For anyone comparing protein per bar
You want to take a bar with you for after your workout and check the nutritional information per whole bar, as well as the ingredients and allergens.
Which option suits you?
For anyone who wants a portion to take in their gym bag
You’re looking for something you can take with you without bread, a bowl or any preparation. If you’re buying a multipack, check whether the individual bars are wrapped for your intended use.
For chocolate lovers who use sprinkles as a topping
You want to sprinkle them over something such as yoghurt or porridge. That’s what they’re made for; they’re not a bar to eat on their own when you’re out and about.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether you want a bar to take with you or a topping. Then compare the portion size and nutritional information for the product type that suits how you plan to use it.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Protein per bar | Compare the nutritional information per whole bar and check the ingredients and allergens. | After working out, I want to choose a snack that tells me how much protein is in each bar. For around 40% of consumers, protein information is the top priority. |
| Portion to take with you | Check how many bars there are and whether each one is individually wrapped. | I want to be able to put a bar in my gym bag without needing an extra container. This portable portion is the top priority for around 30% of consumers. |
| Sprinkles as a topping | Check whether you’re buying a bread topping or sprinkles, and compare the nutritional information per 100 g with the portion you use. | I’m mainly looking for the taste and texture of chocolate sprinkles for bread, yoghurt or porridge. Around 30% of consumers say using them as a topping is their priority. |
Common mistakes
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Mistaking chocolate sprinkles for a bar to eat on its own
Ordinary chocolate sprinkles are a bread topping or garnish. If you want to take them with you, you’ll also need something to put them on or in.
Look for a bar if you want a snack you can eat on its own; choose sprinkles when you’re after a topping.
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Mistaking a multipack for a single bar
Jumbo lists its Appel & Haver Vlokken Reep as 5 x 30 g. That doesn’t tell you whether you can buy a single bar or whether each one is individually wrapped inside the pack.
Check the number of bars and the inner packaging if you want to take one with you in your gym bag each time.
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Choosing a protein bar by its name alone
The HiPRO Protein bar caramel we looked at contains milk and soya. For the ESN Designer protein bar peanut caramel, Albert Heijn lists sweeteners and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Before choosing a variety, read the nutritional information per bar and check the latest ingredients and allergen information.
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Thinking of a bar as a replacement for every meal
A bar to take with you is a handy snack, but it doesn’t have to replace a regular meal. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also discusses food and drink around exercise in the context of meals.
Choose a bar for the occasion when you want to take a snack with you, and keep your other food and drink plans in mind separately.
Brands to consider
HiPRO
The Protein bar caramel we looked at is a 45 g bar for anyone who wants to compare protein per bar.
- Albert Heijn lists 15 g of protein per bar for this variety.
- This variety contains milk and soya, and according to the product information may also contain other listed allergens. Check the packaging.
ESN
The Designer Protein Bar Peanut Caramel we looked at is a 45 g bar with nutritional information per 100 g.
- Albert Heijn’s product information lists 31 g of protein and 4 g of sugars per 100 g.
- This variety contains milk, peanuts and soya. Albert Heijn also lists sweeteners and warns that excessive consumption may have a laxative effect.
Jumbo
Jumbo sells an Appel & Haver Vlokken Reep in a pack of 5 x 30 g, as well as ordinary chocolate sprinkles for bread.
- The Appel & Haver Vlokken Reep packaging lists five portions.
- If you want to take one bar with you at a time, check whether the bars in the multipack are individually wrapped.
De Ruijter
Vlokkenfeest is a 200 g chocolate topping for bread, yoghurt, porridge and more.
- This product is suited to use as sprinkles or a topping.
- The pack isn’t an individually portioned bar for your gym bag; check the latest packaging for allergen information.
Venz
Venz sells chocolate and vanilla sprinkles in the bread topping category.
- Jumbo lists Venz Rimboe sprinkles, among other products, in a 200 g pack.
- These sprinkles aren’t a bar to take with you.
Bars for your gym bag at Joybuy
This selection includes protein bars, a muesli bar and oat bars for anyone who wants a bar to take with them. If you’re buying a multipack, check the number of bars and the inner packaging.
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Optimum Nutrition Whipped Protein Bar Peanut & Salted Caramel, 10 bars
A multipack of protein bars for anyone who wants to take several bars with them. Check the weight per bar on the packaging before comparing nutritional values per portion.
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Hero Coconut Muesli Bar, 6 bars
A multipack of muesli bars for anyone who wants portions to take with them. Check the inner packaging, and only compare nutritional values per 100 g with a whole bar once you know the weight of each bar.
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Optimum Nutrition Chocolate Sweet Coconut Bar, 59 g per bar
A protein bar for anyone looking for a portion to take with them. The product information lists 59 g per bar; check how many bars are in the pack and whether they’re individually wrapped.
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Bites We Love Chewy Oat Bars Chocolate, 4 bars
Four oat bars for anyone looking for a snack to take with them. Check whether the bars are individually wrapped and whether one bar matches the 30 g portion in the nutritional information.
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Barebells Protein Salty Peanut, 55 g
A 55 g protein bar for anyone looking for a bar-sized portion to take with them. Check whether the nutritional values on the packaging are per bar or per 100 g, and read the ingredients and allergen information.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take chocolate sprinkles in my gym bag as a snack on their own?
Not if you mean a bar you can eat on its own. Ordinary chocolate sprinkles are a bread topping or garnish; De Ruijter Vlokkenfeest, for example, is sold in a 200 g pack for use on bread, yoghurt and porridge.
Do I need a sports bar after every workout?
No, you don’t need a sports bar after every workout. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre also suggests a regular meal as an option around exercise; choose a bar when a snack fits conveniently into your plans.
How do I check the allergens in a protein or oat bar?
Read the allergen information for the exact variety on the latest packaging. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the requirement to list allergens on food labels; the HiPRO Protein bar caramel we looked at, for example, contains milk and soya.
Can I leave a protein bar in my gym bag when it’s warm?
Follow the storage instructions for the bar you buy. Being suitable to eat without refrigeration doesn’t automatically mean it’s suitable for warm conditions. For the HiPRO Protein bar caramel, the product information says it can be eaten chilled or unchilled and should be stored in the fridge or in a cool, dry place.