10 Best Low-Fiber Protein Bars (As Rated by Dieticians)

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Many protein bars rely on fiber to add bulk to the bar without adding calories.

However, fiber can slow down nutrient absorption and cause digestive issues, which is the last thing you want when you are trying to boost your protein intake for your health goals. 

A great solution is to find a low-fiber protein bar. 

So, which is the best low fiber protein bar? The best low-fiber protein bar is the ZonePerfect Protein Bar Cinnamon Roll Flavor. 

It has 0g of fiber per bar (a 50g serving), while still providing 15g of protein, and added vitamins.  These bars are also budget-friendly, coming in at 19% cheaper than the average cost of protein bars.

In this article, I’ll cover the top 10 low-fiber protein bars from the team of Registered Dieticians and nutrition coaches at FeastGood.

I’ll also discuss: 

• What is “low” fiber for a protein bar?
• What other ingredients should you look out for in a low-fiber protein bar?
• When and why to eat a low-fiber protein bar

What Is Considered A “Low-Fiber” Protein Bar?

There is no labeling guidance for a food to be marketed as “low-fiber.”  By contrast, in order for a food to be marketed as “high-fiber,” the product must contain at least 6g of fiber per 100g.  

Many commercial protein bars have a serving size of 60g, meaning that they would need to have at least 3.6g of fiber in order to be considered high-fiber.  

This means that “low-fiber” bars will have less than 3.6g of fiber per 60g serving.  Reducing this by a third (1.2g), a very low-fiber bar would have less than 2.4g of fiber per 60g serving. 

Key takeaway: For the purposes of this review, I’ll be focusing on protein bars that have no more than 2.4g of fiber per 60g serving.

Other Ingredients To Look Out For In Low-Fiber Protein Bars

Beyond plant fibers like chicory root and inulin, many protein bars also have sugar alcohols and other alternative sweeteners that can cause digestive distress including maltitol, erythritol, and sorbitol.  

These ingredients can cause stomach aches, bloating, gas, and laxative effects including diarrhea.

Read labels carefully for these ingredients, and monitor to see if you experience adverse effects to help guide your choices.  

If these ingredients cause discomfort for you, it is best to avoid them.  

However, if your digestion is fine, there is no reason not to consume these bars, but ideally no more than one per day.  Registered Dietitian, Brenda Peralta, says that: 

“The majority of your daily intake should still come from whole food choices and not commercially processed protein bars”.

Low-Fiber Protein Bars: 10 Options

The top 10 low-fiber protein bars are: 

• ZonePerfect Protein Bar – Cinnamon Roll: Best Overall Low-Fiber Protein Bar

• Jimmy! White Coconut Shred High Protein Bar: Best “Clean” Bar

• Vital Performance Protein Bar – Chocolate Almond: Best for Zero Added Sugar

• Snickers Hi Protein Bar: Best Taste (Junk Food Replacement)

• Gatorade Whey Protein Recover Bar – Chocolate Chip: Best Recovery Bar & Runner-up Best Budget 

• Power Crunch Whey Protein Bar – French Vanilla Creme: Best for Bulking

• Met-Rx Big 100 Protein Bar – Super Cookie Crunch: Best Big Format Bar

• Grenade Carb Killa High Protein Bar – Birthday Cake: Best Low-Sugar

• Pure Protein Bar – Chocolate Deluxe: Best Budget Pick & Highest-Protein Bar 

• NuGo Protein Bar – Vanilla Yogurt: Best Low-Fat

1. ZonePerfect Protein Bar – Cinnamon Roll: Best Overall Low-Fiber Protein Bar

This is the best bar in a low-fiber protein bar round-up because it has zero grams of fiber per bar.  It is also free of sugar alcohols, meaning it is likely to be easy to digest, quickly providing energy for your workout or recovery.

The bar does have added sugars, so it is best to consume in moderation.

Pros

• No fiber at all (less than 0.5g per serving, allowing the label to round down to zero)
• Contains added vitamins
• Budget-friendly

Cons

• High in added sugar
• Contains common allergens: soy, milk and almonds

The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to 6 tsp (35g) for women and 9 tsp (36g) for men. One 50g bar has 17g added sugar, meaning careful choices for all other intake for the day to avoid going over this limit.

