Are One protein bars healthy? This One protein bar dietitian review will help you decide if One protein bars are a healthy addition to your grocery cart. Read on for our dietitian review of nutritional properties, ingredients, use, and cost before you buy.
About One Protein Bars
One protein bars are low sugar protein bars (1-2g per bar) with 20g of protein coming from whey protein. They are available in fifteen flavors: Peanut Butter & Jelly, Almond Bliss, Birthday Cake, Blueberry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Cinnamon Roll, Cookies & Cream, Fruity Cereal, Lemon Cake, Maple Glazed Doughnut, Marshmallow Hot Cocoa, Peanut Butter Cup, Peanut Butter Pie, Pumpkin Pie, S’mores.
One Protein Bar Ingredients – Dietitian Review
| Flavor | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Almond Bliss | PROTEIN BLEND (MILK PROTEIN ISOLATE, WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE), ISOMALTO-OLIGOSACCHARIDES (VEGETABLE SOURCE), PALM KERNEL OIL, MALITOL. VEGETABLE GLYCERIN, MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, POLYDEXTROSE, ALMONDS, COCONUT, NATURAL FLAVORS, COCOA POWDER (PRESSED WITH ALKALI), WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, CALCIUM CASEINATE, SOY LECITHIN, TAPIOCA STARCH, SEA SALT, CALCIUM CARBONATE, SUCRALOSE. |
| Peanut Butter and Jelly | PROTEIN BLEND (MILK PROTEIN ISOLATE, WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE), Soluble vegetable fiber, ISOMALTO-OLIGOSACCHARIDES (VEGETABLE SOURCE), MALITOL, VEGETABLE GLYCERIN, PALM KERNEL OIL, PEANUT BUTTER, PEANUTS, PEANUT FLOUR, NATURAL FLAVORS, VEGETABLE OIL (COCOA OR PALM), RICE FLOUR, TAPIOCA STARCH, SOY LECITHIN, SEA SALT, ALMOND BUTTER, LYCOPENE FOR COLOR, CANOLA OIL, CELLULOSE, CITRIC ACID, VEGETABLE JUICE FOR COLOR, CELLULOSE, SUCRALOSE. |
| Birthday Cake | PROTEIN BLEND (MILK PROTEIN ISOLATE, WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE), ISOMALTO-OLIGOSACCHARIDES (VEGETABLE SOURCE), MALITOL, VEGETABLE OIL BLEND (PALM KERNEL OIL, PALM OIL), VEFGETABLE GLYCERIN, POLYDEXTROSE, SUNFLOWER SEED BUTTER, NATURAL FLAVORS, SOY LECITHIN, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, CORN STARCH, SEA SALT, NONFAT DRY MILK, TAPIOCA STARCH, SUNFLOWER OIL, DISTILLED MONOGLYCERIDES, SUGAR, SUCRALOSE, CALCIUM CARBONATE, FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONCENTRATES (FOR COLOR), DEXTRIN, SPIRULINA EXTRACT (FOR COLOR), CONFECTIONERS GLAZE, ANNATTO EXTRACT (FOR COLOR), TURMERIC EXTRACT (FOR COLOR), CARNUBA WAX AND SODIUM BICARBONATE. |
| Blueberry Cobbler | PROTEIN BLEND (MILK PROTEIN ISOLATE, WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE), SOLUBLE VEGETABLE FIBER, ISOMALTO-OLIGOSACCHARIDES (VEGETABLE SOURCE), VEGETABLE GLYCERIN, PALM KERNEL OIL, MALITOL, ALMOND BUTTER, NATURAL FLAVORS, SOY LECITHIN, NONFAT DRY MILK, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, SEA SALT, VEGETABLE JUICE (FOR COLOR), TAPIOCA STARCH, DISTILLED MONOGLYCERIDES, SUCRALOSE, CALCIUM CARBONATE. |
| Maple Glazed Doughnut | PROTEIN BLEND (MILK PROTEIN ISOLATE, WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE), ISOMALTO-OLIGOSACCHARIDES (VEGETABLE SOURCE), VEGETABLE GLYCERIN, VEGETABLE OIL BLEND (PALM, PALM KERNEL), POLYDEXTROSE, MALTITOL, SUNFLOWER SEED BUTTER, NATURAL FLAVORS, MALTODEXTRIN, SOY LECITHIN (AN EMULSIFIER), SEA SALT, NONFAT DRY MILK, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, SUNFLOWER OIL, TAPIOCA STARCH, DISTILLED MONOGLYCERIDES, SUCRALOSE AND CALCIUM CARBONATE. |
| Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough | PROTEIN BLEND (MILK PROTEIN ISOLATE, WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE), SOMALTO-OLIGOSACCHARIDES (VEGETABLE SOURCE), MALITOL, PALM KERNEL OIL, VEGETABLE GLYCERIN, POLYDEXTROSE, MILK PROTEIN CONENTRATE, SUNFLOWER SEED BUTTER, CHOCOLATE LIQUOR, NATURAL FLAVORS, COCOA BUTTER, COCOA POWDER (PRESSED WITH ALKALI), CALCIUM CASEINATE, SOY LECITHIN, SEA SALT, SUNFLOWER OIL, SUCRALOSE. |
| Cinnamon Roll | PROTEIN BLEND (MILK PROTEIN ISOLATE, WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE), VEGETABLE OIL BLEND (PALM, PALM KERNEL), ISOMALTO-OLIGOSACCHARIDES (VEGETABLE SOURCE), VEGETABLE GLYCERIN, MALITOL, POLYDEXTROSE, SOLUBLE VEGETABLE FIBER, SUNFLOWER SEED BUTTER, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, NATURAL FLAVORS, SOY LECITHIN, CINNAMON, MALTODEXTRIN, SEA SALT, TAPIOCA STARCH, NONFAT DRY MILK, DISTILLED MONOGLYCERIDES, SUCRALOSE, CALCIUM CARBONATE, COCOA POWDER (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), PAPRIKA EXTRACT (FOR COLOR). |
| Cookies & Cream | PROTEIN BLEND (MILK PROTEIN ISOLATE, WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE), ISOMALTO-OLIGOSACCHARIDES (VEGETABLE SOURCE), PALM KERNEL OIL, MALITOL, VEGETABLE GLYCERIN, POLYDEXTROSE, SUNFLOWER SEED BUTTER, NATURAL FLAVORS, SOY LECITHIN, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, SEA SALT, NONFAT DRY MILK, TAPIOCA STARCH, SUNFLOWER OIL, DISTILLED MONOGLYCERIDES, SUCRALOSE, COCOA POWDER (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), CALCIUM CARBONATE AND SUNFLOWER LECITHIN. |
| Fruity Cereal | PROTEIN BLEND (MILK PROTEIN ISOLATE, WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE), SOLUBLE VEGETABLE FIBER, ISOMALTO-OLIGOSACCHARIDES (VEGETABLE SOURCE), MALITOL, POLYDEXTROSE, VEGETABLE GLYCERIN, PALM KERNEL OIL, SUNFLOWER SEED BUTTER, NATURAL FLAVORS, NONFAT DRY MILK, RICE FLOUR, TAPIOCA STARCH, SOY LECITHIN, SEA SALT, SUNFLOWER OIL, CANOLA OIL, CELLULOSE, CITRIC ACID, DISTILLED MONOGLYCERIDES, VEGETABLE JUICE (FOR COLOR), SUCRALOSE. |
| Lemon Cake | PROTEIN BLEND (MILK PROTEIN ISOLATE, WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE), ISOMALTO-OLIGOSACCHARIDES (VEGETABLE SOURCE), VEGETABLE GLYCERIN, MALITOL, PALM KERNEL OIL, POLYDEXTROSE, SUNFLOWER SEED BUTTER, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, NATURAL FLAVORS, SOY LECITHIN, TAPIOCA STARCH, SEA SALT, NONFAT DRY MILK, SUNFLOWER OIL, BETA CAROTENE (FOR COLOR), DISTILLED MONOGLYCERIDES, SUCRALOSE, CALCIUM CARBONATE. |
| Marshmallow Hot Cocoa | PROTEIN BLEND (MILK PROTEIN ISOLATE, WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE), SOLUBLE VEGETABLE FIBER, ISOMALTO-OLIGOSACCHARIDES (VEGETABLE SOURCE), MALITOL, POLYDEXTROSE, VEGETABLE GLYCERIN, PALM KERNEL OIL, MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, SUNFLOWER SEED BUTTER, COCOA POWDER (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), RICE FLOUR, NATURAL FLAVORS, TAPIOCA STARCH, SUNFLOWER OIL, SOY LECITHIN, CALCIUM CASEINATE, SEA SALT, CANOLA OIL, CELLULOSE, SUCRALOSE. |
| Peanut Butter Cup | PROTEIN BLEND (MILK PROTEIN ISOLATE, WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE), SOLUBLE VEGETABLE FIBER, ISOMALTO-OLIGOSACCHARIDES (VEGETABLE SOURCE), PALM KERNEL OIL, MALITOL, PEANUT FLOUR, PEANUT BUTTER, MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, PEANUTS, NATURAL FLAVORS, COCOA POWDER (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), CALCIUM CASEINATE, SOY LECITHIN, SEA SALT, ALMOND BUTTER, SUCRALOSE. |
