paleo protein bars

Are you looking for a high protein, low carb paleo-friendly bar? NxtBar makes some bars with 16 grams of protein, plus these use sweeteners with a low glycemic index.

Who Would Like NxtBars?

Not only do these protein bars contain high nutritional content, they taste good too. In fact, many people agree that they taste like a decadent dessert.

They have a soft, chewy texture, and they can definitely satisfy a sweet tooth as an after dinner treat. However, they travel well, so they make a great after-workout snack or an on-the-go breakfast.

Note: The high protein content is great for muscle building and recovery, but it also increases satiation. You might even find that NxtBars may work as a meal replacement when you just don’t have time to grab lunch.

Ingredients (Vanilla Almond Butter Flavor):

• Almond Butter
• Non-GMO Soluble Tapioca Fiber: Tapioca is a starch that comes from cassava plant roots.
• Grass Fed Whey Protein Concentrate
• Pea Protein
• Almonds
• Chicory Root Fiber: Chicory root contains inulin, a prebiotic fiber, that has shown to help with gut health.
• Cacao Butter
• Sunflower Lecithin
• Coconut Oil (Organic)
• Vegetable Glycerine (Organic)
• Pumpkin Seeds (Organic): Pumpkin seeds provide a high amount of magnesium, antioxidants and fiber.
• Natural flavors
• Himalayan Pink Salt
• Stevia
• Monk Fruit Extract: This natural sweetener rates a zero on the glycemic index, plus no calories or carbs. Therefore, it won’t spike blood sugar

Sweeteners Used in NxtBar Bars – Good or Bad?

NxtBar uses stevia and monk fruit extract to sweeten their bars. These are natural, plant-based sweeteners that have advantages over artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols.

First of all, they don’t cause your blood sugar to spike. Therefore, they have less impact o the body and are a preferred sweetener for many of those on a Ketogenic diet.

Second, they don’t cause bloating, gas, stomach upset or headaches that often come as a side effect of sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners.

Are NxtBars Paleo?

Due to the whey protein (dairy) and processed ingredients like pea protein, these are not paleo protein bars. However, they do fall into the “paleo-friendly” category.

Plus, I like their higher protein content and healthy choice of sweeteners. NxtBars provide a healthy snack alternative for those who don’t mind some occasional dairy in order to get more protein.

The high fiber content can be a nice bonus for people who want more fiber in their diets. However, this concentrated amount can sometimes cause stress on some people’s digestive systems.

Specs for NxtBar:

• Bars Per Pack: 12
• Calories Per Bar: 220-250 Calories
• No Grains, Gluten or Artificial Flavors
• Non-GMO
• 15-16 Grams of Protein
• 14-16 Grams of Fat
• 13-17 Grams of Fiber
• 4-5 Net Grams of Carbs
• 2 Grams of Sugar
• Manufacturer: NxtBar
• For Sale: Where to Buy the Bars

Note: By the way, you can get these bars in a few other flavors.

Plus, they come in a variety pack, so you can try them all out without having to buy an entire box of each. Flavors include Chocolate Peanut Butter, Vanilla Almond Butter and Chocolate Coconut.

Do you want a protein energy bar with a kick of caffeine? Coffee Snax makes a High Protein Coffee Bar that contains 55mg of caffeine, plus a whopping 17 grams of protein.

Coffee Protein Bar with Whey Protein Isolate – Good or Bad?

Most Paleo bars don’t have nearly this much protein in one bar. However, this coffee bar does contain whey protein isolate.

Although dairy is not considered a Paleo food, some athletes and fitness enthusiasts incorporate dairy occasionally to reach their protein goals. Plus, protein works really well for satiety.

In addition, some people do better consuming whey protein isolate because it does not contain casein. Casein can sometimes cause digestive symptoms like bloating or allergic reactions, whereas whey protein isolate may not.

5 Simple Ingredients:

• Roasted Almonds
• Honey
• Whey Protein Isolate
• Coffee (Real Coffee)
• Natural Vanilla Flavor

How Do High Protein Coffee Bars Taste?

This bar has a soft, chewy texture that most people love. In fact, some even compare it to cookie dough or eating a scoop of nut butter.

It pairs well with a hot cup of morning coffee (of course!) and tastes more like a decadent treat than a protein bar.

Specs for High Protein Coffee Bar:

• Bars Per Pack: 12
• Calories Per Bar: 290 Calories
• No Grains, Gluten
• Non-GMO
• 17 Grams of Protein
• 16 Grams of Fat
• 3 Grams of Fiber
• 17 Grams of Sugar
• 55mg of Caffeine
• Manufacturer: Coffee Snax
• For Sale: Where to Buy the Coffee Bar

Note: By the way, Coffee Snax makes these bars in a decaf version. Plus, they offer a Coffee Bar made with peanuts instead of almonds. However, the peanut bar also contains oat flour (not so Paleo, if that matters to you).