2. Jimmy! White Coconut Shred High Protein Bar: Best “Clean” Bar

The White Coconut Shred bar has a relatively short list of nine, pronounceable ingredients.  It does not have many of the preservatives, artificial flavors and sweeteners used in other protein bars.  This makes it the best “clean” low-fiber bar.

It does, however, contain small amounts of maltitol as one of its sweeteners.

Pros

• Low fiber (1g per bar)
• Very high in protein (23g per bar)
• Recognizable ingredients
• Grain- and gluten-free

Cons

• Contains maltitol
• Contains peanuts

When consumed in excess, maltitol can cause digestive distress for some people.  The bar is also not appropriate for peanut-free settings.

3. Vital Performance Protein Bar – Chocolate Almond: Best Low-Fiber Protein Bar for Zero Added Sugar

Vital Performance is the only entrant on the list with zero grams of added sugar.  It does contain a small amount of coconut nectar, but the total sugar content for a 60g serving is only three grams.  This is great news for anyone looking to avoid or limit added sugar.

It does, however, contain small amounts of maltitol as one of its sweeteners.

Pros

• Low fiber (1.1g per bar)
• No added sugar
• Very high in protein (22g per bar)

Cons

• Contains maltitol
• Contains common allergens: milk, almonds and peanuts

When consumed in excess, maltitol can cause digestive distress for some people.  This bar also contains both tree nuts (almonds) and peanuts.

Related reading: How to Gain Weight Without Eating Sugar (Sample Meal Plan)

4. Snickers Hi Protein Bar: Best Taste (Junk Food Replacement)

True to its commercial jingle “Packed with peanuts, Snickers really satisfies,” the protein bar version will satisfy a junk food craving with its similar taste and texture.  

The great news is that unlike the candy bar, the high protein content (20g per bar) means that you will feel full for longer.  Truly satisfying!

Pros

• Great taste
• Low fiber (1.4g per bar)
• Very high in protein (22g per bar)

Cons

• Contains added sugars
• Contains milk and peanuts
• High price

The bar does have several forms of added sugar, along with maltitol and fructo-oligosaccharides, a sweet form of fiber that can be hard to digest.  But with less than two grams of fiber per serving, the impact should be minimal.

This is one of the highest-price options on the list, along with the Grenade Carb Killa Bar, based on prices at the time of publication.  Watch for sales or buy in bulk to save.

5. Gatorade Whey Protein Recover Bar – Chocolate Chip: Best Recovery Bar

Gatorade has a long history in the sports recovery industry with its electrolyte-drinks.  This bar is also great for recovery with a 2:1 carbs to protein ratio, which is considered ideal for optimizing post-workout nutrition.

The Gatorade Whey Protein Recover Bar also has less than 10g of fat, which puts it in line with our recommendations to limit fat after a workout.

I was pleasantly surprised to see a low price point for this bar, especially considering its larger than average size of 80g.  This bar was similar in price to my top budget pick, the Pure Protein Bar.

Pros

• 2:1 carbs to protein ratio
• Low fiber (1.5g per bar)
• Low price

Cons

• Contains high added sugars
• Contains milk and soy

This bar has a total of 29g of added sugars in several forms.  This puts it above the total recommended added sugar of 25g (6 tsp) for women and very close to the 36g (9 tsp) mark for men.  

However, athletes and individuals pursuing peak performance and strength may need to exceed these recommendations to get sufficient carbohydrates around training.  

This bar can be part of a “workout fueling strategy” when considered in the context of overall intake for the day.  If you would like some help with how to structure your nutrition for performance, please speak with one of our coaches.

6. Power Crunch Whey Protein Bar – French Vanilla Creme: Best Low-Fiber Protein Bar for Bulking

The Power Crunch bar is the most calorie-dense option in the list, offering 330 calories per 60g (220 calories in a 40g bar).  This is mainly due to its high fat content, along with protein and added sugar.  

