Protein bar
{{Short description|Type of snack bar high in protein}}
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| main_ingredient = Various protein foods, sugar
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File:Three protein bars.jpg, Clif bar, and LUNA bar]]
Protein bars are convenience food that contain a high proportion of protein relative to carbohydrates and fats. Despite the label focusing on protein, many mass-marketed protein bars contain more added sugar than some desserts like cookies or doughnuts,{{Cite news |last=Blum |first=Dani |date=2023-01-12 |title=Are Protein Bars Actually Good for You? |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/12/well/eat/protein-bars.html |access-date=2023-10-11 |issn=0362-4331}} making them more like candy bars. The source of protein may be animal, e.g., whey (vegetarian) or collagen, or plant (e.g., pea protein, or peanut).
Dietary purpose
Protein bars are targeted to people who primarily want a convenient source of protein that does not require preparation (unless homemade).{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/29/dining/protein-bars.html|title=A Look Inside the Protein Bar|last=Moss|first=Michael|date=2014-01-28|work=The New York Times|access-date=2017-08-19|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} There are different kinds of food bars to fill different purposes. Energy bars provide the majority of their food energy (calories) in carbohydrate form. Meal replacement bars are intended to replace the variety of nutrients in a meal. Protein bars are usually lower in carbohydrates than energy bars, lower in vitamins and dietary minerals than meal replacement bars, and significantly higher in protein than either.
Protein bars may contain high levels of sugar and sometimes are called "candy bars in disguise".{{Cite news|url=http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/nutrition-bars-healthy-hype#1|title=Nutrition Bars: Healthy or Hype?|work=WebMD|access-date=2017-08-19|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/are-protein-bars-really-just-candy-bars-in-disguise-201512158848|title=Are protein bars really just candy bars in disguise? - Harvard Health Blog|last=MD|first=Robert H. Shmerling|date=2015-12-15|work=Harvard Health Blog|access-date=2017-08-19|language=en-US}} Alternative protein bars may use insect protein as an ingredient. Vegan protein bars contain only plant-based proteins from sources like peas, brown rice, hemp, and soybeans.{{Cite journal|last=Rathod|first=Vaidehi|date=April 14, 2020|title=Be vegan and have your protein too|url=https://scholar.utc.edu/research-dialogues/2020/day1_posters/128/|journal=UTC Scholar}}
Protein bars are mainly marketed to athletes or exercise enthusiasts for muscle building{{Cite journal|last1=Campbell|first1=Bill|last2=Kreider|first2=Richard B.|last3=Ziegenfuss|first3=Tim|last4=La Bounty|first4=Paul|last5=Roberts|first5=Mike|last6=Burke|first6=Darren|last7=Landis|first7=Jamie|last8=Lopez|first8=Hector|last9=Antonio|first9=Jose|date=2007-09-26|title=International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: protein and exercise|journal=Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition|volume=4|pages=8|doi=10.1186/1550-2783-4-8|issn=1550-2783|pmc=2117006|pmid=17908291 |doi-access=free }}{{Cite journal|last=Phillips|first=Stuart M.|date=July 2004|title=Protein requirements and supplementation in strength sports|journal=Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.)|volume=20|issue=7–8|pages=689–695|doi=10.1016/j.nut.2004.04.009|issn=0899-9007|pmid=15212752}} or as a wellness-themed convenience food. The global market is growing and expected to reach US$2 billion in annual sales in 2026.
There is a disagreement over the amount of protein required for active individuals and athletic performance.{{Cite news|url=https://examine.com/nutrition/how-much-protein-do-i-need-every-day/|title=How much protein do I need every day?|date=2013-01-16|work=Examine.com|access-date=2017-08-19}} Some research shows that protein supplementation is not necessary.{{Cite journal|last1=Lemon|first1=P. W.|last2=Proctor|first2=D. N.|date=November 1991|title=Protein intake and athletic performance|journal=Sports Medicine|volume=12|issue=5|pages=313–325|issn=0112-1642|pmid=1763249|doi=10.2165/00007256-199112050-00004|s2cid=9632893}}{{Cite journal|last=Phillips|first=Stuart M.|date=July 2004|title=Protein requirements and supplementation in strength sports|journal=Nutrition|volume=20|issue=7–8|pages=689–695|doi=10.1016/j.nut.2004.04.009|issn=0899-9007|pmid=15212752}} Athletes generally consume higher levels of protein as compared to the general population for muscular hypertrophy and to reduce lean body mass lost during weight loss.{{Cite journal|last1=Mettler|first1=Samuel|last2=Mitchell|first2=Nigel|last3=Tipton|first3=Kevin D.|date=February 2010|title=Increased protein intake reduces lean body mass loss during weight loss in athletes|journal=Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise|volume=42|issue=2|pages=326–337|doi=10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181b2ef8e|issn=1530-0315|pmid=19927027|doi-access=free}} Specialists have stated that the general American population is not lacking in protein.
History
Bob Hoffman launched Hoffman's Hi-Proteen Fudge and Hoffman's Hi-Proteen Cookies in the early 1950s, and competitor Joe Weider launched Candy Food Bars with bodybuilder Dave Draper on the packaging in the late 1960s. Pillsbury Space Food Bars and the bars by Tiger's Milk both came to market in the 1960s. Though they had protein, they were marked as energy or nutrition bars.{{Cite web |last=Merritt |first=Greg |date= |title=The History of Protein Bars |url=https://thebarbell.com/the-history-of-protein-bars/ |access-date=2023-11-15 |website=The Barbell |language=en-US}}{{unreliable source|date=April 2025}} PowerBar, invented in California in 1986, was an early protein bar.