| Peanut Butter Pie | PROTEIN BLEND (MILK PROTEIN ISOLATE, WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE), VEGETABLE GLYCERIN, POLYDEXTROSE, SOLUBLE VEGETABLE FIBER, MALITOL, PALM KERNEL OIL, ISOMALTO-OLIGOSACCHARIDES (VEGETABLE SOURCE), PEANUT BUTTER, PEANUTS, PEANUT FLOUR, NATURAL FLAVORS, SOY LECITHIN, SEA SALT, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, TAPIOCA STARCH, ALMOND BUTTER, SUCRALOSE, CALCIUM CARBONATE. |
| Pumpkin Pie | PROTEIN BLEND (MILK PROTEIN ISOLATE, WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE), SOLUBLE VEGETABLE FIBER, VEGETABLE GLYCERIN, ISOMALTO-OLIGOSACCHARIDES (VEGETABLE SOURCE), MALITOL, SUNFLOWER SEED BUTTER, NATURAL FLAVORS, WHEY PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, SOY LECITHIN, NONFAT DRY MILK, SEA SALT, TAPIOCA STARCH, SUNFLOWER OIL, COCOA POWDER (PRESSED WITH ALKALI), DISTILLED MONOGLYCERIDES, SUCRALOSE, CALCIUM CARBONATE AND BETA CAROTENE (FOR COLOR). |
| S’mores | PROTEIN BLEND (MILK PROTEIN ISOLATE, WHEY PROTEIN ISOLATE), SOMALTO-OLIGOSACCHARIDES (VEGETABLE SOURCE), MALITOL, POLYDEXTROSE, VEGETABLE GLYCERIN, PALM KERNEL OIL, MILK PROTEIN CONCENTRATE, ALMOND BUTTER, PEA PROTEIN ISOLATE, RICE FLOUR, COCOA POWDER (PROCESSED WITH ALKALI), NATURAL FLAVORS, TAPIOCA STARCH, SOY LECITHIN, CALCIUM CASEINATE, SEA SALT, PEA STARCH, CANOLA OIL, CELLULOSE, SUCRALOSE, CALCIUM CARBONATE. |
Protein blend (milk protein isolate, whey protein isolate): milk protein contains both whey and casein protein, whereas whey protein is isolated from the complete milk protein.
Isomalto-Oligosaccharides: a non-sugar sweetener made from starch consisting of both non-digestable and digestable carbohydrates. The non-digestible carbohydrates are fermented in the large intestine and are considered a prebiotic.
Palm kernel oil: a vegetable oil that contains mostly saturated fats.
Malitol: type of sugar alcohol created from sugar. Sugar alcohols are used in low-sugar products as a non-sugar sweetener. They can have a laxative effect if consumed in high doses.
Vegetable glycerin: produced by hydrolysis of fats and oils. Glycerin has many uses as a food ingredient, including sweetener, bulking agent or filler, hydrating agent, and solvent.
Milk protein concentrate: a protein that contains both whey and casein protein.
Polydextrose: a prebiotic fiber made from dextrose (a form of sugar). Unlike sugar, polydextrose is not sweet tasting and has low digestibility. It is used to add bulk to foods and reduce calorie content.
Almonds: a nut rich in monounsaturated fatty acids.
Coconut: used for flavoring.
Natural flavors: this is a blanket term for any combination of extracts from plant or animal products. Check out our blog post, What are Natural Flavors and Should you Avoid them, for more information on natural flavors.
Cocoa powder: unsweetened form of chocolate. The leftover part of the cocoa bean after the cocoa butter has been removed.
Whey protein concentrate: type of milk protein.
Calcium caseinate: used as an emulsifyer.
Soy lecithin: used as an emulsifier to help fats blend with other ingredients. Read more about lecithins in our Lecithin Ingredient Review here.
Tapioca starch: a gluten-free flour from the cassava plant. Used as a binding and thickening agent in foods.
Sea salt: used for flavoring and as a preservative.
Calcium carbonate: used as a filler and anti-caking agent in foods.
Sucralose: a type of non-calorie sweetener made from table sugar.
