Our favourite picks for when you’re on the move or need a pick-me-up

Looking for more of a whole-food bar without the layer of chocolate? BodyMe is renowned for their organic, plant-based nutrition, so you know you’re in good nutritional hands when you tuck into one of their products. Each bar ticks the box with 16g of complete plant protein from a mix of pea protein, brown rice protein and hemp protein. There are also no artificial sweeteners or other additives, yet it still tastes delicious, without being dry or tasting too ‘clean’ and boring.

The variety of flavours makes this different to other bars, with turmeric lemon, beetroot berry and maca cinnamon all providing a welcome relief from chocolate coated protein bars. In terms of texture, this is chewy and a little fudgey. Overall. it’s a big thumbs up from me!

When you want something that doesn’t need to be eaten in one go, these tasty protein-filled energy balls do the trick. They also work well as a snack to eat as you run, if you’re after something that isn’t overly sweet to pack in your running vest.

Made primarily using dates and nuts, these squidgy, peanut-butter flavour bites contain no artificial sweeteners but they do contain added vitamin D3 for some extra goodness. Plus, the protein comes from whey and nuts, so you know you’re getting all the amino acids you need for recovery. We recommend eating two packs after a particularly gruelling run.

The dark chocolate raspberry flavour of this bar tastes delicious — like something you’d have as an after dinner treat. It contains a generous 14g of protein, sourced from pea and rice, to help muscle recovery and there’s a minuscule 1g of sugar. The carb count is on the lower side, however, so don’t save this for munching on after a long run.

For an extra benefit, each bar packs in 9g of fibre, which is nearly a third of your recommended daily fibre intake. For some, this big fibre hit might cause gut issues, so be careful if your gut is a little sensitive. Artificial sweeteners, including xylitol, might also trigger gut issues, so although this bar is incredibly moreish, don’t go overboard.

If you’re a milk chocolate lover, this is a worthwhile option as the chocolate tastes really good (even better when it's a little melted) and the bar is the right balance of chewy and sweet.

Each bar contains a decent amount of protein as well as carbs, plus there’s 4.3g of fibre to keep your guts happy. The protein in these bars is plant-based, but with three sources — soy, pea and nut — so you can be rest assured that you’re getting a ‘complete’ protein with all the necessary amino acids.

Plus, if for whatever reason you’re hoping to keep calories low, then this is a fine choice as it contains just 150 calories whilst also feeling like a substantial post-run snack.

Peanuts are the number one ingredient in this delicious bar and a source of protein, along with soya protein isolate, which is pretty much the only plant-based source of protein that’s ‘complete’.

The smooth dark chocolate base is topped with other nuts too including almonds and hazelnuts, giving this a crunchy, chewy and creamy texture. Of course, the high nut content does mean that this is particularly high in (good) fat but there’s also a healthy dose of protein and carbs to help you refuel post-run. Plus, you’ll benefit from a healthy 5.5g of fibre in each bar to support your gut health.

Three layers make up this delicious bar: the protein mass middle, the creamy caramel layer and then a crunchy chocolate coating. I wouldn’t have thought this bar contained less than 200 calories as it tastes a lot more sugary than that! In fact, it pretty much tastes like a chocolate bar but with 16g of protein — from soy and milk — and less than 2g of sugar. Plus, each bar packs in 5.3g of fibre — a sixth of your recommended daily intake — plus, hidden ingredients like beef collagen, which can support joints, skin, hair and muscles. This does mean it's not vegetarian-friendly, however.

I actually can’t describe how good this tastes, but believe me when I say, this is delicious. It's so creamy, the core is soft, and the subtle crunchy cinnamon pieces really do make this an enjoyable snack.

This bar contains a decent amount of complete protein, from whey and soy, plus it’s very low in sugar and, unlike other bars, there isn’t a shed load of fibre. While we encourage fibre, there are times (such as during your run), when too much fibre might have some pretty uncomfortable consequences. The 2.3g in this bar however shouldn't unsettle your gut too much.

If you don’t fancy tucking into a cereal-tasting bar (but why!?), then this bar does come in a multitude of other unique flavours such as Fudge Brownie and Strawberry Yoghurt.

I love the protein and carb balance in this bar, which makes it great for post-run to help refuel. At the same time, the sugar content is low as sweeteners are used instead. Just be careful if sweeteners cause you any digestive distress.

In terms of taste, the white chocolate coating is smooth and not overly thick, unlike other bars. Plus, there’s a subtle nougat taste which I personally love. Texture-wise, this gets full marks for its no-nonsense chewing. Compared to other bars, it pretty much melts in the mouth, which makes a great change. The fact that it requires little jaw power also makes it a good snack option to keep you fuelled during longer runs. There’s also a subtle crunch from the peanuts in this bar.

‘Oh wow’, were the first words that left my mouth after I devoured my first bite of this bar. If I didn't know this was a protein bar, I’d say it was a high calorie, high sugar chocolate bar. The Caramelised Biscuit flavour is so moreish and, unlike other protein bars, the bar is soft and easy to eat; you won’t have tough bits of bar stuck in your back teeth.

The protein comes from milk (whey), wheat and soy so you’re 100% getting a complete protein source. The down side to this bar is that it does contain a lot of additives, so if you’re looking for something more natural, this may not be for you.

Not a fan of caramel flavours? These bars also come in delicious White Chocolate Cookie.

Creatine is the one of the most researched supplements going. It’s been shown to help muscles use energy more quickly during exercise, so you can sprint quicker and run further. So, a protein bar with a decent and effective 3g dose of creatine monohydrate wrapped up within it is pretty attractive. The protein in this bar comes from whey, making it a complete source and helping boost recovery even further. Plus, there’s a decent 6.8g of fibre in each bar too, which I assume comes primarily from oats — the bar’s main ingredient.

I love the Chocolate Orange flavour and the chocolate coating is seriously smooth. If you’re not a fan of Chocolate Orange, then try the Chocolate Peanut or Salted Caramel Brownie.