Top Picks for Chocolate Protein Bars

Did you know you can satisfy your cravings for sweets while also maintaining a healthy lifestyle? It could be as simple as changing the way you “treat” yourself.

While a square or two of 70 percent dark chocolate is always a good way to treat yourself and satisfy your sweet tooth, there is also a lot of opportunity to pack in some needed protein by choosing chocolate protein bars.

Read on to find out which chocolate protein bars are the best – and worst – of the lot.

Our Top Picks

These bars are packed with protein, have little or no added sugar and no artificial sweeteners.

Oatmega Chocolate Brownie

• 200 calories – 7 grams fat – 22 grams carbs – 7 grams fiber – 5 grams sugar – 14 grams protein
• Ingredients include: Grass-fed whey protein, chicory root fiber, whey protein crisp, oats, glycerin, tapioca syrup, sugar, sunflower oil, almonds, fish oil

Rx Bar Chocolate Sea Salt

• 210 calories – 9 grams fat – 23 grams carbs – 5 grams fiber – 13 grams sugar (0 added sugar) – 12 grams protein
• Ingredients include: Dates, egg whites, cashews, almonds, chocolate, cocoa, sea salt

Bulletproof Fudge Brownie Collagen Protein Bar

• 210 calories – 14 grams fat – 14 grams carbs – 1 gram fiber – 2 grams sugar (0 added sugar) – 11 grams protein
• Ingredients include: Organic cashew butter, grass-fed collagen protein, inulin, Bulletproof ™ XCT oil powder, Bulletproof ™ Brain Octane oil; sweetened with stevia

Honorable Mentions

The following bars can be protein packed, but also have the same amount (or more!) sugar than protein.

Bearded Brothers Mega Maca Chocolate

• 180 calories – 9 grams fat – 22 grams carbs – 4 grams fiber – 14 grams sugar – 5 grams protein
• Ingredients include: Dates, almonds, cashews, maca powder, coconut sugar

Clif Builders Bar Chocolate Peanut Butter

• 280 calories – 10 grams fat – 29 grams carb – 2 grams fiber – 21 grams sugar – 20 grams protein
• Ingredients include: Soy protein isolate, beet syrup, brown rice syrup, cane sugar, oil, peanut butter

ProBar Base Protein Bar Chocolate Bliss

• 280 calories – 9 grams fat – 32 grams carb – 4 grams fiber – 16 grams sugar – 20 grams protein
• · Ingredients include: Soy protein isolate, tapioca syrup, agave syrup, dried cane syrup, oil

Stay Away!

The following kinds of chocolate protein bars all have more added sugar than protein. Yikes!

Clif Bar Chocolate Chunk

• 250 calories – 5 grams fat – 45 grams carb – 4 grams fiber – 22 grams sugar – 9 grams protein
• Ingredients include: Brown rice syrup, oats, soy protein isolate, organic cane syrup, followed by cane sugar

Lara Bar Chocolate Chip Brownie

• 190 calories – 9 grams fat – 26 grams carb – 4 grams fiber – 20 grams sugar – 4 grams protein
• Ingredients include: Dates, semisweet chocolate chips, almonds, walnuts

GoMacro Bar Dark Chocolate + Almonds

• 270 calories – 11 grams fat – 35 grams carb – 4 grams fiber – 14 grams sugar –10 grams protein
• Ingredients include: Organic brown rice syrup, almond butter, organic protein blend, puffed brown rice, almonds, coconut sugar, etc.

Square Organics Bar Chocolate Coated Crunch

• 210 calories – 9 grams fat – 23 grams carb – 2 grams fiber – 13 grams sugar – 12 grams protein
• Ingredients include: Organic coconut nectar, brown rice protein, dark chocolate, coconut oil, oats

A version of this article originally appeared on WGNO.com. See the full article here.

Note: Registered dietician Molly Kimball offers brand-name products as a consumer guide; she, along with Ochsner Health, do not solicit product samples nor are paid to recommend items.