I was actually surprised to realize that the Power Crunch bar offers more calories than the Met-Rx Big 100 Protein Bar.

This makes it the best choice for people looking for extra calories to gain weight.  Its low fiber content means it will digest more quickly than a high-fiber choice, which can help avoid feeling too full during a caloric surplus.

Pros

• Highest calories per 60g
• Low fiber (1.5g per bar)
• Low price

Cons

• Contains milk, wheat and soy

This bar is not suitable for gluten-free diets, or for anyone with a milk or soy allergy.

7. Met-Rx Big 100 Protein Bar – Super Cookie Crunch: Best Big Format Low-Fiber Protein Bar

The Met-Rx Big 100 bar lives up to its name with a whopping 100g serving size, more than double other bars on the list, and two thirds bigger than the reference size of 60g.  

So, even though it’s not as calorie-dense as the Power Crunch bar, you only have to pay for and eat one bar to get 410 calories.  This makes it my top choice for a big format bar.  

It’s also still quite economical, both for price per bar and price per gram.

Pros

• Biggest bar (100g)
• Low fiber (1.8g per bar)
• Low price

Cons

• Contains nearly twice the added sugar of the Power Crunch Bar (total 24g per bar)
• Contains milk, egg, soy, peanuts and almonds

Similar to my concerns about the Gatorade Whey Protein Recover Bar, the Met-Rx bar is high in added sugars.  There is still a place for this in an athlete or performance client’s diet.  Limit intake to a maximum of one bar per day.

8. Grenade Carb Killa High Protein Bar – Birthday Cake: Best Low-Sugar Low-Fiber Protein Bar

The Grenade Carb Killa line truly is low in net carbohydrates, which is total carbohydrates less fiber and sugar alcohols.  It only has 1.7g of sugar per 60g serving

However, the bar has an extremely high sugar alcohol content with 15g of maltitol and glycerol in each 60g bar – this is more than three times the sugar alcohol content of the next-highest option (Pure Protein Bars).  This can spell tummy troubles.

That being said, every flavor I’ve tried of the Grenade Carb Killa is absolutely delicious, including the birthday cake, so if your digestive system can handle these bars they are a great option every so often.

Pros

• Lowest sugar content (1.7g)
• Low fiber (1.8g per bar)
• Delicious taste

Cons

• High price
• High in sugar alcohols
• Contains beef collagen, meaning it is not suitable for vegetarians

Due to the high sugar alcohols, I’d recommend limiting intake to a maximum of one bar every 1-2 days. 

• Related Article: 10 Best Protein Bars Without Sugar Alcohols

9. Pure Protein Bar – Chocolate Deluxe: Best Budget Pick, Highest Protein, and Lowest Sodium

I was surprised to find out that the Pure Protein bar boasted the highest protein content, both in terms of protein per 60g (25.2g) and protein per calorie. 

This means that for every calorie of this bar, more of it comes from protein than any other bar in this list.

The Pure Protein bar was also the lowest in sodium and the lowest price per bar at the time of publication.  Depending on your priorities, you might rank it much higher than ninth.  I kept it here based on having the highest fiber, along with the NuGo Protein Bar.

These bars are also easy to find in many major retailers (Walmart, Shoppers, Superstore and other national grocery stores), compared to some bars that are only available in specialty supplement stores or online. 

Pros

• Highest protein content (25.2g per 60g and 0.12g of protein per calorie)
• Lowest price per bar (second lowest price per 60g after the Gatorade Recover Bar) at the time of publication
• Low fiber (2.4g per bar)

Cons

• Five different sweeteners including maltitol and maltitol syrup and sucralose
• Contains milk, soy, peanuts and almonds

This is my top budget-friendly pick, and it’s easy to grab at many stores if you are in a pinch for a snack when you are out and about.

10. NuGo Protein Bar – Vanilla Yogurt: Best Low-Fat Low-Fiber Protein Bar

With only 3.6g of fat in a 60g serving, the NuGo Protein bar has the lowest fat content overall.  It’s only a tiny fraction of the 19.5g in a 60g serving of the Power Crunch bar.  This makes the NuGo bar a great choice for a pre-workout snack.

