What's your preferred post-workout protein bar?

[Louis]

This is for when you want something right away, but don't have time to have "real" food in the 15-30 minute after exercise nutrition window.

Lately I've been having Clif Builder's bars, but they have more sugar than I'd really like (e.g. 21g sugar in a 280 cal, chocolate peanut butter bar, which has 20g of protein) so I'm considering alternatives.

Lots of folks seem to like Quest bars, but I'm having a hard time digesting the $2 / bar price, vs $1.5 for the Clif.

Thanks

[Cicli]

This.

[RacerJRP]

Lately i've been using "ONE Protein Bars". 200 calories give-or-take, 20g protein (whey/ soy blend), low sugar, good fiber and taste decent enough. cost is $1.79 at the gas station.

[dbnm]

RX Bars... yum

[RacerJRP]

RX Bars... yum

Have had these twice, and both times I had nasty bloat and stomach cramp issues within 60 minutes. Odd for a bar that basically has nothing in it...

[JAGI410]

Zone Perfect bars from Costco.

[kppolich]

The sugar alcohol is what is making y'all bloated and gassy and it's not any healthier for you than regular sugar either.

Find something a little lower in sugar such as: Clif Bar Whey Protein Salted Caramel Cashew
https://www.ebay.com/itm/52x-Clif-Whey-Protein-Bars-Salted-Caramel-Cashew-1-98oz-See-Details/273425381493?_trkparms=aid%3D555017%26algo%3DPL.CA SSINI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20150817211709%26meid%3D20a 7f5d2df604a478ef41e5593654c94%26pid%3D100506%26rk% 3D1%26rkt%3D1%26%26itm%3D273425381493&_trksid=p2045573.c100506.m3226

[Dougb]

I’ve always been a sucker for tiger bars.

[Mr. Pink]

After realizing that I was just eating a glorified candy bar every time I chewed up a Clif, I started a quest for a low to no sugar bar (I don't want sugar in anything, because sugar is in everything, and I don't want any more, know what I mean?). I landed upon the ThinkThin bars, which have zero sugar and 20g protein. Taste OK. Whole Foods has them.

[Louis]

After realizing that I was just eating a glorified candy bar every time I chewed up a Clif, I started a quest for a low to no sugar bar (I don't want sugar in anything, because sugar is in everything, and I don't want any more, know what I mean?). I landed upon the ThinkThin bars, which have zero sugar and 20g protein. Taste OK. Whole Foods has them.

See below for Think Thin Lemon Delight ingredient list.

Maltitol is a sugar alcohol. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maltitol

INGREDIENTS: PROTEIN BLEND (SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE, CALCIUM CASEINATE), COATING (MALTITOL, PALM KERNEL OIL, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, SOY LECITHIN, SALT, NATURAL FLAVOR), MALTITOL, GLYCERIN, SOY CRISPS (SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, TAPIOCA STARCH), ALMONDS, SUNFLOWER OIL, WATER, NATURAL FLAVOR, SUNFLOWER LECITHIN, SEA SALT, ASCORBIC ACID, CITRIC ACID.

[joosttx]

Rx bars are really good. Seem to be made of quality products, However I domt eat after workout. Imstead I eat them some a snack or part of breakfast

[jtbadge]

pizza.

[nooneline]

This is for when you want something right away, but don't have time to have "real" food in the 15-30 minute after exercise nutrition window.

Lately I've been having Clif Builder's bars, but they have more sugar than I'd really like (e.g. 21g sugar in a 280 cal, chocolate peanut butter bar, which has 20g of protein) so I'm considering alternatives.

Lots of folks seem to like Quest bars, but I'm having a hard time digesting the $2 / bar price, vs $1.5 for the Clif.

Thanks

This is when I eat a hard boiled egg.

[Tandem Rider]

Chocolate milk, really, just walk in, pour a glass, drink it, go shower.

[Alan]

I really like the chocolate flavor. If you buy in the canister it is not too pricey.

https://shop.guenergy.com/products/recovery-drink-mix?variant=11815005953

Alan

[kppolich]

I really like the chocolate flavor. If you buy in the canister it is not too pricey.

https://shop.guenergy.com/products/recovery-drink-mix?variant=11815005953

Alan

25g of sugar per serving looks like this. There has been alot going around the last few years about replacing what you lost with a 3:1 ratio of Carbs:Protein, but dang, that is alot of sugar when you look at it. Which is probably why it's so tasty!
https://cdn.insteading.com/wp-content/uploads/igm/f/sugar-8-600x524.png

[Lewis Moon]

Because my wonderful wife is a late sleeper, on Sundays she is usually fixing her breakfast when I get home from my "long" ride.

https://i.sozcu.com.tr/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/iecrop/peynirliomlet_16_9_1522930702.jpg

[gdw]

Do you eat dairy products? If yes try Greek yogurt. Oikos Triple Zero has 15 grams of protein in a 5.3oz 110 calorie serving. 6 grams of sugar.

[gdw]

Another option is to make your own. Do a basic Google search on homemade protein bars. There are lots of easy recipes, some don't require baking, for vegetarians and vegans on the web.

[tlittlefield]

If you are looking for something high in protein, powder is the way to go. This is what I have been using https://shop.sixstarpro.com/products/casein-protein.htm

Very good tasting and zero sugar.

[ChainNoise]

Chocolate milk, really, just walk in, pour a glass, drink it, go shower.

