Are Quest Protein Bars Healthy? Here’s Our Honest Review (2024)

Home Nutrition Are Quest Protein Bars Healthy? Here’s Our Honest Review

Are Quest Protein Bars Healthy? Here’s Our Honest Review (1)

Nutrition

It hits the sweet spot of low-cal, low-sugar, and high-protein.

  • Austin Letorney
  • February 14, 2024

My record for protein bars eaten in a single day is four. I’m not proud of it, nor do I recommend it. But when stuck on an eight hour train ride, I’d rather eat a protein bar than some soggy microwave pretzel, or a wilting BLT.

Especially if that protein bar is from Quest Nutrition.

Quest Nutrition Protein Bars were recommended to me by a friend and certified trainer because they’re everything you want in a protein bar. He said they’re low calorie, low sugar, taste great, and are packed with 18 to 20 grams of protein. I hate eating some sugar-bomb product when I’m rushing out the door, only to feel sick 20 minutes later. With Quest, I love how I stay full and have the energy to crush whatever workout comes my way.

What Are Quest Protein Bars?

Quest’s protein bars come from the same company that makes protein powders, shakes, and of course, my other favorite protein snack, protein chips. They’re the most convenient way for me to hit my protein goals for the day, and they actually taste good. I’ll eat them for breakfast if I’m on-the-go, before a workout for some quick fuel, or as a snack if I’m tired of munching on carrots.

Are Quest Bars healthy?

Generally speaking, yes, Quest Protein Bars are healthy. They come with a very low sugar load (1g), reasonable calorie count (190), and fairly robust fiber content to boot (13g). It’s a solid hold-me-over snack between meals, or right after a workout when your body is craving nourishment.

That said, it’s still a highly processed food and certainly can’t replace whole foods you might eat in a cooked meal. Its vitamin and nutrient profile are lacking, too. Quest Bars and other products like them are best for supplementing small gaps in a diet—not making up a significant cornerstone of one.

Taste and Texture

Hands down, my favorite flavor is cookies and cream. This flavor reminds me of a Hershey’s Cookies ‘N Creme chocolate bar and satisfies that candy itch without all the sugar. Quest has 18 other flavors to choose from like s’mores and oatmeal chocolate chip (my other go-tos) so I never get bored of the taste.

Most of the bars Quest offers are chewy and wrapped in chocolate, but they don’t get stuck in your teeth like Rx Bars do. There are “crunchy” options too, which have that crisp shell on the outside and soft chew on the inside.

Nutrition Facts (for cookies and cream flavor)

Serving Size

1 Bar

Fat

8g

Carbs

21g

Protein

21g

Sugar

1g (with 0g added sugar)

Protein

Quest Protein Bars range from 18 to 21 grams of protein depending on flavor. They use a blend of milk protein isolate and whey protein isolate, which both digest quickly and don’t upset my stomach. Plus, they fill me up fast and are perfect for muscle building and repair.

Sugar

With only one gram of sugar per bar (and zero added sugar), there’s nothing to complain about. A lot of bars on the market rely on sugar to keep you coming back for more—a typical protein bar can have more than 10 grams of added sugar. Not Quest. The brand uses a combination of stevia extract and sucralose, which are zero calorie sweeteners.

What’s more, they have just 150 to 200 calories per bar, around 23 grams of carbs, and under 10 grams of fat (dependent on flavor).

The Bottom Line

Quest Protein Bars hit the sweet spot of an ideal pre- or post-workout snack: they’re low in calories and sugar, but have about the same amount of protein in a protein shake. There are 19 flavors to choose from, but none of them include the garbage ingredients in many other brands’ bars. They keep me full and don’t mess up a perfect eating day.

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Are Quest Protein Bars Healthy? Here’s Our Honest Review (2024)

FAQs

Are Quest Protein Bars Healthy? Here’s Our Honest Review? ›

Are Quest Bars healthy? Generally speaking, yes, Quest Protein Bars are healthy. They come with a very low sugar load (1g), reasonable calorie count (190), and fairly robust fiber content to boot (13g). It's a solid hold-me-over snack between meals, or right after a workout when your body is craving nourishment.

