Consuming enough protein at the right times is crucial to muscle recovery, especially for athletes. It's not always easy to ensure you're getting enough protein though, which is where bars like these protein-packed options come in.
Make sure you're eating one within 30min of a hard effort to reap the most benefits, especially if you're doing some strength training to support your running programme.
We've picked out some of our favourite chocolatey protein bars for a post-session snack, if you're not a chocolate fan though, don't worry - most of these also come in a range of flavours to suit different tastes.
The best protein bars for runners
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This PhD protein bar aims to be both low sugar and high protein, with 20g protein and less than 2g sugar in each bar. With eight flavours to choose from, you should find one to suit your tastes - our personal favourite is the chocolate and peanut butter combo.
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The Grenade’s Carb Killa protein bar is known for its chocolate flavour. They are low in sugar and have 214 calories as well as 23g of protein so the perfect choice to keep you full and give you a boost of energy.
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Mars Hi-Protein bars are the perfect nostalgic sweet treat that’s now packed with protein. It is high-protein and low-carb, perfect for a quick snack.
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This protein bar is another tasty option from Mars with a nutty twist. For Snickers fans, this bar is packed with flavour and protein. It's the perfect bar for someone looking for a blend of familiar great taste and nutritional benefits.
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Quest is a key part of the protein bar industry. They have over 25 flavours for you to try out! Quest uses only natural ingredients and high-quality protein in its bars, and each bar only contains about one gram of sugar. These bars are high in fibre, meaning they'll keep you feeling fuller than some of the other options available out there.
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Battle Bites are a tasty protein snack containing 21g of high-quality protein necessary for muscular growth and repair. They come in a range of flavours not normally seen in the UK. They have a unique cake-like texture, with 3g of sugar, and only 110 calories. You’d struggle to find a more nutritious – or tasty – breakfast bar than this, in our humble opinion.
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With 20g of protein and a cookie-like texture, it’s no wonder the Musclepharm Combat Crunch Protein Bar is one of our favourites. These protein bars are low in sugar and high in fibre, making them a great option for a healthy snack in between meals. They also come in a variety of flavours.
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This protein bar has 22g of protein, making it one of the market leaders. Ideal for those looking for a high-protein diet, these bars keep you full in between meals while helping to keep your calories down. If that's not what you're after, they also provide a great supplementary protein hit after a session.
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This Optimum protein bar is similar to the Carb Killa Bar, but with a slightly different flavour and soft nougat layer supplying plenty of taste. These vegetarian protein bars have a hefty 20g of protein and a nice milk chocolate coating to make it a sweet treat.
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