As the title of this guide suggests, I’m sharing my go-to protein bars and why I love this brand so much.
But first, I want to share that I was not paid to promote this brand and I don’t make a dime off of recommending these bars to you.
In fact, how I came across them is because I actually write for their blog.
Before writing for them though, I tried their bars on my own and they were delicious.
So I was beyond stoked when the owner got in touch and asked me to write for their blog.
I’ve been doing that since November 2019 and recently they asked if I’d like to try some more bars out.
I was so shocked and grateful that they offered to do that and it made me fall in love with the brand even more.
But it wasn’t just the sweet gesture that gave me this reaction — it’s what’s inside these bars that really weighed heavy.
Because I liked the bars so much, I decided to write this review on them.
So, to be clear, no one asked me to do this and I’m not going to make money off of this post.
I’m genuinely sharing why these protein bars are so great (and delicious) and why I plan to keep using these as my go-to option.
With that out of the way, let’s dive into my favorite protein bars.
My Favorite Protein Bars and Why I Love Them
The protein bars I’m loving right now are from a company called Rise bars, which is out of California.
The company started in 2010 when owner Pete Spenuzza decided to develop a high-quality protein bar that could help people reach their goals using simple whole-food ingredients and a solid boost of nutrition.
He named them Rise bars so that they could give people the power to rise above and achieve their dreams one step at a time, according to their website.
While I love the story behind the brand, it’s what’s inside these bars that really matters to me.
Limited Whole-Food Ingredients You Can Actually Pronounce
In most flavors, there’s less than five whole-food ingredients inside each bar, which you cannot say about most protein bars on the market.
Part of the reason why I stopped eating protein bars is because of their ingredient list.
If you’ve ever turned the package around to see the ingredient list, it’s usually filled with unpronounceable ingredients, most of which are probably chemicals.
The ingredient list is also gigantic and way more filled than it should be.
But this isn’t the case with Rise bars.
In less than 15 seconds, you can scan the list of ingredients, you’ll most likely recognize each one, and you won’t be left scratching your head wondering what you’re about to eat.
Their bars are non-gmo, soy-free, gluten-free, grain-free, and they don’t contain artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols, which the latter both affect and upset my stomach (hello bloating).
It’s these reasons that led me to pick up Rise bars in the grocery store long before I started writing for them.
But it’s not just the ingredients that have kept me going back for more.
They Have Just the Right Amount of Protein
I also like their macronutrient breakdown and their flavors.
In many protein bars, the protein amount is either far too low — I’m talking like 2-3g or maybe 6g — and others are too high — 30g+.
I felt like Goldilocks trying to find the perfect protein amount in other bars.
Many of the low protein bars are high in calories so I would dump in a bunch of calories without feeling sustained for more than 20 minutes.
And with the higher protein bars, these would serve as a meal replacement in theory — because they were so high in protein — but mentally it just didn’t do it for me.
So while I ate a high amount of protein, mentally I’d still feel hungry and needed to eat within an hour or so.
With these Rise bars though, the protein amount is just right.
I can eat them as a snack to hold me over between meals or if I’m on-the-go and they don’t have so much protein that I can’t eat a meal too close together.
I really think they’re perfect since they clock in around 15-20g of protein per bar.
They also use high-quality protein — both plant-based and whey protein isolate — which is why I don’t feel hungry after eating them, unlike other bars on the market.
So even if you don’t like dairy, you can still enjoy these bars and, if you do eat dairy, the whey protein isolate is a great protein source.
And if that wasn’t enough, the flavors are incredible!
Rise Bars Taste Ah-mazing
The other good news with Rise bars is that they don’t make a bad flavor. They’re all as delicious as they sound and it’s hard to choose a favorite.
Here are some of the flavors they offer, along with their ingredient list and protein breakdown:
Snicker Doodle (Yes, like the delicious cookie)
This Snicker Doodle flavor has 20g of protein and just five simple (and delicious) ingredients. So it’s like eating a cookie without the sugar crash.
Chocolatey Coconut
This bar is as delicious as it sounds — chocolate and coconut, what could be better? Plus, you get 15g of protein so it keeps you satisfied on top of being delicious.
Lemon Cashew
This is the protein bar flavor I tried before joining the Rise bar team and it was heavenly. I love the mix of lemon, coconut, and cashews, and since it uses pea protein, you get a whopping 15g of protein per bar.
Mint Chip
Similar to Snicker Doodle, this Mint Chip flavor gives you a taste of the flavors you love and are used to without dumping too much sugar into your system. With five ingredients and 15g of protein, you can feel good about what you’re eating and satisfy the craving.
Chocolatey Almond
This delicious protein bar can be compared to having a peanut butter cup in protein bar form. Of course, it’s an almond butter version but it’s just as delicious. Only four ingredients and 17g of protein, making it a better option than a traditional peanut butter cup.
Sunflower Cinnamon
I haven’t tried this flavor yet but it sounds awesome. I’m a huge fan of sunflower seeds, coconut, cinnamon, and vanilla, so I’m sure it’s another standout flavor.
Cacao Banana
This is another flavor that I haven’t tried yet but can’t wait to get my hands on it ASAP. It sounds delicious!
Almond Honey
This one has 20g of protein and only three simple ingredients (almonds, honey, whey protein) as the image mentions.
A surprising favorite of mine is their Mocha Almond protein bar.
I’m normally not someone who enjoys coffee-flavored foods — like ice cream or candies — but this one changed my mind.
It has 25mg of caffeine from 100% Arabica coffee which is the perfect amount for me.
If I drink coffee, I do decaf usually with an occasional top off of regular coffee just to have a small amount of caffeine.
I feel like these Mocha Almond protein bars are just that. I get a bit of caffeine without overdoing it and feeling the negative side effects of the caffeine.
Sometimes I’ll be fine just eating half of the bar and saving the rest for later.
I really feel like it’s the perfect amount.
Mocha Almond
Another point here when it comes to taste is their texture.
Some protein bars I’ve tried are chalky tasting or leave a weird aftertaste altogether. And some are just plain hard to get through.
You won’t find those texture or taste issues with these bars. They’re soft and chewy and because there’s no chemical ingredients or artificial sweeteners, they don’t leave any awkwardness in your mouth.
Where Can You Find Rise Bars?
I had no trouble finding Rise bars at my local grocery store (Publix for all of my south Florida readers) but they can also be purchased online through Amazon or directly through their site. Amazon offers free Prime shipping and their website offers free shipping for first-time orders when you sign up for their email list.
They also sell them at some Costco’s but I think it’s only in the California region right now.
Final Thoughts on Rise Bars
I love these bars so much that I always keep one on hand in my purse so that I’m never without a healthy option on-the-go.
Whether or not you’ll like them, I can’t say for sure but I’m pretty certain you will.
The flavors are great, the texture is perfect, and the ingredients inside are real which makes them taste ah-mazing.
And with the right amount of protein, they’re great for holding you over between meals.
Over to you now — have you tried these delicious protein bars? And, if not, will you after reading this review?
Remember, I’m not paid to share this info with you — I truly love them and the brand and I think you will too!
Sending you a healthy snack option that’s packed with protein, flavor, and healthy goodness,
Devan