This, but sometimes I don't even have anything until an hour or so after. I can't ride until I get home from work in the evening, and after I get back from a ride I usually try to spend as much time with my son as I can until he goes to bed.

[Mikej]

I thought the general consensus was to eat carbs after a ride within a 20 minute window? I usually have a coke and a ham and cheese if I'm at home. Out on the road I drink First Endurance ULTRAGEN which I think is freaking fantastic. I have had a few boxes of PRO MEAL BARS and like the taste.

[John H.]

Same for those ONE Protein Bars, artificial sweetener and some crappy oils.

See below for Think Thin Lemon Delight ingredient list.

Maltitol is a sugar alcohol. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maltitol

INGREDIENTS: PROTEIN BLEND (SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE, CALCIUM CASEINATE), COATING (MALTITOL, PALM KERNEL OIL, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, SOY LECITHIN, SALT, NATURAL FLAVOR), MALTITOL, GLYCERIN, SOY CRISPS (SOY PROTEIN ISOLATE, TAPIOCA STARCH), ALMONDS, SUNFLOWER OIL, WATER, NATURAL FLAVOR, SUNFLOWER LECITHIN, SEA SALT, ASCORBIC ACID, CITRIC ACID.

[Louis]

Another option is to make your own. Do a basic Google search on homemade protein bars. There are lots of easy recipes, some don't require baking, for vegetarians and vegans on the web.

If I can't find anything that seems to beat the Clif Builder's bars I may try this out. (as long as I don't have to use the oven...)

[Louis]

I thought the general consensus was to eat carbs after a ride within a 20 minute window?

https://www.mensjournal.com/food-drink/best-post-workout-foods/1-greek-yogurt/

It all comes down to the carbohydrates and protein,” says Manuel Villacorta, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. “They’re the two key things your body needs—and right after you work out is when your blood circulates best.” If your main goal is to build muscle, try to eat at least 30g of protein and 30-35g of carbs within about 15 minutes of your workout. If you’re just trying to stay in shape or shed a few pounds, you can take your time and eat within 45 minutes or an hour after your workout.

[pdonk]

Consider this an "ad".

My wife works in marketing and is working on a meat based protein bar.

I have a few cases at home of bars that are under or over weight and can't be sold.

Sample bars are free for postage from Toronto.

As for me, I can't eat anything with pea or bean proteins, they kill my stomach. My post ride refuel is typically a sandwich or a grilled chicken breast or steak to level out the sugars I've consumed.

[Mikej]

https://www.mensjournal.com/food-drink/best-post-workout-foods/1-greek-yogurt/

I get all of my fitness information from Mens Journal...

[Louis]

I get all of my fitness information from Mens Journal...

That was an example, and merely one of the first things that came up when I did a Google search. Plenty of other resources say the same thing about protein + carbs after exercise.

Edit: If you don't believe it, then do whatever you like.

[dddd]

MetRX bar with a quart of water was my go-to for many years, back when the bars were of uniform consistency with no coating.
Their current bars all seem to have chip-bits on the mix or coating, which to me seems like a big step backward from the original that was so easy to eat after a race or hard training ride.

Post-ride refuel at the coffee shop for me is a big cup of milk with a few ounces of coffee and a bit of sugar or honey mixed in. The cost is the $2-3.00 cup of coffee and no more.

[macaroon]

They're a waste of time, unless you're not getting enough protein via the rest of your diet.

If you've had a long, hard ride then some post ride sugars are a good idea. Otherwise, don't worry about it.

[Louis]

They're a waste of time, unless you're not getting enough protein via the rest of your diet.

If you've had a long, hard ride then some post ride sugars are a good idea. Otherwise, don't worry about it.

I did some Googling and it appears that it is indeed a muddy situation.

This was interesting:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3577439/

[Mr. Pink]

This, but sometimes I don't even have anything until an hour or so after. I can't ride until I get home from work in the evening, and after I get back from a ride I usually try to spend as much time with my son as I can until he goes to bed.

Hmmmmm........how long is your ride?

[Ozz]

Post ride it is usually a smoothie: ice, almond milk, chocolate protein powder, peanut butter powder and a banana. Blend in Vitamix on "smoothie" setting....

There was a recent thread on post ride drinks where this was discussed.....

Sometimes I have steel cut oats, but they take about 20 mins to make....

Sometimes a couple fried eggs....

[93KgBike]

This is for when you want something right away, but don't have time to have "real" food in the 15-30 minute after exercise nutrition window.

Lately I've been having Clif Builder's bars, but they have more sugar than I'd really like (e.g. 21g sugar in a 280 cal, chocolate peanut butter bar, which has 20g of protein) so I'm considering alternatives.

Lots of folks seem to like Quest bars, but I'm having a hard time digesting the $2 / bar price, vs $1.5 for the Clif.

Thanks

Protein bars get there protein from flours. You could buy wheat, rice or quinoa flour from someplace like Bob's Red Mill (https://www.bobsredmill.com) and add it to a mug of oatmeal. Takes a minute or two to prepare hot, or you can pre-make and flavor to eat cold.

[Dracarys]

Chocolate milk, really, just walk in, pour a glass, drink it, go shower.Same here. I drink a glass while doing some stretching. Then it's off to the shower.

[54ny77]

one that serves wings, preferably dry rub, and cold bud light.

https://i.pinimg.com/236x/e0/09/38/e00938a7bb94fb39f5c27f40edd3c08c--comic-book-beer.jpg

[John H.]

I just received an email from Bonk Breaker- They have a new bar- 190 calories, 15g of protein, and no manitol.