How to Choose Protein Bars Without Artificial Sweeteners | Products Available in Stores and Online and How to Select Them
Don't judge based solely on "artificial sweetener-free" labels
When looking for protein bars, one question after another arises: "I want to avoid artificial sweeteners. But what about white sugar? Preservatives? How much protein is there?"
Instead of focusing on eye-catching slogans on the package, look at the ingredient list and the nutritional facts label. By checking not only whether it is free from artificial sweeteners, but also its protein, carbohydrate, calorie content, serving size, and taste, it becomes easier to find a bar that suits you.
Artificial sweeteners, white sugar, and preservatives are separate criteria
"Artificial sweetener-free" does not mean the same thing as being free from white sugar or preservatives.
Even if a product does not use artificial sweeteners, it may contain other sweeteners or sugars. Similarly, products free from white sugar might still contain preservatives.
If you have specific criteria you are concerned about, it is natural to examine them one by one rather than lumping them together.
- Artificial sweeteners: What kind of sweeteners are used?
- White sugar: What types of sugar or carbohydrates are used?
- Preservatives: Does it contain any preservatives?
- Other ingredients: Does it contain wheat, gluten, dairy-derived ingredients, etc.?
Check the names of sweeteners in the ingredients list
When you want to know about sweeteners, check the ingredients list. While the way information is displayed varies by product, tracing the ingredients related to sweeteners and sugars will reveal what you cannot see from advertising alone.
Even without artificial sweeteners, products may still contain ingredients that include sugars, such as agave syrup. In other words, being free from artificial sweeteners and being low-carb are two different things. You need to consider the type of sweetener and the amount of carbohydrates separately.
It is most effective to check the ingredients list in the following order:
- Ingredients that fall under sweeteners or sugars
- Presence or absence of ingredients you wish to avoid
- Types of ingredients and their order of listing
View protein, carbohydrates, and calories on the nutritional facts label
After looking over the content in the ingredients list, move to the nutritional facts label. The types of sweeteners and the values for protein, carbohydrates, and calories are listed separately.
- Protein: How much can you get in one bar?
- Carbohydrates: What is the amount per bar?
- Calories: Is it easy to incorporate as a snack or part of a meal?
- Fat, dietary fiber, and salt equivalent: Items to check if you are concerned about them.
By looking at not just phrases like "high protein" or "low carb," but also the serving size and the values per bar, you can compare products with confidence.
Figures to look for when comparing protein bars in stores or online
Whether in stores or online, what you need to look for remains largely the same. First, standardize the serving size, then look at protein, carbohydrates, and calories. Finally, consider factors like taste and ease of eating.
Protein content | Compare based on values per bar
For protein bars, pay more attention to the protein content per bar than the product name. If the serving sizes differ, the amount of protein you receive from "protein bars" will also differ.
- Serving size per bar
- Protein content per bar
- Values per 100g, if necessary
- Balance with carbohydrates and calories
Note that plant-based protein powder and protein bars made with plant-based protein are different products. The serving size and method of consumption differ between powders intended to be mixed with water or beverages and bars made with combined ingredients meant to be eaten as is.
Carbohydrates and calories | Check separately from "artificial sweetener-free"
Just because a product is free from artificial sweeteners does not necessarily mean it is low in carbohydrates or calories. If ingredients containing sugars are used, the product will contain carbohydrates even if it is free from artificial sweeteners.
Conversely, even products that do use artificial sweeteners vary in carbohydrate and calorie content. By viewing the type of sweetener and the nutritional values as separate things, you are less likely to make a misjudgment.
| Item | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Artificial sweeteners | Are there corresponding indications in the ingredients list? |
| Carbohydrates | Does the amount per bar fit your lifestyle? |
| Calories | Is it easy to incorporate as a snack or meal? |
Serving size and taste | Look for something you can enjoy continuously
Even if the numbers suit your preferences, you won't reach for it if it's difficult to eat. Consider the size of the bar, the texture, the aroma, and portability. Imagining the actual situation in which you will eat it will help narrow down your choices.
- Size or serving weight of one bar
- Is it easy to eat while on the go or between tasks?
- Does the taste and aroma match your preferences?
- Are the texture and firmness agreeable?
- Is it easy to carry or store?
Beyond nutritional components, the ease of consumption is also an important factor in choosing a bar.
Related content can be found in our articles: How to Choose an Additive-Free Protein Bar: Comparing Ingredients, Carbohydrates, and Protein and Protein Bars Without White Sugar: Explaining the Differences in Alternative Sweeteners, which we recommend you refer to as well.
