Test MYPROTEIN protein bars

As a post-sport snack or a snack to break up long days, protein bars are a practical solution to promote your recovery or provide the nutrients and energy your body needs. As long as you check their nutritional composition. We munched on three MyProtein protein bars to meet our needs and desires. Verdict.

By Pierre-Maxime BRANCHE. Photos: 3bikes.fr and DR

An English company based in Manchester, MyProtein has been a specialist in sports nutrition since 2004. It offers a wide range of products from protein powders, vitamins, minerals, high protein foods, snacks and even clothing and accessories such as bags. It is not only aimed at athletes looking to gain mass. On the contrary, it targets all male and female, young and old, whether for weight loss, toning or resuming physical activity. With its vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, lactose-free and organic products, MyProtein is suitable for all diets..

Including protein in your daily diet is essential when exercising to build or maintain muscle mass.

Including protein in your daily diet is essential when you exercise to build or maintain muscle mass and even to lose weight. Often high in sugar and low in protein, snacks found in traditional stores, or even those you prepare at home, do not ideally meet your body's needs. This is where protein bars, designed for different times of the day (before or after exercise, meals or afternoon snacks), can offer you many advantages.tagin terms of time savings, nutritional efficiency, provided that the lowest possible sugar levels are favoured, and logistics.

For example, they allow:

– to ensure you have a good recovery and therefore a better reconmuscle building if you consume it within half an hour of your workout to benefit from its restructuring effect, which is an essential guarantee of progress;

– to transport them everywhere and consume them at any time, in any case more easily than a homemade snack or even a shaker which is already a great easy solution;

– finally, in addition to providing you with the energy and nutrients necessary for your body to function properly, their disparity in terms of flavors, textures, and formats is also a good way to break the monotony that can set in when we always consume the same products and, in some cases, can be considered a little pleasure, a well-deserved treat that we allow ourselves.

The Carb Crusher

Rich in 21g of milk and soy proteins, 20 essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamins C, B6, B12, iron and zinc to support immune function and reduce fatigue, this bar has a triple layer covered with a crispy puffed rice and is coated in milk chocolate. In addition to protein, it is composed of 8,2g of fat (of which 4,2g are saturates), 12g of carbohydrates (of which 2,7g are sugars), 11g of fibre and 0,46g of salt. Its energy intake: 212 kcal. We have it testée in its caramel and hazelnut flavor.

A texture that sticks to the teeth, not very tasty and gourmet, an impression of an old-fashioned protein bar, too chemical and not natural enough. Fortunately, the puffed rice brings a little crunch to enhance the tasting, as does the strong caramel taste that is there, we can't say the opposite, which is not the case with the hazelnut. Where is it? The format still allows for a good snack and quickly fills you up. A ration of 21 g of protein is not insignificant, but far too many saturated fatty acids: 4,2 g! And a high price.

Carb Crusher Vegan

The vegan version of the Carb Crusher also has three layers including a thin dark chocolate coating and a large crunchy cocoa bean on top. This 60g bar rich in vitamin E (an antioxidant to protect against cell damage) offers 15g of pea, soy and brown rice proteins, 8,4g of fat (of which 2,4g are saturated fat), 17g of carbohydrates (of which 1,8g are sugars), 11g of fibre and 0,37g of salt. Its energy intake: 217 kcal. We have it testée in its chocolate and sea salt flavor.

The texture crumbles in the mouth, which is not very pleasant. Very quickly, you no longer have the impression of biting into a bar, but rather of having a powder that mixes with saliva. Fortunately, the cocoa beans help with chewing by providing a slight crunch. It is visually the least appetizing bar of the three, the chocolate taste is not very natural and overall we experienced little pleasure in tasting it. There is less protein than in the other two, only 15 g for this 60 g bar, but it is the one that offers the least sugar and saturated fatty acids. Two good points nonetheless.

6 Layer Bar

As its name suggests, this 3rd bar offers a festival of six layers of flavors/textures including chocolate, white chocolate, melting caramel and protein puffed rice crumbs. In these 70 g, we find vitamin E (antioxidant) but also 20,5 g of milk and soy proteins for muscle growth and maintenance, 9,1 g of lipids (including 2,8 g of saturated fat), 18,2 g of carbohydrates (including 2,8 g of sugars), 9,6 g of fiber and 0,41 g of salt. Its energy intake: 255 kcal. We have it testée in its Chocolate Sundae flavor.

Frankly, these "six layers" scared us, but it's a nice surprise. Definitely the best of these three bars testées, by far the tastiest, the most delicious, the one we had the most fun with. The sugar is not that present in the mouth, we find a good chocolate taste, a little less caramel, a soft, even melting texture, but also the crunchiness of puffed rice. A thick, filling bar, which makes a good snack or a good after-sport snack. Not at all sickening, no chemical taste, the format is just right. Nutritionally, a good dose of protein, a little too much sugar and on the limit of acceptable saturated fatty acids: 2,8 g is starting to be a lot for a 70 g bar.

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