MYPROTEIN Protein Bars Review

Whether as a post-workout snack or a treat to break up long days, protein bars are a convenient solution to aid your recovery or provide your body with the necessary nutrients and energy. However, it’s important to check their nutritional composition. We’ve tried three MyProtein protein bars to satisfy our needs and cravings. Here’s our verdict.

By Pierre-Maxime BRANCHE. Photos: 3bikes.fr and DR

MyProtein, an English company based in Manchester, has been a specialist in sports nutrition since 2004. It offers a wide range of products, from protein powders, vitamins, and minerals, to high-protein foods, snacks, and even clothing and accessories such as bags. It doesn’t just cater to athletes looking to gain mass. On the contrary, it targets all practitioners—men, women, young or old—whether for weight loss, toning, or resuming physical activity. With its vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, lactose-free, and organic products, MyProtein caters to all diets.

Incorporating protein into your daily diet is essential when you exercise to build or maintain muscle mass.

Incorporating protein into your daily diet is essential when you exercise to build or maintain muscle mass and even to lose weight. Often high in sugar and low in protein, the snacks found in traditional stores, or even those prepared at home, do not ideally meet your body’s needs. This is where protein bars, designed for different times of the day (before or after sport, meals, or afternoon snacks), can offer many advantages in terms of time savings, nutritional efficiency—provided you prioritize the lowest possible sugar levels—and logistics.

For example, they allow you to:

– ensure good recovery and consequently better muscle reconstruction if you consume it within half an hour of your workout to benefit from its restructuring effect, which is an essential guarantee of progress;

– transport them anywhere and consume them at any time, at least more easily than a homemade snack or even a shaker, which is already a great convenience;

– finally, in addition to providing the energy and nutrients necessary for the proper functioning of your body, their variety in terms of flavors, textures, and formats is also a good way to break the monotony that can set in when you always consume the same products and, in some cases, can be considered the small pleasure, the well-deserved treat that you allow yourself.

The Carb Crusher

Rich in 21g of milk and soy protein, 20 essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamins C, B6, B12, iron, and zinc to support immune function and reduce fatigue, this bar features a triple layer covered with crispy puffed rice and coated in milk chocolate. In addition to protein, it contains 8.2g of fat (of which 4.2g are saturated), 12g of carbohydrates (of which 2.7g are sugars), 11g of fiber, and 0.46g of salt. Its energy intake: 212 kcal. We tested it in its caramel and hazelnut flavor.

A sticky texture, not very flavorful or gourmet, giving the impression of an old-fashioned protein bar, too chemical and not natural enough. Fortunately, the puffed rice adds a bit of crunch to enhance the tasting experience, as does the strong caramel taste, which is definitely present, unlike the hazelnut. Where is it? The format still makes for a good snack and is quickly satiating. A significant 21g protein serving, but far too many saturated fatty acids: 4.2g! And a high price.

Carb Crusher Vegan

The vegan version of the Carb Crusher also features three layers, including a thin dark chocolate coating and a generous crunch of cocoa nibs on top. This 60g bar, rich in vitamin E (an antioxidant to protect against cell damage), offers 15g of pea, soy, and brown rice protein, 8.4g of fat (of which 2.4g are saturated), 17g of carbohydrates (of which 1.8g are sugars), 11g of fiber, and 0.37g of salt. Its energy intake: 217 kcal. We tested it in its chocolate and sea salt flavor.

The texture crumbles in the mouth, which is not very pleasant. Very quickly, it no longer feels like biting into a bar, but rather like having a powder that mixes with saliva. Fortunately, the cocoa nibs help with chewing by providing a slight crunch. Visually, it’s the least appetizing of the three bars, the chocolate taste isn’t very natural, and overall, we didn’t get much pleasure from tasting it. It contains less protein than the other two, only 15g for this 60g bar, but it’s the one with the least sugar and saturated fatty acids. Two good points nonetheless.

6 Layer Bar

As its name suggests, this third bar offers a festival of six layers of flavors/textures including chocolate, white chocolate, gooey caramel, and protein crispies. In these 70g, we find vitamin E (antioxidant) but also 20.5g of milk and soy protein for muscle growth and maintenance, 9.1g of fat (of which 2.8g are saturated), 18.2g of carbohydrates (of which 2.8g are sugars), 9.6g of fiber, and 0.41g of salt. Its energy intake: 255 kcal. We tested it in its Chocolate Sundae flavor.

Frankly, these “six layers” scared us, but it was a pleasant surprise. Undoubtedly the best of these three bars tested, by far the most flavorful, the most gourmet, the one we enjoyed the most. The sugar isn’t as present in the mouth as expected, there’s a good chocolate taste, a little less caramel, a soft, even melting texture, but also the crunch of puffed rice. A thick, satisfying bar that makes a good snack or post-workout treat. Not at all sickening, no chemical taste, the format is just right. On the nutrition side, a good dose of protein, a little too much sugar, and on the edge of acceptable for saturated fatty acids: 2.8g is starting to be a lot for a 70g bar.

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