RXBar Offers a Non-Dairy Protein Bar Option – but Less Caffeine:

If you want a dairy-free option, RXBar makes one called the Coffee Chocolate Protein Bar. It doesn’t contain gluten or grains either.

In fact, this RXBar has only 8 ingredients: Dates, Egg Whites, Almonds, Cashews, Cacao, Coffee, Sea Salt and Natural Coffee Flavor. That said, it only contains 5mg of caffeine.

However, some people simply want the cafe mocha flavor and necessarily all the caffeine. Plus, the low-caffeine version works better for an after-dinner treat.

Not to mention, the naturally-derived sugar from the dates gives many people an energy boost, without the need for added caffeine.

• Bars Per Pack: 12
• Calories Per Bar: 210 Calories
• No Dairy, Grains, Gluten
• Non-GMO
• 12 Grams of Protein
• 9 Grams of Fat
• 4 Grams of Fiber
• 14 Grams of Sugar
• 5mg of Caffeine
• Manufacturer: RXBar
• For Sale: Where to Buy RXBars

Note: Also, you might want to check out “Eat Your Coffee” bars. They contain less protein (7 grams), however, they have more caffeine (80mg), and it’s organic. Plus, they offer a variety of different coffee flavors.

Do you want extra mental clarity and focus throughout the day? IQ Protein Bars differ from other paleo bars in that they include 6 brain-boosting nutrients.

Therefore, you get a bunch of nutrition from natural ingredients while increasing your ability to think at the same time. Plus, these bars cost about the same as other protein bars on the market (about $2.25 per bar), so the extra nutrients are like a bonus.

1. Lion’s Mane (adaptogen superfood for mental sharpness)
2. MCTs (slow-burning fats for mental energy)
3. Omega-3s (building blocks for cell membranes)
4. Flavonoids (polyphenols for fighting free radicals)
5. Vitamin-E (anti-oxidant for cell membrane support)
6. Choline (compound for neurotransmitter support)

How IQ Bars Can Help Make You Less Hungry:

In addition, the IQBar has significant fiber content, healthy fat, minimal sugar and a good amount of protein. Combined, these 4 components work really well to stave off hunger.

Note: As a pre-packaged snack, I love this satiation factor. I prefer cooking my meals with whole foods, however, this isn’t always possible, especially when traveling. Having a clean ingredient, hunger-satiating treat on hand really helps me stay on track.

So, if you need a small snack to hold you over til your next meal or you want to lessen your appetite to that you eat less, the IQ Bar could be the perfect solution.

Do IQBars Really Boost Brain Function?

Whether you actually feel the difference in your increased mental capacity depends on you. In other words, some people experience better focus and mental clarity while others do not.

That said, you can’t argue that these brainpower bars don’t contain some good brain food. Not to mention, healthy nutrients that can help your body in numerous ways.

For example, Vitamin E is important for our vision, skin and blood too. It also has antioxidant properties that may help fight off free radicals which can lead to disease.

Flavonoids fight free radicals as well. As a result, they have anti-inflammatory and immune system benefits.

IQBar Nutrition Facts & Ingredient Labels:

Below, you can check out the nutrition and ingredients content for all 3 flavors in the variety pack.

So, is the IQBar Paleo?

Although this bar contains healthy, natural ingredients without sugar, dairy or grains, we don’t consider it Paleo due to some of the processed ingredients. (For example, pea protein, protein crisps and tapioca fiber).

That said, many Paleo enthusiasts aren’t super-strict with their diet regimen. They ultimately want what’s best for their health, food that tastes good and a diet they can stick to.

Often this comes down to an 80-20 approach, where 80% of your meals are Paleo, while the other 20% may not be. The IQ protein bar falls into this category of “Paleo-Friendly”.

Specs for the Chocolate Lovers Variety Pack of IQ Protein Bars:

• 12 Bars Per Box
• 3 Flavors in Variety Pack
• Cost: Approximately $2.10-2.15 Per Bar
• Protein: 12g Plant-Based Protein
• Fiber: 6-8g Prebiotic Fiber
• Carbs: 3g Net
• Calories: 150-160
• No Gluten, Dairy, Sugar or Soy
• Non-GMO
• Vegan, Kosher
• Brand: IQBar
• For Sale: Where to Buy IQ Bars

Note: By the way, you can also get a Fruit Lovers Variety Pack with Banana Nut, Lemon Blueberry and Wild Blueberry flavors. Plus, you can buy all flavors individually.