10 Best Protein Bars in the Philippines 2021 - Buying Guide Reviewed By Nutritionist-Dietitian

Samantha studied BS Nutrition at the University of the Philippines and began her career in clinical nutrition and weight management at a tertiary hospital in Manila, Philippines. Her practice allowed her to give nutrition counseling and plan modified diets for patients with medical conditions. Presently, she does private practice to focus on true holistic wellness - an approach that believes in aligning one's mind, body, and spiritual well-being.

To know more about her practice, you can like and follow her Instagram and Facebook page.

Want to know which protein bars are nutritionist-dietitian-approved? Read below to check out Samantha Morales' recommended products!

In no particular order, here are more products that we recommend. Check them out and read the descriptions to find out the reasons they made it on our list. They have different flavor profiles, textures, and protein content so you can always have a choice depending on your needs.

**Prices may vary depending on the website and their campaign period**

Protein bars all look similar, and it can be confusing which bars are healthy food and which are just glorified candy bars. We've compiled a few tips on how to decide which protein bar is the right snack for you to keep in your pantry.

Protein is the primary benefit a protein bar can give you nutritionally. For athletes, this nutrient can help strengthen the muscles during your training sessions. It also gives you more energy to get through the day. Even non-athletes can benefit from a protein bar because they tend to be filling without being dense and heavy.

Protein bars can go from as little as 2 grams to as high as 30 grams of protein. High-protein bars might seem like the best buy, but sometimes manufacturers sacrifice taste for high protein content. Always check the product description or its packaging first before you purchase, and make sure the bar offers at least 10 to 20 grams of the nutrient.

While protein might be the most important ingredient in the bar, it's not the only one that contributes to the healthiness—or unhealthiness—of a protein bar. When looking at the label, it's important to take note of the other nutrients it gives. For example, carbohydrates should not be the most prominent nutrient.

Carbohydrates are usually added in excess because they make the product taste better at the expense of the health benefits. Make sure that the calorie count doesn't go above 400. Good protein bars also have healthy fats in them and enough fiber to help you process your meal and keep you full the whole day.

There are protein bars that fit into all kinds of fitness diets nowadays. Whether you're keto, paleo, gluten-free, or vegan, there's going to be a protein bar that can help you boost your protein and supplement your workouts. Always check the ingredients and the labels to guarantee that a bar can be in your diet.

This is especially important when it comes to checking the protein sources of your protein bar. Some bars get their protein from egg whites and other animal products, while others get them from plants like pea, rice, and soy. The different protein sources may give the same nutrient, but some sources only fit certain diets.

Tasty protein bars are a great way to satisfy a sweet tooth and get your nutrients in. However, the tastiest bars can mean they packed the product with a ton of sugar and fat to get it to taste good. Some protein bars are even worse than baked pastries in terms of these bad nutrients to make their product the best-tasting.

A protein bar should have no more than 5 grams of sugar in a single serving. As much as possible, there should be no saturated or trans fats either. While sugar and saturated fats are tasty, they throw us off our fitness goals and should not be tolerated in our protein bars.

Nutrition is just as important as exercising in building muscle. Eating the right foods two to three hours before you exercise can help you perform well in the gym and get a better workout. Here are the three most important things to eat before a workout, according to Healthline:

1. Your body uses carbohydrates as fuel, so it's important to have some before your exercise. Consider carbs that are simple to digest, like oatmeal and wheat bread.
2. Protein increases muscle synthesis for better muscle development. Meat is the usual protein source, but some vegetables like broccoli and spinach have high protein.
3. For long and low-intensity exercises, your body uses fat as an energy source. Long-distance runners have shown better performance with high intakes of healthy fats.

Know more about protein bars and proper nutrition below! Here are Samantha Morales' answers to some of the internet's most asked questions. 

As much as possible, get your nutrition from whole foods. A protein bar can supplement your diet, but it should not be the sole source of your daily nutrient needs. A protein bar is beneficial for emergency purposes, when you're on the go or if you're a very active individual.

Good quality protein bars can be eaten before or after working out. Consuming a protein bar before a workout may boost your performance, while consuming it after work out can help in the growth and repair of your muscles.

Protein bars can be considered healthy as long as they're made of simple and real ingredients. They should not be made of too much sugar, trans fat, artificial flavoring, additives, or fillers.

We've compiled a few lists of energy-giving foods and supplements for your pantry. Healthy cereals are a great breakfast to keep your mind and body sharp the whole day. Energy drinks keep you focused and pumped up through tiring days. Multivitamins are essential for you to keep your body in top shape.

Protein bars are great healthy snacks for fitness buffs or even the health-conscious everyday person. We've laid down what makes a great protein bar, as well as put 10 options we think, can fit in your active lifestyle. Check some of them out to take your healthy lifestyle to the next level.

Re-editor: Patricia Catimpo

Reviewed by: Registered Nutritionist-Dietitian Samantha Morales

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If you're wondering how we chose and ranked products, we will discuss them below. Our buying guide was carefully crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, so we used it as a basis for choosing and rating. For the top 3 product recommendations, we also looked at reviews from Lazada in addition to the buying guide.

Ratings and Reviews

For each product on the top 3, we looked at and referenced more than 100 reviews, as well as product ratings in Lazada.

Check the Protein Content - Look for at Least 10 to 20 Grams
The product with the highest amount of protein does not mean that it is the best one, but you also do not want the protein content to be too low. As per our buying guide, the ideal protein content in protein bars is 10 to 20 grams, so we gave a higher rating to products with protein content in the latter part of the range. We deducted points if it's in the former half of the range and then gave those that fall below the range a lower rating.

Carbohydrates, Healthy Fats, Fiber: Look at the Other Nutrients in the Bar

For this part of the buying guide, we looked at the nutritional facts label and gave those that have higher amounts of healthy fats and fiber. However, we did deduct some points if the protein bar goes over 400 calories per serving.

Keto, Paleo, Gluten-Free, Vegan: Buy Bars That Fit in Your Diet

This part of the buying guide depends on the person's preferred protein source and lifestyle, so we did not include it in our rating.

A Tasty Bar Can Help You Enjoy Staying Healthy

The tastiness of a product is also a matter of preference, so we did not include this part of the buying guide in our rating.

Avoid Protein Bars With Saturated Fat Content and Higher Than 5g of Sugar per Serving

As per the buying guide and the comment made by the expert, the sugar content in the protein bar should not exceed 5 grams. We looked at the nutritional facts label and gave products a higher rating if the product contained 5 grams or less and deducted points from those with higher amounts.

Bulk Buy to Keep Expenses Low

The amount to get depends on the person's needs and preferences, so we did not include this part of the buying guide in the rating.