural plant-based sweetener. Food product labels sometimes list it as “luo han guo”. According to an article on PaleoMagazine.com, this non-caloric sweetener is %100 natural. Plus, it helps reduce oxidative stress within the body.

Next, I researched monk fruit as an alternative sweetener because many other low-calorie sweeteners have negative side effects. This study showed no negative side effects due to consumption of monk fruit.

Is Whey Protein Concentrate Paleo?

If you want to stick to a really strict paleo diet, then don’t consume protein powders. Obviously, these processed food products don’t make the whole food list.

In addition, packaged protein powder supplements typically contain other artificial ingredients, sweeteners and even soy.

That said, if you exercise frequently and are trying to consume more protein, know that protein powders rank better than others. For example, according to PaleoLeap.com, whey protein concentrate makes the “Paleo-Friendly” list.

The whey protein concentrate found in Primal Protein Bars is pure and from grass-fed pastured cows. Compared to other less-natural protein supplements, this is much healthier.

Flavors & Ingredients of Primal Protein Bars:

courtesy of Julian Bakery)

Nutrition Labels of 6 Primal Protein Bars

Blueberry Cheesecake

Contains Grass Fed Pastured Whey Protein Concentrate, Ground Cashews, Flipn’Sweet (*Prebiotic Fiber from Tapioca, Lou Han Guo [Monk Fruit] *Vanilla Flavor), Filtered Water, MCT Oil, *Blueberries and Himalayan Salt. (*Organic)
Chocolate Cake

Ingredients include Grass Fed Pastured Whey Protein Concentrate, Ground Cashews, Flipn’Sweet (*Prebiotic Fiber from Tapioca, Lou Han Guo [Monk Fruit] *Vanilla Flavor), Filtered Water, MCT Oil, *Cocoa, *Cocoa Butter, *Chocolate Flavor and Himalayan Salt. (*Organic)
Peanut Butter

Contains Grass Fed Pastured Whey Protein Concentrate, Ground Cashews and Organic Peanut Butter. Plus Organic Prebiotic Fiber [From Tapioca], Lou Han Guo [Monk Fruit] ,*Organic Vanilla Flavor) , Water, MCT Oil, *Peanuts, *Peanut Flavor and Himalayan Salt. (*Organic)
Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients include Grass Fed Pastured Whey Protein Concentrate and Cashews (Ground). Plus, Flipn’Sweet (*Prebiotic Fiber from Tapioca, Lou Han Guo [Monk Fruit] *Vanilla Flavor), Filtered Water, MCT Oil, Pumpkin, *Pumpkin Flavor, Cinnamon (Ceylon), Beta Carotene (Color) and Himalayan Salt. (*Organic)
Apple Pie

Contains Grass Fed Pastured Whey Protein Concentrate and Cashews (Ground). Plus, Flipn’Sweet (*Prebiotic Fiber from Tapioca, Lou Han Guo [Monk Fruit] *Vanilla Flavor), Filtered Water, MCT Oil, *Apple Flavor and Himalayan Salt. (*Organic)
Vanilla Ice Cream

Ingredients include Grass Fed Pastured Whey Protein Concentrate and Cashews (Ground). Plus, Flipn’Sweet (*Prebiotic Fiber from Tapioca, Lou Han Guo [Monk Fruit] *Vanilla Flavor), Water, MCT Oil and Himalayan Salt. (*Organic)

…Or the variety pack.

“Are Larabars Paleo?”

Many of the Larabar flavors may sound like rich, decadent desserts (the opposite of what you might think of as healthy).

However, each bar contains 9 natural ingredients or less. Plus, each serving has less than 200 calories!

All that said, people ask, “Are Larabars paleo?” If you go by the paleo food definition that “if a caveman couldn’t eat it, then neither can you”, then yes, Larabars are paleo.

Do you have a sweet tooth but you’re tired of the overly-sweet sugary-tasting “protein” bars? Then, I think you’ll really appreciate Larabar.

They don’t have the fake sweet taste of processed packaged snacks. Yet, they have so much flavor that you don’t feel like you missed out on a “real dessert” after you eat one.

Other LARABAR Nutritional Benefits:

Kosher
Vegan
Non-GMO
Soy Free
Dairy Free
Gluten Free

Essentially, Larabars have a delicious blend of unsweetened fruits, nuts and spices. They contain pure and simple whole food, and you can’t get more paleo than that! Each package has a rich, satisfying taste that leaves you guilt-free and happy.

Larabar makes 21 flavors of deliciousness. Plus, you can even get a 16-flavor variety pack so you can try out a bunch of different “desserts” all at once. Well, hopefully not all in one sitting.

By the way, these are not big bars. Yet, they contain a good amount of calories. Their compact size and nutrient-dense design make them a perfect snack for athletes. In addition, they have great macros because they provide a good amount of protein, carbs and healthy fats in each bite.

Do you like the nutrition content of a sweet and salty trail mix yet want something a little different? Do you enjoy a smoother bar texture in an easy-to-carry package? Then Larabar could easily turn into your go-to snack because they provide everything you want.

I’ve listed the different flavors below contained in the variety pack (including ingredients). Don’t be deceived by their simplicity because they taste really good. Even kids like them. In fact, the ingredient list is so simple that you might even be tempted to make your own bars…

Flavors in the 16-Bar LARABAR Variety Pack:

Banana Bread
Bar contains almonds, dates and unsweetened banana,

Coconut Cream Pie
Ingredients include dates, unsweetened coconut, almonds, cashews and extra virgin coconut oil.

Apple Pie
Bar contains dates, almonds, unsweetened apples, walnuts, raisins and cinnamon.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Ingredients include cashews, dates, chocolate chips and sea salt.

Cashew Cookie
Bar contains cashews and dates.

Key Lime Pie
Ingredients include dates, cashews, almonds, unsweetened coconut, lime juice concentrate and dried lime juice concentrate.

Carrot Cake
Ingredients include dates, almonds, walnuts, raisins, dried pineapple, unsweetened coconut, carrots, cinnamon and extra virgin coconut oil.

Peanut Butter Cookie
Bar contains dates, peanuts and sea salt.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
Ingredients include dates, peanuts, chocolate chips and sea salt.

Chocolate Chip Brownie
Bar contains dates, chocolate chips, almonds, walnuts, cocoa powder and sea salt.

Blueberry Muffin
Bar contains dates, cashews, blueberries, blueberry juice, lemon and vanilla extract.

Pecan Pie
Ingredients include dates, pecans and almonds.

Cherry Pie
Bar contains dates, almonds and unsweetened cherries.

Lemon Bar
Ingredients include dates, cashews, almonds, lemon juice concentrate, dried lemon juice concentrate and natural lemon flavor.

Peanut Butter & Jelly
Bar contains dates, peanuts, unsweetened cherries and sea salt.

Chocolate Coconut Chew
Ingredients include dates, almonds, walnuts, unsweetened cocoa powder and unsweetened coconut.

More LARABAR Flavors:

Cappuccino
Bar contains dates, almonds, cashews, fair trade certified coffee and vanilla extract.

Chocolate Chip Cherry Torte
Ingredients include dates, chocolate chips, almonds, unsweetened cherries, cashews and sea salt.

Coconut Chocolate Chip
Bar contains dates, semisweet chocolate chips, unsweetened coconut, cashews and almonds.

Gingerbread
Ingredients include dates, cashews, almonds and raisins, cinnamon, ginger, allspice and vanilla extract.

Snickerdoodle
Bar contains dates, cashews and almonds, cinnamon, sea salt and vanilla extract.