The NuGo Protein bar does only offer 11g of protein per 50g bar (13.2g in a 60g serving).  This is the lowest protein content of any bar in the list.

The NuGo protein bar still only has 2.4g of fiber in a 60g serving, but that makes it one of the highest fiber contents on this list, and lands it at the bottom of this round-up.

Pros

• Lowest fat content (3.6g per 60g)
• Low fiber (2.4g per bar)
• Low price 

Cons

• Lower in protein
• High in added sugars

Low-Fiber Protein Bars Comparison Summary

This standardized reference chart allows you to quickly compare all ten options.  

The information is provided for a reference serving size of 60g; bars that have a serving size other than 60g are noted with asterisks (*) but the information presented is adjusted to be based on 60g of that bar.

Best Time To Eat Low-Fiber Protein Bars

The best time to eat a low-fiber protein bar is immediately before or after a workout.  Pre- and post-workout are the optimal times for quick nutrient absorption.  Since fiber slows digestion, it is important to keep fiber low at these times.  

Low-fiber protein bars can also be incorporated during other times of the day.  At these times, it is more appropriate to combine the bars with fiber-rich food sources, to meet recommended fiber intake for the day.

Reasons To Eat Low-Fiber Protein Bars

The three main reasons to eat low-fiber protein bars are for speedy nutrient absorption, to reduce digestive distress, and to manage health conditions. 

Quick Nutrition Absorption

As discussed above, too much fiber can slow nutrient absorption. 

Eating a low-fiber protein bar means that the protein and carbohydrates it provides will be quickly taken up by the body to assist with muscle protein synthesis (building new muscle tissue) and glycogen replenishment (replenishing the glucose fuel stores in the muscles and liver).

Lessen Digestive Distress

High-fiber foods can cause bloating and gas.  Gastric distress from fiber can be even worse while exercising. 

The body wants to send blood flow to the active working muscles, but the presence of fiber in the gut will draw in water and compete for blood flow for digestion.  

The end result is that both performance and digestion suffer, leading to an uncomfortable workout. 

Eating a low-fiber protein bar can provide a convenient and portable source of energy pre-workout, without the negative effects of higher-fiber food choices.

Manage Health Conditions

Some people need to follow a low-fiber diet to manage their health conditions.  For example, individuals with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) can find that high-fiber foods make them uncomfortable.

Eating a low-fiber protein bar can be part of an overall balanced diet that is low in fiber for individuals with health conditions that require a lower fiber intake.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Many Low-Fiber Protein Bars Should You Eat Every Day?

Based on the presence of added sugars and/or sugar alcohols in many of the low-fiber protein bars, I recommend limiting consumption to a maximum of one bar per day, in general.

Are Protein Bars High In Fiber?

There are so many protein bars on the market today that there are both high and low-fiber options to choose from.  There is so much variety that virtually any eating style, dietary requirement, allergy or intolerance can be accommodated.

Are Quest Bars Low-Fiber?

Quest bars are NOT low-fiber.  The average Quest bar provides 14g of fiber per 60g serving.  The American Heart Association recommends 25-30g of fiber per day, so just one Quest bar provides half of the recommended daily intake.

Are Clif Bars Low-Fiber?

Clif Builders bar are low-fiber.  The average Clif Builders bar provides 2.6g of per 60g serving.  This is higher than the threshold considered for this review, but still below the level of 3.6g of fiber per 60g at which point a food is considered high in fiber.

Final Thoughts

These ten bars are our top picks for low-fiber protein bars for 2022.  Each brand also has several flavors with similar nutritional content.  You are sure to find a bar that meets your personal dietary requirements with a taste you will love.

Related Reading

• Is Eating 3 Protein Bars A Day Bad? (A Dietician Answers)
• Are Protein Bars Good For Breakfast (6 Things To Consider)
• 5 Protein Bar Alternatives That Are Cheaper & Healthier
• Protein Bars With The Most Protein (We Examined 200+ Bars)
• 10 Best Protein Bars Under 100 Calories
• 12 Best Protein Bars Under 200 Calories