Valid id, enough cash for an Us Weekly/latte combo and a reliable mascara are the absolute bare necessities for surviving air travel; but having a healthy stash of nutritious, clean sustenance at arm’s reach can make the biggest difference in not missing a beat after touching down. Who knows when the next balanced meal might be hours/timezones/mechanical delays away.
And so, after much (mostly) tasty research, we’ve pinned down the six tastiest, cleanest, most protein-packed bars to stay energized throughout any travel day, latte optional.
Squarebar
Adorably square and decadently tasty - the chocolate mint tastes wonderfully close to the Girls Scouts’ Thin Mints - Squarebars pack 11-12 grams of protein per bar, with 12 grams sugar and 210 total calories. They’re getting easier to find, but having a box of either the cacao cherry or cacao mint on-hand for travel emergencies is the way to go.
D’s Naturals: No Cow Bar
20 grams of protein per bar, 19 grams of fiber, and just one gram of sugar. It’s pretty much a plant-based Quest bar! Blueberry Cobbler and peanut butter cookie dough are the most delicious. It’s a new brand founded by an 18-year old super fit protein bar magician that’s most easily found online at either Amazon or here.
Rise
A bajillion flavors, many that are vegan, and availability at pretty much every Whole Foods Market makes Rise a super easy go-to. The list of ingredients is often less than five and the vegan-friendly bars contain an awesome pea protein blend.
22 Days Vegan
The preferred vegan protein bar of Beyonce. In flavors like Almond Butter Nirvana. They have 20 grams of protein per bar and, thanks to Beyonce and the new food delivery program, 22 Days is blowing up and becoming more available by the day.
Larabar
The classic, simple ingredient bar with a respectable amount of protein that's usually around seven grams per bar. Lara uses fewest ingredients of any bar on this list!
Raw revolution
Creamy Peanut Butter & Sea Salt is the most protein packed of their new high protein bar line, with 15 grams of protein and 14 grams of fiber (and just two grams of sugar!). Raw Rev bars are the least dry of the bunch, so you can snack on these even if TSA's confiscated your water bottle.