BRAIN PRO Ingredients and Nutritional Information
BRAIN PRO is an option for those who want to look beyond just the "artificial sweetener-free" label to compare specific ingredients and nutritional values. It is a plant-based protein bar available in Sea Salt Chocolate flavor.
The nutritional content per 35g bar is as follows:
| Nutritional Component | Per 35g |
|---|---|
| Protein | 11.1g |
| Carbohydrates | 4.9g |
| Calories | 190kcal |
| Fat | 13.5g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.2g |
| Salt Equivalent | 0.4g |
11.1g of protein, 4.9g of carbohydrates, and 190kcal per 35g
BRAIN PRO contains 11.1g of protein, 4.9g of carbohydrates, and 190kcal per 35g. It also contains 13.5g of fat, 2.2g of dietary fiber, and 0.4g of salt equivalent.
By looking at carbohydrates and calories rather than just focusing on the protein amount, it becomes easier to consider when to eat it and how to combine it with your meals.
Free from artificial sweeteners, white sugar, and preservatives
BRAIN PRO does not use artificial sweeteners, white sugar, or preservatives. It is designed for those who are particular about their requirements for sweeteners and preservatives, not just artificial sweeteners.
On the other hand, excluded ingredients and nutritional values are different things. If you check the values per bar, including carbohydrates and calories, you can determine if it fits your dietary habits.
Wheat and gluten-free Sea Salt Chocolate flavor
The flavor is Sea Salt Chocolate. It contains no wheat or gluten.
Ingredients include almond butter, pea protein, soy puffs, lion's mane mushroom, and agave syrup. If you have food allergies or specific ingredients you wish to avoid, we recommend checking the ingredients list before choosing.
A protein bar using plant-based protein
BRAIN PRO is not just plant-based protein powder. It is a bar-type food product using plant-based protein such as pea protein.
Powder types are intended to be mixed into beverages. In contrast, BRAIN PRO is finished as a single food product by combining ingredients such as almond butter and soy puffs. Its convenience—being ready to eat as-is—is another point that differs from powders.
When comparing, it is best to look at protein, carbohydrates, and calories while taking into account the differences in product shape, serving size, and how they are consumed.
BRAIN PRO
Clean protein bar with 4.9g of carbohydrates, free from white sugar and artificial sweeteners
Contains 11g of plant-based protein derived from peas.
View BRAIN PRO ingredients and price
Check BRAIN PRO ingredients and nutritional information
Choosing by comparing criteria beyond "artificial sweetener-free"
"Artificial sweetener-free" is one criterion for narrowing down your choices. By lining up the ingredients you want to avoid, nutritional components, serving size, and taste, you can get closer to finding a bar you can stick with.
Are there ingredients you want to avoid?
If there are specific ingredients you are concerned about, look at the ingredients list rather than the product name or marketing slogans.
- Artificial sweeteners
- White sugar
- Preservatives
- Wheat/Gluten
- Individual ingredients you wish to avoid, such as dairy-derived components
BRAIN PRO is free from artificial sweeteners, white sugar, preservatives, wheat, gluten, casein, and trans fats. If you have concerns about food allergies or reactions to specific ingredients, please check the labels to decide if it is right for you.
Do protein, carbohydrates, and calories meet your goals?
Even when prioritizing protein, looking at carbohydrates and calories simultaneously makes it easier to incorporate into your meals or snacks.
BRAIN PRO's values per bar are 11.1g of protein, 4.9g of carbohydrates, and 190kcal. You can consider whether it fits your consumption amount and timing by comparing it with other products.
Does it fit your serving size, taste, and situation?
BRAIN PRO is a 35g Sea Salt Chocolate flavor bar. Whether you are eating on the go or between work and study, imagining the actual situation will make it easier to see how well the size, taste, and texture match your needs.
- Want to eat easily on the go
- Want to incorporate it during work or study
- Want to choose a bar using plant-based protein
- Want to choose a product that does not use artificial sweeteners or white sugar
The criteria on the label and the comfort of actually eating it—only when both are met does a product become one you will want to keep on hand.
Summary | Choose by looking at ingredients and nutritional information
When choosing an artificial sweetener-free protein bar, do not decide based on a single label; look at the ingredients and nutritional information together. Artificial sweeteners, white sugar, preservatives, and carbohydrates are all separate conditions.
When comparing products in stores or online, try lining up the items you need to be satisfied with, including protein, carbohydrates, calories, serving size, taste, and the situation in which you will eat them.
BRAIN PRO is a plant-based protein bar free from artificial sweeteners, white sugar, preservatives, wheat, and gluten. Please check the latest information on the product package or official product page before purchasing.