9 Myths, Busted: Here's the Truth About Good-for-You Protein Bars

Not everyone starts out nutty about good-for-you protein bars — unless you’re part of the Keith family, that is! Growing up, our dad — a self-proclaimed health nut — was pretty clever about sneaking superfood supplements into our family’s food. As soon as he perfected a snack bar made with organic peanut butter, honey, and whole-food protein, it was an instant hit with us.

In our household, conversations about nutrition, wellness, and the value of whole foods were pretty common. But we know there are plenty of myths out there about protein bars. For instance, some people have the misconception that protein bars are just for athletes trying to bulk up. Other folks believe they can’t possibly be good and good for you. And then there are plenty of people who simply don’t know what protein bars are all about.

Let’s dig into some nutty nutrition myth-busting so you can get to know good-for-you protein bars a little better.

Myth 1: Getting Protein in Your Diet Is a Hassle

When a lot of people think about protein supplements, their minds might jump to unpleasant horse pills. Either that or massive canisters of protein powder, with a blender mess to boot.

Thankfully, getting protein in your diet doesn’t need to be so complicated. It’s much easier to stock up on individually wrapped protein bars. With Perfect Bar, just pop a box in the fridge and grab one when you’re in need of a bite or nutrient boost.

Myth 2: There’s an Ideal Amount of Protein to Look for in a Protein Bar

Good-for-you protein bars aren’t exactly defined by a certain amount of protein. In fact, the grams of protein your body needs will depend on a variety of factors, from how you’re built and how active you are, to what nutritional goals you’re working toward.

But you can think about it in terms of quality over quantity: The important thing is to look for high-quality sources of protein when considering different types of protein bars. For instance, the protein in Perfect Bar comes from real, whole food ingredients like organic, freshly ground peanut butter, milk, eggs, and brown rice.

Myth 3: You Should Only Eat Protein Bars Before or After a Workout

It’s true that good-for-you protein bars are often stashed in gym bags. They can be great choices for active or athletic people looking to restore and build muscle. However, protein bars are a lot more versatile than that.

A Perfect Bar and a piece of fresh fruit can make a wholesome, satiating breakfast. It’ll keep you full all morning until it’s time for lunch! Or, you can nibble on a Perfect Bar as a mid-afternoon snack to hold you over until dinnertime. They’re pretty much ready to eat whenever you are.

Myth 4: Protein Bars Are Always Ultraprocessed

A lot of snack bars out there undergo a lot of processing to fit neatly into the palm of your hand. But is this mechanical processing (as in, blending the ingredients and forming them into a cute little rectangle)? Or chemical processing (as in, transforming actual foods into mystery ingredients you can’t really pronounce)?

Take a look at the ingredient list to find out what’s happening behind the wrapper. If you’re looking for good-for-you protein bars, avoid additives like “whey protein isolate” and chemical bonding agents. Instead, hone in on bars made with organic, whole-food ingredients like nut butter, plant oils, and organic honey.

Myth 5: All Protein Bars Are Created Equal

As the previous myth suggests, just because they’re protein bars doesn’t mean they’re good-for-you protein bars. At least, not if you scrutinize your snacks and uphold certain food values. It’s important to make sure the foods you’re eating line up with your nutritional goals as well as your values as a consumer.

For example, with Perfect Bar, you’ll only ever find USDA-certified organic peanut butter, Fair Trade dark chocolate chips, and Non-GMO Project Verified ingredients. We want to make sure you can get all the protein you’re looking for without having to compromise on what matters.

Myth 6: Protein Bars Will Make You Lose/Gain Weight

Protein bars may be nutrient-dense, but that doesn’t mean they will automatically cause you to gain or lose weight. Only when combining your diet and your daily exercise can you understand the weight management implications.

In simple terms, if you’re consuming more calories than you’re burning, you may experience weight gain. And, vice-versa, if you’re eating fewer calories than you’re using up, you may lose some weight. Whether you choose to eat a protein bar as a meal replacement or an extra source of fuel to maintain a healthy weight is completely up to you.

Myth 7: Good-for-You Protein Bars Taste Bad

Dry, brittle, sticky, chewy … we’ve had our fair share of weird-tasting but still good-for-you protein bars, too. And we know they’re no fun. That’s why we pride ourselves on our truly tasty flavors!

Just take a glimpse at our mouthwatering lineup of flavors and you’ll see we’re inspired by all those little luxuries that hit the spot. For instance, add a bit of dark chocolate here, a pinch of sea salt there, and you’ve got our best-selling Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Perfect Bar. When the seasons change, you can count on us to whip up a few sweet surprises in small batches, too.

And we aim to please when it comes to texture. If you wait just a few minutes while your fridge-fresh Perfect Bar reaches room temperature, you’ll be rewarded with fudgy, cookie dough crumbles in every bite.

Myth 8: A Chocolate Protein Bar Is Basically a Candy Bar

All of this talk about cookie dough and chocolate might have you wondering if protein bars aren’t just glorified candy bars. While you’ll definitely get the flavors you’re craving, good-for-you protein bars can be healthy alternatives to the sugar rush you’ll get from junk food.

For starters, Perfect Bar is sweetened with organic honey rather than sugar alcohols and other refined added sugar. This will help keep your blood sugar levels steady and your energy sustained. As a better-for-you sweet snack bolstered by other essential nutrients like protein and fiber, a whole-food protein bar will always take the cake.

It’s also worth noting here that the whole food ingredients found in Perfect Bar — like freshly ground peanut butter, plant oils, and organic greens — offer wholesome and healthy unsaturated fats that your body needs to function. Rest assured you won’t find their artery-clogging counterpart, saturated fats, on the menu.

Myth 9: Protein Bars Are Just for Grown-Ups

Who says you can’t find good-for-you protein bars for the whole family? A full-sized Perfect Bar may be too much for tiny tummies. Instead, you can share your favorite snack with the little ones thanks to Perfect Kids, our pint-sized protein bars for children. They’re prepared with gluten-free oats for a few more grams of fiber. And they come in cookie-inspired, kid-approved flavors.

Ready to bust some more protein bar myths? Check out our store locator to find a retailer near you and try a taste test of your own!