Protein bars can be convenient, but finding one that tastes good enough to eat regularly is another story. After trying plenty of protein bars with the familiar dense or chalky texture, Built Bars stood out immediately. They were sweeter, softer, and much more like something I would choose when I was craving dessert rather than something I was forcing myself to eat for the protein.
For me, Built Bars became primarily a snack for satisfying a sweet tooth while still getting a decent amount of protein. Of all the protein bars I have tried, they are probably the ones that tasted the best.
There is one significant difference, though: the texture. Built Bars are much stickier and gooier than the average protein bar, and they definitely have a tendency to stick to your teeth. Whether that bothers you will probably determine how much you enjoy them.
Built Bar Nutrition
Nutrition varies between flavors, so it is always important to read the package for the particular bar you are eating. The Coconut Almond Built Bar, which was my favorite, contained:
| Nutrition | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 130 |
| Fat | 2.5 g |
| Saturated fat | 1.64 g |
| Trans fat | 0 g |
| Cholesterol | <5 mg |
| Sodium | 45 mg |
| Total carbohydrates | 18 g |
| Dietary fiber | 6 g |
| Total sugars | 4 g |
| Sugar alcohol | 8 g |
| Protein | 17 g |
With 17 grams of protein for 130 calories, I could enjoy one when I wanted something sweet without feeding my sweet tooth with a candy bar.
If getting enough protein throughout the day is something you struggle with, there are plenty of other easy ways to increase the amount of protein in your diet without relying exclusively on protein bars.
The FDA’s Nutrition Facts Label guide is also helpful when comparing protein bars because protein is only one part of the equation. Calories, fiber, added sugars, sodium, and serving size all matter when deciding which product fits your own nutrition goals.
Are Built Bars Healthy?
Whether Built Bars are “healthy” really depends on what you expect from a protein bar and how it fits into the rest of your diet. I would consider them a convenient protein snack rather than something intended to replace balanced meals made with whole foods.
What made them useful for me was the combination of protein and a flavor sweet enough to satisfy a craving. When I wanted something sweet, having a Built Bar on hand gave me another option besides reaching for candy or dessert, which can be helpful when you are trying to manage food cravings without feeling like you have to ignore them completely.
What Do Built Bars Taste Like?
Built Bars tasted noticeably different from most of the protein bars I had tried. Instead of being dry, dense, or chalky, they were softer and much more dessert-like. That was a big part of why I kept ordering them. They worked well when I wanted something sweet without reaching for candy or another dessert.
The flavor was probably the strongest part of the experience for me. Of all the protein bars I have tried, Built Bars were among the best tasting.
What Is the Best Built Bar Flavor?
Coconut Almond was easily my favorite because it reminded me of an Almond Joy. The chocolate and coconut combination gave it more of a candy-bar feel than what I expected from a protein bar.
Banana Nut Bread was another flavor I really enjoyed.
Flavor is very personal, though. I generally do not like salted caramel-flavored products because the caramel tends to taste artificial to me rather than like real caramel, so that type of flavor was never going to be one of my favorites.
Do Built Bars Expire?
Yes, and this is one area where I would pay close attention to the expiration date on the wrapper.
I once ate a Built Bar after it had expired and became sick afterward. I cannot say with certainty that the bar caused it, but the timing was enough that I would not eat one past the date on the package again.
Protein bars can still look perfectly normal even after they have been sitting around for a while, so I would not judge freshness by appearance alone.
If you tend to buy them in larger quantities, I would also avoid ordering more than you realistically expect to eat before they expire. Saving money on a bigger order is not much of a savings if part of the box ends up being thrown away.
Where to Buy Built Bars
At the time I was buying Built Bars, they were not available in stores near me, so I ordered them directly from BUILT. Ordering online also made it easier to choose the flavors I wanted instead of being limited to whatever happened to be available locally.
If you are shopping for them now, check the current flavor selection, ingredients, and nutrition information directly on the product page since those details can change. Protein bars are also only one option for adding more protein to your day, and depending on your routine, protein shakes or a protein powder may be more practical at times.
Would I Recommend Built Bars?
Yes, I would recommend Built Bars, especially if taste has been the reason you have struggled to find a protein bar you enjoy. They were one of the few protein bars I looked forward to eating because they felt more like a sweet snack than something I was choosing strictly for the protein.
They are not going to be the right fit for everyone, particularly if you dislike sticky or gooey textures, but I thought the flavor made that tradeoff worthwhile. If you are looking for a protein bar that can satisfy a sweet craving without the chalky taste so many protein bars have, Built Bars are one I would consider trying.