Are Quest protein bars actually healthy? ›

Generally speaking, Quest protein bars can be a part of a complete and nutritious diet. They are a good source of protein and fiber and are low in sodium and sugar.

What is the Quest Bar lawsuit? ›

The lawsuit alleges that Quest Nutrition misleads consumers into thinking that their protein bars are made of natural ingredients when, in fact, they are not. The lawsuit also alleges that Quest Nutrition's claims of high protein content are inaccurate, as the bars contain lower levels of protein than advertised.

Do Quest Bars raise blood sugar? ›

Quest® Bars

Most of the carbohydrate in these bars comes from added fiber which can help to delay how quickly blood sugars rise. Although Quest is not a whole-food product, its nutritional breakdown can help to regulate blood sugars.

Can I eat a Quest bar every day? ›

A protein bar once in a while is fine but eating one every day could prevent you from getting essential nutrients. Even the healthiest protein bars are heavily processed and may lack some nutrients found in fruits and vegetables.

What to eat instead of protein bars? ›

Real Food Options
  • Lowfat yogurt and fruit.
  • Lowfat cottage cheese and fruit.
  • Snack size can of tuna and whole grain crackers.
  • Ready-to-eat whole grain cereal and milk.
  • Dried fruit and nut mix.
  • Whole grain bread spread with peanut or almond butter.
  • Hummus with vegetables or whole grain pita.
  • Homemade fruit smoothie.

What is the Quest Nutrition controversy? ›

A lawsuit claims Quest Nutrition misstated the amount of carbohydrates, fiber and calories in contains in its protein bars. The plaintiff claims there isn't 18 grams of fiber in one protein bar, but about 50 percent less than that.

What are the side effects of protein bars? ›

While they can keep sugar grams low, many have adverse effects on the body and can cause headaches, bloating, and gastrointestinal distress. You'll also want to take a look at the total calories in your protein bar.

What company owns Quest protein? ›

Quest Nutrition, a maker of protein bars ranked No. 2 on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest growing U.S. companies in 2014, was acquired on August 22 by Simply Good Foods Co. for $1 billion.

Do quest bars keep you in ketosis? ›

Many Quest protein bars are keto-friendly, containing 3–5 g of net carbs per bar. They are also higher in protein and lower in fat than some other keto-friendly bars. However, they do contain the artificial sweetener sucralose, which may be a downside for some.

What sweetener is used in Quest bars? ›

Sucralose is one of the ingredients used to give Quest Bars their sweet taste.

Are Quest bars actually healthy? ›

Generally speaking, yes, Quest Protein Bars are healthy. They come with a very low sugar load (1g), reasonable calorie count (190), and fairly robust fiber content to boot (13g). It's a solid hold-me-over snack between meals, or right after a workout when your body is craving nourishment.

Is protein bar good for belly fat? ›

Protein bars can aid in weight loss as they are convenient, high in protein, and can help control cravings. However, it's essential to choose bars with low sugar and carb content. Moderation is key and consuming them as part of a balanced diet may support fat loss.

Is it bad to eat protein bars when trying to lose weight? ›

While protein bars can be a convenient snack or meal replacement, it's recommended to consume them in moderation. One protein bar per day can be a reasonable option, but it's best to consult with a healthcare professional or registered dietitian to determine the right amount for your specific weight loss goals.

Do Quest protein bars build muscle? ›

Absolutely. Getting enough high-quality protein is critical to strength gains.

How much sugar is in a quest protein bar? ›

Supplement Facts
Amount Per Serving% Daily Value
Total Carbohydrate25 GM8%
Dietary Fiber14 GM56%
Sugars - <1 GMN/A*
ERYTHRITOL6 GMN/A*
12 more rows

Are kind protein bars healthy? ›

In 2015 KIND got a warning from the FDA to remove the word “healthy” from its labeling, as it didn't meet their standard for healthy. The FDA claimed that because the bars had more than 1 gram of saturated fat per serving, they couldn't be classified as "healthy."

Is Quest Protein Cookie healthy? ›

The biggest caveats of the Quest protein cookies are that they are very high in fat and, though they have less than 1 gram of sugar per serving, they are made with erythritol, a sugar alcohol. If you have a sensitive stomach, I'd suggest passing on these.

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