4 Best Meal Replacement Bars for Weight Loss

As the name suggests, meal replacement bars are marketed as a simple and healthy stand-in to eating a typical meal. They can be a convenient option for busy people on the go, but many people turn to them to help with weight loss since these bars tend to contain fewer calories than most traditional breakfast, lunch and dinner options.  

How do I find the best meal replacement bars?

Meal replacement bars can be an effective and efficient way to reduce calories in their diets and lose weight. While not recommended as a long term weight loss solution, there are certain bars that can be helpful in weight loss in the short term without compromising healthier long term weight loss goals. 

The Noom team has compiled a list of meal replacement bars for weight loss that may help you drop unwanted pounds without excluding a lot of the necessary nutrients that are needed to maintain good health.  

1. The PROBAR Almond Crunch

The PROBAR Almond Crunch meal replacement bar for weight loss is ideal for anyone with food allergies or lifestyle food restrictions. Vegetarians, vegans, and those who are gluten free can also enjoy this bar because it contains no gluten or ingredients derived from animals. This bar works as a filling and energizing breakfast or lunch replacement but probably doesn’t have enough calories, protein, and other benefits to serve as a proper stand in for dinner. 

Instead of skipping meals throughout your busy class or work day, plant-based protein bars with loads of natural ingredients like this can help you maintain a balanced diet and prevent you from overeating by the time you get a chance to sit down for a regular meal. 

Nutritional snapshot: 

• 18 grams of fat
• 48 grams of carbohydrates
• 6 grams of fiber
• 19 grams of sugar
• 9 grams of protein
• 370 calories

Ingredients: 

Tapioca syrup, oats, dates, sunflower seeds, almond butter (almonds), cashew butter (cashews, sunflower oil, cashews, flax seeds, sesame seeds, almonds, crisp brown rice, dried cane syrup, expeller pressed canola oil, sliced almonds, vegetable glycerine, rice syrup, natural flavors, oat flour, pumpkin seed, molasses, and salt. 

Even though they’re among the best meal replacement weight loss bars, ProBar Meal bars are not ideal for low carb dieting or for casual snacking between regular meals. Because they’re higher in carbs and calories, you’ll want to use these bars as a meal supplement.

2. IsaLean Bar Chocolate Cream Crisp

The IsaLean Bar Chocolate Cream Crisp is one of the best meal replacement bars for weight loss when it comes to replacing a low calorie snack or a meal because it is high in protein, low in calories, and low in fat. It also scores low on the glycemic index for those following a low glycemic diet and it is gluten free, as well. 

Nutritional snapshot: 

• 270 calories
• 9 grams of fat
• 28 grams of carbohydrates
• 18 grams of sugar
• 18 grams of protein
• Vitamins and minerals

Ingredients: 

Protein blend [whey protein isolate, calcium caseinate, whey protein crisps (whey protein concentrate, starch, cocoa processed with alkali)], cane sugar, chocolate coating (sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, milk fat, soy lecithin, natural flavor), maltitol, ground almonds, glycerin, sunflower oil, nonfat dry milk, natural flavors, gum arabic, vitamin and mineral blend [potassium chloride, dicalcium phosphate, ascorbic acid, zinc oxide, niacinamide, d-alpha tocopheryl acetate, potassium iodide, vitamin A (palmitate), manganese sulfate, biotin, copper gluconate, electrolytic iron, riboflavin, sodium molybdate, pantothenic acid, sodium selenite, thiamin mononitrate, folic acid, pyridoxine HCl, cholecalciferol, cyanocobalamin, chromium amino acid chelate] Contains milk, tree nut (almond), and soy (lecithin) ingredients. Manufactured in a facility that also processes eggs, tree nuts, and peanuts.

This bar won’t work for those who are vegan or lactose intolerant because it contains whey, whey protein, and other milk-derived ingredients.

3. Quest Nutrition Coconut Cashew Protein Bar

The Quest Nutrition Coconut Cashew Protein Bar is high in protein and fiber, low in carbohydrates, gluten free, and keto friendly. The sugar alcohols contained in this and other Quest bars are claimed by Quest to be not harmful to your body – unlike corn syrup and certain artificial sweeteners – and come in at only 4 grams. Because they’re so low in calories and net carbs, these high protein, high fiber bars can be enjoyed as a snack or meal replacement and are among the best meal replacement bars for women or men following a strict low calorie diet.  

Nutritional snapshot: 

• 170 calories
• 6 grams of fat
• 25 grams of carbohydrates
• 17 grams of fiber
• 1 gram of sugar
• 20 grams of protein

Ingredients: 

Protein blend (whey protein isolate, milk protein isolate), isomalto-oligosaccharides* (prebiotic fiber, 100% natural prebiotic fibers derived from plant-based sources), almonds, water, erythritol, dried coconut. contains less than 2% of the following: cashews, sea salt, natural flavors, lo han guo, and stevia. 

This bar won’t work for those who are vegan or lactose intolerant because it contains whey protein and other milk derived ingredients. 

4. OATMEGA Chocolate Coconut

The OATMEGA Chocolate Coconut energy bars come in under 250 calories which makes them one of the best meal replacement bars for weight loss or as a snack on a low calorie diet. OATMEGA bars are also fairly high in protein and work well for busy people with active lifestyles who require snacks between business, recreation, commuting, and workouts. 

Nutritional snapshot: 

• 200 calories
• 7 grams of fat
• 22 grams of carbohydrates
• 7 grams of fiber
• 5 grams of sugar
• 14 grams of protein

Ingredients: 

Grass-fed whey protein concentrate, chicory root fiber, whey protein crisp (whey protein isolate, whey protein concentrate, rice flour, tapioca starch, calcium carbonate), gluten-free oats, vegetable glycerin, tapioca syrup, sugar, sunflower oil, coconut, chocolate liquor, responsibly-caught fish oil (anchovy, sardine, tilapia), natural flavors, almonds, cocoa powder, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, sea salt, and monk fruit extract. 

Contains milk, fish, tree nuts, and soy. May contain traces of peanuts.

Should you use energy bars, protein bars, or nutrition bars for weight loss?

As with any meal replacement diet that relies on a quick fix mentality, the resulting weight loss from any of these bars is virtually always unsustainable. You may also end up eliminating healthy nutrients your body needs in one way or another (because no weight loss bar can serve as a genuine stand-in for a real meal). 

To lose weight effectively, long term, a personalized weight loss program is the only way to go. Check out Noom to see for yourself how well it supports your individual needs.