Power Protein Bar Showdown: Quest Bar Vs. Clif Builder’s Bar
Protein bars promise to help you build muscle, give you energy, and even replace meals entirely. But some of them are just glorified chocolate bars . Let’s take a look at how the two most popular choices, Quest Bars and Clif Builder’s Bars, stack up into one fight full of protein, knockdown and stretch.
Applicants
If you walk down the aisles at your local supermarket, supplement store, gas station, or convenience store, you will definitely see these two protein bar options next to each other on the shelf:
- Quest Bars : Manufactured by Quest Nutrition since 2010. They come in 21 different flavors, including Lemon Cream Pie, PB&J, Apple Pie, and Cream Cookies. One bar contains 20 g of protein. A box of 12 bars retails for $ 24.99.
- Clif Builder Bars : Made by Clif , creator of the long-popular Clif and Luna bars. Builder’s Bars come in seven different flavors, including crunchy peanut butter, chocolate hazelnut, and vanilla almond. One bar contains 20 g of protein. A box of 12 bars sells for $ 21.50.
They both taste pretty decent and have the same amount of protein, but there are many things that set them apart. Let’s take a look at what lies behind the shell of each of them, and dive into the main differences.
Both contain a lot of protein, but quest bars are more versatile.
The most important aspect of a protein bar is its composition, especially its nutritional value. While the Quest and Clif Builder bars contain 20 grams of protein – which is a lot given their serving size – one bar per day is not enough to meet the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) , or anywhere near an average of 0.36 grams of protein per pound. body weight of a sedentary adult should be received every day. This is not even enough to make most people feel full . In my case, I would have had to eat three bars to meet my daily requirement if I hadn’t gotten my protein elsewhere. And since I am currently weight training and preparing for the spring marathon, I really need to consume 0.57 to 0.76 grams of protein per pound of body weight. That gives me almost 122 grams of protein every day, which is six bars .
Nobody says you should eat six protein bars a day – please don’t. But in order to compare and make the best choice for you, you have to understand that the amount of protein in a protein bar is actually not the most important thing to look out for when you shop. Don’t just look at the big “20 g PROTEIN!” on the label and let’s say it’s better than another 18g protein bar. Regardless of the fact that you are going to get your protein from a protein bar, and the goal of most – even if they say otherwise – is not to replace food rich in protein. These are other things in the bar that you should take care of.
Here’s how the nutritional facts for one serving fit together (Quest / Clif Builder’s):
- Proteins: 20g / 20g
- Fat: 7 g (1 g sat) / 9 g (6 g sat)
- Total Carbohydrates: 23g / 29g
- Fiber: 14 g / 4 g (2 g dietary, 2 g insoluble)
- Sugar: 1g / 22g
- Calories: 170 (60 from fat) / 270 (80 from fat)
Keep in mind that these numbers may vary slightly depending on the flavor of the bar. And Quest Bars also contain 5g of erythritol , which is an FDA-approved sugar alcohol dietary supplement that they can list separately. However, when you look at the label, Quest Bars seem to be more balanced than Clif Builder’s Bars. They have less saturated fat, less carbs, more fiber, less sugar, fewer calories, and still contain the same 20 grams of protein. This makes it easy to include them in your meal plan when you’re exercising or trying to lose weight, and a better snack option if you want to increase your protein intake between meals. Clif Builder Bars are not “bad for your health,” but numbers do matter when you include supplements in your diet.
Quest bars have fewer ingredients, but Clif Builder bars are (mostly) organic and vegan-friendly.
You should also pay attention to where the protein in the bar comes from, as well as what makes the bar taste like a cinnamon bun, cookie, or cheesecake.
For example, quest panels contain :
Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Soluble Corn Fiber (Prebiotic Fiber), Almonds, Water, Erythritol, Natural Flavors, Palm Oil, Sea Salt, Cinnamon, Calcium Carbonate, Steviol Glycosides (Stevia).
For Processed Food Bar, Quest Bars contain surprisingly few ingredients. They’re gluten-free, and proteins are the same cheese by-products you’ll find in most protein shakes. Soluble corn fiber , which Quest says reduces net carbohydrate intake to 4 grams, is made by enzymatic hydrolysis of corn starch and is used in many other foods.
On the other hand, Clif Builder’s Bars contain :
Soy Protein Isolate, Beet Juice Concentrate, Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Organic Dried Cane Syrup, Palm Kernel Oil, Cocoa, Vegetable Glycerin, Unsweetened Chocolate, Organic Soy Protein Concentrate, Organic Sunflower Oil, Natural Flavors, Organic Almonds, Rice Starch, Syrup , organic oat fiber, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, inulin (chicory extract), calcium carbonate, sea salt, organic vanilla extract, beetroot powder (for color).
Builder’s Bars contains twice as many Quest Bars ingredients, so this can be alarming for some. But the more ingredients, the worse for you, even if some of them are heavily processed . In fact, Clif products use mostly organic ingredients and 70% of the ingredients they buy are certified organic . Builder’s Bars are gluten free, but their protein is sourced from soy, which means most flavors are vegan-friendly. No Quest Bar flavors are vegan-friendly due to their protein source.
Clif Builder bars are cheaper, but Quest has more flavors
If you’re still leaning towards Quest Bars, get ready. They can be nearly double the price of Clif Builder’s Bars, depending on where you shop. One serving of Quest Bar provides 60 grams of protein-rich food , priced between $ 2 and $ 3 per bar . Clif Builder Bars are 68 grams of food, priced between $ 1 and $ 2 per bar .
Without a doubt, buying in bulk is the cheapest option for both. However, if you only buy protein bars occasionally from a grocery store or cafe at the gym, both bars can be expensive, especially Quest Bars. If you are short on money, Builder’s Bars are for you. However, Quest has three times as many flavor options as Clif Builder’s Bars. If you want variety, there are sure to be plenty of flavors in Quest for you to enjoy.
Verdict: Quest bars won’t ruin your diet, but Clif Builder bars won’t ruin your wallet
In terms of nutrition, Quest Bars are slightly more efficient. Fewer calories, less sugar, and a lot of fiber means you can squeeze out one or two strips after exercise between your scheduled meals for the day without stress. The extra sugar and calories in Clif Builder’s Bars aren’t enough to avoid, but it’s not ideal when you have other options.
However, if you’re vegan or want a protein supplement without paying the premium, Clif Builder bars are a great alternative. And the bottom line: it all comes down to what you like the most. I personally find the taste and texture of Quest Bars to be more appealing, but if you like the taste and texture of Builder’s Bars more than Quest Bars (Builder’s Bars are more crunchy) then go for it. There is no point in giving up what you don’t like just because some numbers are slightly different. If you’re not sure where to start, I recommend trying Quest Bar with cinnamon rolls and Builder’s Bar with chocolate mint.