Players comparing protein servings
If you want a bar to eat during a gaming session, start with the protein amount in the whole bar, not just the wording on the wrapper. Bar sizes differ, so check the serving weight alongside the nutrition figures.
Who is choosing a bar?
Players with vegan or free-from requirements
Check claims for the exact flavour and pack. Vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free descriptions are separate considerations, and precautionary allergen statements may still matter.
Players comparing sugars as well as protein
If bars are a regular gaming snack, compare total sugars per bar and per 100g. Neither a protein claim nor “no added sugar” tells you the total-sugars figure.
What should you compare?
Start with the amount in the bar you would eat, then use per-100g figures to compare bars of different sizes.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Protein serving | Read protein per whole bar and the bar weight. Use per-100g values when comparing different portion sizes. | I want to know how much protein is in the snack I would actually eat, rather than relying on a front-of-pack claim. |
| Sugars and saturates | Compare total sugars and saturated fat per bar, then check per-100g values and any traffic-light labelling. | I want both figures before choosing a bar for regular sessions. In Action on Salt & Sugar’s November 2025 review of UK supermarket snack bars, 37% were classified as high in sugars and 55% as high in saturated fat under traffic-light thresholds. These are shares of bars reviewed, not shares of shoppers. |
| Portion and fibre | Check energy and fibre per bar alongside serving weight. Do not compare a 40g bar with a 55g bar as though the portions were identical. | A single bar is a convenient portion for me, but I still want to compare what each whole bar contains. |
| Diet and allergens | Check vegan or free-from claims for the exact product. Read ingredients, declared allergens and “may contain” statements on the current pack. | For a dietary requirement or allergy, the exact flavour and current pack matter more than a brand’s general range description. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming a protein claim describes the whole nutrition profile
Protein wording alone does not tell you the bar’s sugars, saturated fat or energy.
Read the figures for the whole bar. If portion sizes differ, compare per-100g figures as well.
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Reading “no added sugar” as “low sugar”
The nākd. Peanut Butter Protein Bar is described as having no added sugar, while its Tesco label lists 13g total sugars per 45g bar.
Use the total-sugars figure to compare it with another bar.
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Overlooking allergens in nut- and soya-based bars
Protein bars in this comparison have different declared ingredients and precautionary allergen statements. A vegan or gluten-free description does not replace an allergen check.
Read the ingredients and allergen statement for the exact flavour before buying or eating it.
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Relying on an older product listing
Nature Valley advises checking the pack because product ingredients and nutrition information can change.
Use online details to narrow your choices, then confirm the current pack where ingredients or dietary exclusions matter.
Brands and product lines to consider
Compare individual bars rather than applying a range-wide claim to every flavour.
TREK
TREK describes its protein-bar range as vegan and made with plant protein.
- TREK lists 15g protein, 15g fibre and 2.2g sugars per 55g High Protein Choc Caramel bar.
- That bar lists 5.2g saturated fat per serving and may contain cereals containing gluten, nuts, milk and sesame.
Nature Valley
Nature Valley’s 40g Protein Peanut & Chocolate and Salted Caramel Nut bars are described by the brand as providing around 10g protein and around 4g fibre per bar.
- The brand labels these Protein bars gluten free.
- The bars contain peanuts, soya and milk; check the exact flavour for other nuts and current pack details.
Eat Natural
Eat Natural has a nut-based protein-bar option with peanuts, almonds and salted caramel.
- Tesco lists 10.4g protein and 2.2g fibre per 40g Peanuts, Almonds & Salted Caramel bar.
- The same serving lists 7.9g sugars; check its peanut, almond, soya and milk-related allergen information.
nākd.
nākd. offers fruit-and-nut bars, including a Peanut Butter Protein Bar described as vegan, gluten free and dairy free.
- Tesco lists 7.6g protein and 6.8g fibre per 45g Peanut Butter Protein Bar.
- Its label lists 13g total sugars per bar despite the no-added-sugar description; check the pack for peanut and precautionary allergen information.
Graze
Graze has an Oat Boost flapjack range alongside its wider snack selection.
- Tesco describes the Graze Honey Oat Boost flapjack as high in fibre.
- If protein is your main priority, compare the exact flapjack’s protein figure with bars labelled as protein products.
Alpen
Alpen’s UK site presents its wholegrain muesli range.
- The site provides a starting point for identifying Alpen’s current range.
- For any Alpen bar you are considering, check that product’s own protein and ingredient information rather than applying muesli-range details to it.
Joybuy snack-bar options
These Joybuy listings cover Grenade Soft Core protein bars and Nature Valley Protein bars for an individually portioned gaming snack. Compare the stated pack size and check current nutrition and allergen details for the flavour you choose.
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Grenade Soft Core Double Chocolate Protein Bar, 12 × 50g
The 50g bars come in a pack of 12 for separately portioned snacks. Milk and soya are listed as allergen considerations; check the current pack if these affect your choice.
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Grenade Soft Core Golden Caramel Protein Bar, 12 × 50g
This listing offers 12 bars of 50g each. Milk and soya are listed as allergen considerations; confirm the ingredients and nutrition on the current pack.
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Grenade Soft Core Peanut Butter Protein Bar, 12 × 50g
The 12-pack contains 50g bars. Peanut, milk and soya are listed as allergen considerations, so inspect the exact pack before choosing this flavour.
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Nature Valley Protein Salted Caramel Nut Bar, 4 × 40g
Each bar is 40g; Nature Valley describes this flavour as providing around 10g protein and around 4g fibre per bar. It is labelled gluten free, but contains nuts, milk and soya; check the current pack.
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Nature Valley Protein Peanut & Chocolate Bar, 4 × 40g
Each 40g bar provides around 10g protein and around 4g fibre according to Nature Valley. The bar is labelled gluten free but contains peanuts, soya and milk; check the current pack for its full allergen statement.
Questions about protein snack bars
Does a protein claim mean a bar is low in sugars?
No. A protein claim does not establish the bar’s total sugars. Check the nutrition panel for the exact flavour, both per bar and per 100g if you are comparing different sizes.
Which label figures help compare bars for a gaming session?
Start with the whole bar’s weight, energy, protein, sugars, saturated fat and fibre, then check per-100g values when portions differ. The NHS explains that UK food labels give figures including energy, fat, saturates, carbohydrate, sugars, protein and salt.
Does “no added sugar” mean low total sugar?
No. Tesco lists 13g total sugars per 45g nākd. Peanut Butter Protein Bar despite its no-added-sugar description. Compare the total-sugars figure rather than treating the two statements as equivalent.
Can a protein bar stand in for a meal during a long session?
Do not assume a protein claim makes a bar a complete meal. The NHS Eatwell Guide describes balance across varied food groups over a day or week; a bar’s label lets you assess that particular snack, not everything else you eat.
What allergen checks matter when choosing a protein bar?
Read the exact current pack’s ingredients and “may contain” statement. Bars discussed here include products with peanuts, other nuts, soya or milk; TREK also states that its High Protein Choc Caramel bar may contain cereals containing gluten and sesame.