The market is flooded with protein bars so it’s hard to know which one to choose. The 13 best Paleo bars I chose contain everything from pumpkin seeds and other healthy fats to natural proteins and even a little sweetness via simple ingredients like maple syrup.
I know that real foodists say you never need a bar to make it through life, but the realists say that yes. you. do. because, well, life.
Life and the day-to-day are not slowing down anytime soon, so having the best options at your fingertips is crucial.
What to Look For in a Protein Bar
First, what should you look for when choosing the best option in a packaged protein bar?
- Avoid bars with artificial flavors and artificial sweeteners
- Choose bars with minimal ingredients
- The ingredients contained within the bar should be ones you recognize
- Be sure the bar does not contain trans fats
- As often as possible, look for organic ingredients noted on the label
- While the amount of sugar will likely not be zero (unless it’s a purely meat bar), you should still be cognizant of the amount of sugar
What is Paleo?
The Paleo diet has changed terms and technicalities over the years.
At its root, the Paleo diet includes: fruits, vegetables, lean meats, seafood, nuts and seeds, and healthy fats. It excludes: dairy, grains, processed food and sugars, legumes, starches, alcohol.
However, over time, certain forms of categories on the excluded list are now acceptable. For example, legumes. There is research that indicates legumes are, in fact, Paleo. Another example is dairy. Many Paleo enthusiasts will not consume milk or yogurt, but they might do butter (or at the very least, Ghee butter).
The examples for “Paleo-ish” could go on and on.
Therefore, the bars featured on this list are Paleo and/or Paleo-ish.
13 Best Paleo Bars {that are also high protein}
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Paleovalley 100% Grass Fed Beef Sticks, Summer Sausage
It’s not technically a bar, but protein sticks, balls, and bars are all essentially the same thing. They are packed, convenient, and ready to go at any given time.
And it was definitely on purpose that this one is in the number one slot.
These are, hands down, the best, and highest quality Paleo + high protein grass-fed beef I bars out there.
Paleovalley 100% Grass Fed Beef Sticks are the perfect clean protein snack for on-the-go. Made with grass fed/grass finished beef and organic spices they are healthy and delicious.
Plus, they are preserved using natural fermentation and as a result are full of gut-healthy probiotics.
Adults who care about their health love them and even kids go crazy for them because the flavor is outstanding.
Features
- 100% grass fed beef
- organic spices
- naturally fermented
- incredibly high standards and ethical values
- no antibiotics or hormones
- low-FODMAP
- free shipping and handling with 4 packs or more
Ingredients: 100% grass fed beef, water, unprocessed sea salt, organic dextrose from tapioca (used to initiate the fermentation process), celery juice, organic allspice, organic coriander, organic nutmeg, organic white pepper, organic black pepper, organic mustard seed, organic paprika, lactic acid starter culture from non-GMO beets, stuffed in a dye-free beef collagen casing.
BodyBar, Sweet Cocoa
I invited BodyBar Protein founder, Ayarpi Reganyan, on the podcast after trying her delicious bars.
Ayarpi founded this company because of her struggles with inflammatory bowel disease and saw a need for a protein bar with simple and clean nutrients, that everyone- not just those with an autoimmune condition – can feel good about eating.
Features
- plant proteins
- sweet
- natural ingredients, and no added sugars
- dark chocolate
- 9g of protein
- vegan bar
Ingredients: Dates, Vegan Protein Blend (Pumpkin Protein, Flax Protein, Sunflower Protein), Almond Butter, Tapioca Fiber, Almonds, Cocoa Powder, Unsweetened Chocolate, Coconut Oil, Sunflower Lecithin, Sea Salt.
Buy it: SHOP THE BARS HERE.
Wild Zora, Mediterranean Lamb
I love this combination of lamb and veggies, though, I will admit that eating lamb too often is hard for me to do. I don’t know why, but lamb is one of the only animals I have a hard time with.
That said, it’s one of my favorite meat flavors, so when I do have it, I always make sure it’s sourced as premium as possible.
