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 are just glorified candy bars. Let’s see how two of the most popular options, Quest Bars and Clif Builder’s Bars, stack up in a head-to-head, protein-packed, knock-down, drag-out bout.

The Contenders

If you stroll down the aisles of your local supermarket, supplement store, gas station, or convenience store, you’re bound to see these two protein bar options sitting next to each other on the shelf:

• Quest Bars: Made by Quest Nutrition since 2010. They come in 21 different flavors, including Lemon Cream Pie, PB & J, Apple Pie, and Cookies & Cream. One bar contains 20g of protein. A box of 12 bars retails for $24.99.
• Clif Builder’s Bars: Made by Clif, the maker’s 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 20g of protein. A box of 12 bars retails for $21.50.

They both taste pretty decent and offer the same amount of protein, but there’s plenty that sets them apart. Let’s see what’s under the wrapper of each one and sink our teeth into the major differences.

Both Pack In the Protein, but Quest Bars Are More Versatile

The most important aspect of a protein bar is what’s in it, especially the nutrition values. While both Quest and Clif Builder’s bars contain 20g of protein—which is a lot considering their serving size—one bar a day isn’t enough to meet your recommended dietary allowance (RDA), or anywhere near the average of 0.36 grams of protein per pound of body weight a sedentary adult should get each day. It isn’t even enough to make most people feel full. In my case, I would have to eat three bars to meet my RDA if I wasn’t getting protein elsewhere. And because I’m currently weight training and working up to run a marathon in the spring, I actually need to consume 0.57 to 0.76 grams protein per pound of body weight. That puts me at almost 122 grams of protein every day, which is six bars.

Now, nobody is saying you should eat six protein bars a day—please don’t. But in order to compare and make the best choice for you, you need to realize that the amount of protein in a protein bar isn’t actually the most important thing to look at when you’re shopping around. Don’t just look at the big “20g OF PROTEIN!” on the label and assume it’s better than another bar with 18g of protein. No matter what, you’re going to get protein from a protein bar, and the goal of most—even if they say otherwise—isn’t to replace a protein-rich meal. It’s the other stuff in the bar you should be concerned with.

Here’s how the the nutrition facts for a single serving stack up against each other (Quest/Clif Builder’s):

• Protein: 20g / 20g
  
• Fat: 7g (1g saturated) / 9g (6g saturated)
  
• Total Carbohydrates: 23g / 29g
  
• Fiber: 14g / 4g (2g dietary, 2g insoluble)
  
• Sugar: 1g / 22g
  
• Calories: 170 (60 from fat) / 270 (80 from fat)
  

Keep in mind, these numbers can vary slightly depending on the bar’s flavor. And Quest Bars also have 5g of Erythritol, which is an FDA-approved sugar alcohol food additive they can list separately. Still, just by looking at the label, Quest Bars appear to be more balanced than Clif Builder’s Bars. They have less saturated fat, fewer carbs, more fiber, less sugar, fewer calories, and still pack in the same 20g of protein. This makes them easier to squeeze into a meal plan when you’re training or trying to lose weight, and a better snacking option if you want a protein boost in between meals. Clif Builder’s Bars aren’t “unhealthy,” but numbers matter when you’re including supplements in a diet.

Quest Bars Have Fewer Ingredients, but Clif Builder’s Bars Are (Mostly) Organic and Vegan-Friendly

You should also pay attention to where a bar’s protein is coming from, as well what makes the bar taste like a cinnamon roll, cookie, or cheesecake.

For example, Quest Bars 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 a processed nutrition bar, Quest Bars contain surprisingly few ingredients. They’re gluten-free, and the proteins are the same cheesemaking byproducts you’d find in most protein shakes. The soluble corn fiber, which Quest says reduces your net carb intake to 4g, is made through enzymatic hydrolysis of corn starch and is used in a lot of other food products.

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, Dried Cane Syrup, Organic Oat Fiber, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Inulin (Chicory Extract), Calcium Carbonate, Sea Salt, Organic Vanilla Extract, Beet Powder (for Color).

Builder’s Bars have more than double the ingredients of Quest Bars, so that might set alarm bells ringing for some. But more ingredients doesn’t mean it’s worse for you, even if some are highly processed. In fact, Clif products use mostly organic ingredients, and 70% of the ingredients they purchase are certified organic. Builder’s Bars aren’t gluten-free, but their protein comes from soy, meaning most flavors are vegan-friendly. No Quest Bar flavors are vegan-friendly because of their protein source.

Clif Builder’s Bars Are Cheaper, but Quest Has More Flavors

If you’re leaning toward Quest Bars so far, brace yourself. They can be almost twice the price of Clif Builder’s Bars depending on where you shop. A single Quest Bar serving is 60 total grams of protein-rich food for $2 to $3 a bar. Clif Builder’s Bars are 68 total grams of food for $1 to $2 a bar.

Buying in bulk is the cheapest option for both, without a doubt. If you only occasionally buy protein bars from the store or the cafe at your gym, however, both bars can be pricey, especially Quest Bars. If you’re strapped for cash, Builder’s Bars are the way to go. That said, Quest has three times as many flavor options as Clif Builder’s Bars. If you want variety, Quest is bound to have more than a few flavors you’ll enjoy.

The Verdict: Quest Bars Won’t Ruin Your Diet, but Clif Builder’s Bars Won’t Ruin Your Wallet

From a nutritional standpoint, Quest Bars are slightly more efficient. Fewer calories, less sugar, and lots of fiber mean you can squeeze a post-workout bar or two in between your planned meals for the day without stressing. The extra sugar and calories in Clif Builder’s Bars isn’t so much that they should be avoided, but it isn’t ideal when you have other options.

That said, if you’re vegan or want a protein supplement without paying premium prices, Clif Builder’s Bars are a fine alternative. And bottom line: it really comes down to the one you enjoy eating the most. I personally find the taste and texture of Quest Bars more appealing, but if you like the taste and texture of Builder’s Bars more than Quest Bars (Builder’s Bars are crunchier), go with that. There’s no point in choking down something you don’t like just because some numbers are a bit different. If you’re not sure where to start, I recommend giving the cinnamon roll Quest Bar and chocolate mint Builder’s Bar a try.

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/E87oGfHTNPc/power-protein-bar-showdown-quest-bar-vs-clif-builder-1789653987