People choosing a snack between meals
Compare the calories for a complete bar with its protein and sugar amounts. A prominent protein claim does not tell you how many calories the afternoon snack contains.
Who is this choice for?
People looking for a particular protein amount
Decide whether a smaller bar with 15 g protein meets your needs or whether you would prefer one of the 20–21 g examples. Check the calories alongside that difference.
People checking ingredients or dietary suitability
Read the label for the exact flavour if allergens, gelatine, sweeteners or polyols affect your choice. These details differ between bars.
What should you compare?
Start with the values for one complete bar, then check the ingredient list for anything that changes whether you would choose or eat it.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Calories per bar | Check kcal for the whole bar and its stated weight, not just values per 100 g. Barebells UK lists 190 kcal per 55 g Cookies & Cream bar; Tesco lists 194 kcal per 40.4 g Myprotein Vanilla wafer and 208 kcal per 60 g Grenade Cookie Dough bar. | I want an afternoon portion whose full-bar calorie figure fits the range I have chosen. |
| Protein amount | Compare grams of protein for the same complete serving used for calories. Barebells UK lists 20 g for Cookies & Cream; Tesco lists 15 g for Myprotein Vanilla wafer and 21 g for Grenade Cookie Dough. | A smaller wafer with 15 g may be enough for my snack, or I may prefer to compare bars listing 20–21 g. |
| Sugar and sweeteners | Read sugars per bar and the ingredient list separately. Tesco lists 1.2 g sugar but 250 kcal for the 64 g PhD Chocolate Brownie bar, and 17 g polyols for Grenade Cookie Dough. | If sugar matters to me, I still want to check calories and whether the listed sweeteners suit me. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the current label for the exact flavour, including precautionary allergen statements and gelatine. Tesco states that its Myprotein Vanilla wafer is not suitable for vegetarians. | I need to know that the particular bar meets my ingredient and dietary requirements before I buy a pack. |
What is easy to overlook?
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Assuming low sugar means fewer calories
For the named products, Tesco lists 250 kcal and 1.2 g sugar per 64 g PhD Chocolate Brownie bar, compared with 208 kcal and 1.4 g sugar per 60 g Grenade Cookie Dough bar. The sugar figure does not establish which bar has fewer calories.
Compare kcal per complete bar first, then use the sugar figure for a separate decision.
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Overlooking polyols and pack warnings
Tesco lists 17 g polyols per Grenade Cookie Dough bar. Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust explains that some polyols can cause wind and bloating; the effect is relevant when deciding whether an ingredient suits you.
Read the ingredient list and any excessive-consumption warning before choosing a multipack.
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Judging dietary suitability by the flavour name
A flavour name cannot tell you everything in a bar. Tesco states that Myprotein Vanilla Crispy Wafer contains hydrolysed beef gelatine and is not suitable for vegetarians.
Check the current pack for ingredients, allergens and precautionary statements for the exact flavour.
Brand and retailer references
These examples describe particular bars or published ranges, not every product sold under a brand name.
Barebells
Barebells UK lists its Cookies & Cream bar at 190 kcal and 20 g protein per 55 g bar.
- The brand states that this flavour has no added sugar.
- Check its current sweetener, allergen and excessive-consumption information; no added sugar does not mean no calories.
Grenade
Tesco lists 21 g protein, 208 kcal and 1.4 g sugar for one 60 g Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough bar.
- The same panel lists 17 g polyols per bar, making the sweetener information available for comparison.
- Those figures belong to Cookie Dough; check the panel for any other Grenade flavour or format.
PhD
Tesco lists 21 g protein, 1.2 g sugar and 250 kcal per 64 g Smart Chocolate Brownie bar.
- The named bar offers a way to compare a low sugar figure with its full-bar calorie figure.
- Its listing carries an excessive-consumption laxative-effect warning; check the current pack.
Myprotein
Tesco lists 194 kcal and 15 g protein for the 40.4 g Vanilla Crispy Wafer.
- The smaller wafer format gives shoppers a different portion and protein amount to compare with the named bars.
- Tesco states that this wafer is not suitable for vegetarians because it contains hydrolysed beef gelatine.
Quest
Quest advertises 20–21 g protein across its protein-bar range.
- Its range information can help identify flavours to examine more closely.
- Use the nutrition and ingredient panel for the exact bar when comparing calories or dietary suitability.
Tesco
Tesco is a retailer whose listings provide nutrition panels for several of the named bars, rather than a single protein-bar formula.
- Its listings allow per-bar nutrition values for specific flavours and sizes to be compared.
- Tesco advises reading the current product label because recipes, nutrition and allergen details can change.
Protein bars on Joybuy
These Grenade multipacks offer different flavours and bar sizes for an afternoon snack. Compare the nutrition panel for the exact flavour and one whole bar before choosing between them.
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Grenade Soft Core Double Chocolate, 12 × 50 g
For an afternoon snack, compare the calories and protein for one 50 g Double Chocolate bar. Check its current ingredients and allergen information before choosing the 12-bar pack.
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Grenade Soft Core Golden Caramel, 12 × 50 g
Use the full 50 g Golden Caramel bar as the serving when comparing afternoon-snack options. Review the flavour’s nutrition panel and ingredients before selecting the 12-bar pack.
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Grenade Soft Core Peanut Butter, 12 × 50 g
Compare energy and protein for one 50 g Peanut Butter bar, not the whole 12-bar pack. Check the exact flavour’s allergen declarations and ingredients before buying.
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Grenade High Protein Low Sugar Oreo Flavour, 4 × 60 g
This pack contains four 60 g bars. Check calories, protein and sugar for one Oreo Flavour bar separately: the product name alone does not establish its calorie figure.
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Grenade High Protein Low Sugar White Chocolate Salted Peanut Flavour, 12 × 60 g
Compare the nutrition values for one 60 g White Chocolate Salted Peanut Flavour bar when planning an afternoon snack. Read the exact flavour’s ingredient and allergen label before choosing the 12-bar pack.
Common questions
Does low sugar mean a protein bar has fewer calories?
No. Check kcal for the complete bar. Tesco lists 1.2 g sugar but 250 kcal for a 64 g PhD Smart Chocolate Brownie bar, while Barebells UK lists 190 kcal for its 55 g Cookies & Cream bar.
How much protein should I look for in an afternoon bar?
Choose an amount that suits the role of your snack, then compare the calories for the same serving. Tesco lists 15 g protein for Myprotein Vanilla Crispy Wafer and 21 g for Grenade Cookie Dough; Barebells UK lists 20 g for Cookies & Cream. More protein alone does not settle the calorie comparison.
What should I check about sweeteners and polyols?
Read the ingredient list, the amount of polyols where stated and any pack warning. Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust explains that some polyols can cause wind and bloating. A sweetener or low-sugar claim does not tell you the calories for the whole bar.
How do I check whether a bar meets my dietary requirements?
Read the current label for the exact flavour, including its ingredients and precautionary allergen statements. Tesco states that Myprotein Vanilla Crispy Wafer contains hydrolysed beef gelatine and is not suitable for vegetarians; another flavour or product needs its own check.
Can I rely on an online nutrition listing alone?
Use the listing to compare specific bars, then read the label on the pack you receive. Tesco advises this because recipes, nutrition and allergen information can change.