Features
- allergen-friendly: nightshade-free, nut-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, grain-free, soy-free
- 100% Paleo ingredients
- Whole30, AIP (AutoImmune Protocol) Compliant
- no refined sugars
- woman-founded business
Ingredients: Natural Lamb, Organic Vegetables, & Fruit (Spinach, Apricots, Dates, Garlic, Celery, Onion), Sea Salt, Oregano, Rosemary, Turmeric
Buy it: Thrive Market
Paleovalley Pasture-Raised Turkey Sticks, Cranberry-Orange
If you love meat sticks, but don’t do grass-fed beef, these turkey sticks are for you.
Similar to the grass-fed beef sticks they have, these turkey sticks from Paleovalley are a huge hit in our house.
I love Paleovalley so much that I also had them on the podcast. Co-founder Autumn Smith and I discussed all things, “Healing Paleo Diet.”
Features
- only .5 grams of fat
- sugar content is only 1g, even though it’s cranberry-orange flavored
- free from GMOs, gluten, grains, corn, soy, and dairy
- delicious flavor
- naturally-ocurring probiotics
Ingredients: Pasture-raised turkey, organic cranberries, water, sea salt, organic dextrose from tapioca (used to initiate the fermentation process – little to none remains in the final product), organic cranberry powder, organic orange peel powder, celery juice powder, organic sage, organic garlic, lactic acid starter culture from beets, stuffed in a dye-free beef collagen casing
Skout Organic, Salted Chocolate
I became privy to these bars in 2021 when I worked with the brand for a hot minute. To this day, they are one of my favorite “sweet” protein bars mixed with a healthy treat. I cannot get enough of them!
Features
- always organic
- chewy bars
- no “natural flavors”
- 8 grams of fiber
- gluten-free
- Vegan
- natural sugar from organic dates only
Ingredients: Organic Dates, Organic Sunflower Seed Protein Powder, Organic Cocoa Liquor, Organic Cocoa Powder, Pink Himalayan Sea Salt.
Buy it: Amazon
EPIC Bison Bacon Cranberry
Epic has so many different bars and meat sticks, but I still think the Bison Bacon Cranberry is my favorite.
Features
- great workout snack
- good fats; an epic source of omega-3s
- certified gluten-free + Paleo friendly
- tender bison and savory bacon flavor make this incredible tasting
Ingredients: Bison, uncured bacon – no nitrates or nitrites added, pork, water, brown sugar, salt, vinegar, celery powder, dried cranberries (apple juice concentrate, cranberries), encapsulated lactic acid, sea salt
Buy it: Amazon
Tanka Bar, Original Buffalo
One year at Expo West I was introduced to real food bar, Tanka Bar. At the time, they had a coffee flavor I loved. But I also really love their Original Buffalo Bar. It’s simple and minimal, but my taste buds loved it.
Features
- a delicious smoky and slightly sweet flavor
- Certified Gluten-Free, nitrites-free, MSG-free, hormone-free, dairy-free, soy-free, low-fat and 100% natural
- Made in the USA, based on the traditional Native American Lakota recipe for wasna and pemmican
- great at room temperature
- quick snack for traveling and busy people
Ingredients: Buffalo, Dried Cranberries, Sea Salt, Encapsulated Lactic Acid, Celery Juice, Black Pepper, Spices, Garlic, Onion Powder, Red Pepper.
Buy it: Amazon
Paleovalley Superfood Bar, Apple Cinnamon
Most other food bars (even so called “healthy” bars) contain cheap, low quality ingredients, large amounts of refined sugar, sugar alcohols, gluten, soy, corn, oats, legumes, denatured proteins, “natural” flavors, and preservatives, but Paleovalley leaves all of that out.
Features
- 10 the world’s most powerful superfoods in each delicious bite
- no gluten, grains, soy or added sugar, sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners
- shelf-stable at room temperature for one year
- cold-processed to keep all nutrients in tact
Ingredients: Organic Cashew Butter, Organic Prebiotic Tapioca Fiber, 100% Grass Fed Bone Broth Protein, Organic Dried Apples, Organic Dates, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Superfood Blend (Organic Kale, Organic Broccoli, Organic Spinach, Organic Acerola, Organic Wild Blueberry, Organic Spirulina, Organic Ginger, Organic Turmeric) Organic Sunflower Lecithin, Organic Ceylon Cinnamon, Organic Flavors, Himalayan Pink Sea Salt, Organic Rosemary Extract, Organic Monk Fruit Extract
RX Bars, Chocolate Sea Salt
I fell in love with these the first time I ever had them. Maybe it’s the chocolate, maybe the sea salt, but the combination is out of this world. The bars contain a good amount of protein (12 grams of protein), and they satisfy a sweet tooth which means it’s the perfect snack sometimes.
