Simply unwrap one of Protein Works Ridiculous Vegan Protein Bars and enjoy! There’s not really a limit on how many you can have per day, but like with anything, you probably shouldn’t overdo it. Conjugated Linoleic Acid: Your first instinct might be to recoil when you hear that this ingredient is basically fat if your goal is weight loss. But, fear not, research [5] has shown that consuming CLA, accompanied by exercise, actually helps to reduce body fat in healthy people. Pure bars stand out in the world of gluten free protein bars due to their superior sugar to protein ratio. They contain an impressive 20g of protein per bar, which makes them one of the most protein dense products on the list. Couple this with low sugar (just 3g) and you’ve got a bar that you can enjoy without compromising your diet. I did find the ingredient list to be pretty lengthy and these do contain sweeteners as well as 2g of sugar. Sweeteners don’t always agree with my digestion, but one of these Protein Grazers seemed to go down OK. They also have 10g of protein and 7g of fibre, keeping you energised and pumped throughout your workouts.

Taste score (9/10) – Has a very crispy texture, a lot like a rice krispie square (just a lot drier). The only issue I had with it was that the flavor could be a bit stronger, but it’s still very good. It comes in a variety of flavors, and I tested multiple varieties (peanut butter chocolate, maple pecan, lemon coconut). We love this emphasis on the environment, and Ridiculous bars are some of the tastiest around. The multiple layers of flavour really make a difference, and you could easily replace a whole desert with the Chocolate Caramelicious. All things considered, it’s no wonder that the Ridiculous bar was named #1 vegan protein bar by Women’s Running Magazine. Lexi is a plant-based and free-from brand that prides itself on selecting only the highest quality, local ingredients for their products. This is with the aim of reducing their carbon footprint.Inulin: This prebiotic helps healthy bacteria to grow in your stomach, improving your digestion. Plus, one study [4] found that inulin intake helps with weight loss by reducing body fat. Green Tea Extract: The benefits of this ingredient are two-fold. Studies [6] have shown that thanks to something called “catechins”, green tea extract helps with weight loss and maintenance. Plus, green tea extract has antioxidant properties [7], meaning that it helps protect your cells against damage. Chicory Root Fiber: this ingredient offers the healthy dose of fiber found in this protein bar. The fiber, specifically, comes from the inulin found in chicory root. Studies [10] have shown that inulin works as a prebiotic, which creates a healthy gut environment, promoting good digestion. According to Protein Works, you can take this product up to three times per day, along with your regular intake of healthy foods. Simply add 60g (1.5 scoops) to 350ml of milk or water. Shake to blend, and enjoy! Or, you can add it to your daily smoothie if you want a meal with more substance. Are trying to gain weight – if you’re trying to gain weight, you need to consume more calories than you can burn. Protein bars are typically calorie-dense, which means one a day could boost your calorie intake without you having to eat lots of food.

Bars come in a range of flavours, and our favourite is probably the Blueberry Muffin. It really does taste like its much more unhealthy namesake, and it's loaded with enough fruits to count as one of your five a day. The ingredient list is refreshingly simple, and the bar contains an impressive 58% dates and 15% cashews, with a few more nuts and fruits thrown in for good measure. Green Tea Extract: as discussed above, green tea extract [6] has been shown to help with weight loss, thanks to the catechins it contains. While I didn’t specifically look for it, I don’t think most of these protein bars are kosher certified, but these are. They are also gluten and wheat free. Most of the protein comes from soy. Priyankaa has an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University and over five years’ experience in health and fitness journalism. Priyankaa has written for Stylist’s Strong Women Training Club, where she regularly wrote about diversity in the fitness industry, nutrition tips, training advice and her experience completing various fitness challenges. She has also written for a variety of publications including Business Insider, Glamour, Bustle, Metro, HuffPost UK, gal-dem and more. Protein Works Ridiculous Vegan Protein Bar, in the chocolate caramelicious flavor, contains the following ingredients:

Protein Works says that all of its shakes are manufactured in the UK. It creates shakes that range from whey protein to casein protein (both sources that come from cows), as well as shakes providing minimal calories and shakes that contain higher calories specifically aimed at gaining mass.