Features
- gluten free
- no added sugar
- minimal ingredients (make note that this one does include “natural chocolate flavor”
Ingredients: Dates, Egg Whites, Almonds, Cashews, 100% Chocolate (Cacao), Sea Salt, Natural Chocolate Flavor
Buy it: Amazon
Aloha Bar, Vanilla Almond Crunch
These nut bars have a ton of fiber and fairly low sugar. They come in many different flavors and after I got a complimentary box of them from a Thrive Market order, I was hooked.
Features
- 12 grams of fat, but only 1.5 sat. fat
- perfect touch of vanilla
- only 5 grams of sugar
- vegetarian
Ingredients: Almonds*, Protein Blend* (Brown Rice Protein*, Pumpkin Seed Protein*), Tapioca Syrup*, Roasted Pumpkin Seeds*, Brown Rice Crisps, Vegetable Glycerin*, Sunflower Butter* (Roasted Sunflower Seeds*, Sunflower Oil*), Natural Flavor*, Vanilla Extract, Monk Fruit*, Sea Salt. *Organic
Buy it: Thrive Market
Go Macro, Organic Blueberry and Cashew Butter
How often do you see blueberries and cashews mixed together in a packaged bar? Because I don’t see it often, this is the flavor I chose to feature for this list. However, Go Macro has a ton of flavors.
Features
- organic blueberries
- plant-based protein
- gluten, soy, and dairy-free
- non-GMO
Ingredients: Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Organic Cashew Butter, Organic Protein Blend (Organic Sprouted Brown Rice Protein, Organic Pea Protein), Organic Cashews, Organic Puffed Brown Rice, Organic Sunflower Seed Butter, Organic Blueberries (Organic Blueberries, Organic Apple Juice Concentrate, Organic Sunflower Oil), Organic Blueberry Flavor.
Extra Note: There is brown rice in this one, which is a grain. I also don’t love the sunflower oil and apple juice concentrate.
Buy it: Amazon
Thunderbird, Hazelnut Coffee
Whenever you attend an Expo West or East, bars galore are bound to be found. Thunderbird was a brand I found at Expo West, and, in fact, I had this exact flavor there. Mix coffee with a bar? Yes, please.
Features
- 100% Paleo diet bar
- chia seeds
- gluten-free, Vegan, dairy-free
- portable mocha experience with 5mg caffeine per serving
Ingredients: Dates, Hazelnuts, Almonds, Cacao Butter, Cacao Powder, Vanilla Extract, Chia Seed, Coffee Beans, Maca Powder, Himalayan Pink Salt
Buy it: Thrive Market
Good & Gather™, Cashew Cookie
And last, but not least, the Cashew Cookie bar from Target’s brand, Good & Gather™. The good news is that almost everyone can have access to this because……Target.
Features
- just two whole foods ingredients; cashews and dates
- no artificial sweeteners or artificial flavors
- kosher
- ultra-simple Paleo snack bars
Ingredients: cashews, dates.
Buy it: Target
What are your favorite Paleo bars?
If you liked this post, you might also enjoy:
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- Top 22 Paleo Soup Recipes
Xox,
SKH
🤰 bloating be gone! weight loss through optimal gut health for women
💃ʜᴇᴀʟ ʏᴏᴜʀ ɢᴜᴛ. ʜᴇᴀʟ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʟɪfe.
🫶🏻 founder gutbyome.com
What exactly is “prebiotic tapioca fiber”. Seems like a marketing company came up with that term. Isn’t it just sugar?
Hi! No….it’s fiber extracted from tapioca (I reached out to the company for that information). There is almost no sugar in the product.