One Protein Bar Nutrition Facts – Dietitian Review
| Almond Bliss | Birthday Cake | Blueberry Cobbler | Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough | Cinnamon Roll | Cookies & Cream | Fruity Cereal | Lemon Cake | Maple Glazed Doughnut | Marshmallow Hot Cocoa | Peanut Butter & Jelly | Peanut Butter Cup | Peanut Butter Pie | Pumpkin Pie | S’Mores | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 240 | 220 | 230 | 230 | 230 | 220 | 220 | 220 | 230 | 210 | 220 | 230 | 220 | 220 | 210 |
| Fat (g) | 9 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
| Saturated fat (g) | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 4.5 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Cholesterol (mg) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Sodium (mg) | 115 | 140 | 110 | 130 | 160 | 150 | 135 | 150 | 150 | 160 | 230 | 150 | 140 | 140 | 160 |
| Carbohydrate (g) | 22 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 27 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| Fiber (g) | 3 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Sugar (g) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Protein (2) | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 |
| Potassium (mg) | 122 | 83 | 93 | 117 | 88 | 86 | 76 | 87 | 80 | 125 | 99 | 160 | 124 | 93 | 101 |
| Calcium (mg) | 147 | 110 | 124 | 135 | 119 | 111 | 65 | 107 | 102 | 91 | 60 | 88 | 88 | 111 | 153 |
| Iron (mg) | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Phosphorus (mg) | 166 | 117 | 137 | 157 | 114 | 119 | 106 | 112 | 129 | 149 | 112 | 151 | 123 | 110 | 106 |
Nutrition facts below reflect One bar Almond Bliss flavor. Always check the product label for the most up to date information related to nutrition facts and ingredients before consuming.
Calories: 240
Fat: 9g (from palm kernel oil and almonds).
Saturated fat: 7g (from palm kernel oil).
Sodium: 115mg (from salt).
Carbohydrate: 22g (from Isomalto-Oligosaccharides and tapioca starch).
Fiber: 3g (from Isomalto-Oligosaccharides).
Sugar: 1g (trace amounts found in One bar ingredients).
Protein: 20g (from milk protein)
Other micronutrients: 122mg potassium, 147mg calcium, 1mg iron, 166 mg phosphorus.
Priority Allergens:
Contains: almonds, coconut, peanuts and/or milk and soy (depending on the flavor). Manufactured on the same equipment that processed peanuts and tree nuts. Always check the food label for the most up-to-date allergen and ingredient information.
Cost
One protein bars are available for $7.99 USD per 4-pack or $3.47 CAD per bar.
One Bar Dietitian Review? Things you Should Know Before You Buy
We scored One Nutrition bars at a 33 out of 100. At first glance, One protein bars may seem like a healthy option because they are rich in protein and low in sugar, with 20g and 1g, respectively. After reviewing the nutrition facts and ingredient list, there are two main reasons why I don’t recommend One Protein bars:
One Protein Bars are High in Saturated Fat
One protein bars are high in saturated fat, with 5-7g per bar, making up around 78% of the total fat content of One bars. The main source of saturated fat in these bars is palm kernel and palm oil.
Are Palm Kernel and Palm Oils bad for you?
While we know that a diet high in saturated fats can increase your risk of cardiovascular disease, not all sources of saturated fats have an equal negative impact on heart health. A 2021 Systematic Review of Palm Oil and Cardiovascular Disease found that higher intakes of palm oil can increase LDL (bad) but can also increase HDL (good) cholesterol. This means that the saturated fats found in palm oil may not be as harmful as other sources of saturated fat in the diet, such as butter (which only increases LDL (bad) cholesterol). However, it still does increase LDL levels and is likely not as beneficial as other sources of fats such as nuts, seeds, or olive oil.
One Protein Bars Contain High Amounts of Non-Sugar Sweeteners
One protein bars are so low in sugar because they contain multiple non-sugar sweeteners – Malitol (sugar alcohol) and Sucralose (known commercially as Splenda).
Are Non-Sugar Sweeteners Bad for You?
Whether or not non-sugar sweeteners are a better option than sugar has been debated over the years. While these sweeteners are unlikely to cause harm at typical doses normally consumed, the World Health Organization (WHO) released guidelines in 2023, suggesting that in addition to reducing our intake of added sugar, we should limit our intake of non-sugar sweeteners. In short, they concluded that using non-sugar sweeteners in place of added sugar does not seem to support long-term weight loss or disease prevention.
Bottomline: a bar that’s loaded with non-sugar sweeteners is not necessarily healthier than a bar loaded with added sugar. I suggest opting for a bar with less added sugar AND/or fewer non-sugar sweeteners. Check out this list of low-sugar protein bars here for some of my faves!
Frequently Asked Questions
Are One protein bars gluten-free?
Yes, One protein bars are gluten-free. Always check the product label for up-to-date allergen and nutrient information before consuming.
Are One protein bars nut-free?
No, some One protein bars contain almonds or peanuts. All One protein bars are processed on equipment that processes peanuts and tree nuts.
Are One protein bars dairy-free?
No, One Protein bars contain milk ingredients and milk protein.
Are One protein bars vegan?
One protein bars contain dairy and are not considered vegan.
Are One protein bars low in sugar?
Yes, One protein bars contain 1g of sugar per bar and are considered low sugar. They are sweetened with the non-sugar sweeteners Malitol and sucralose.
Are One protein bars low in carbs?
One protein bars contain a moderate carbohydrate content, with 22-27g of total carbs per serving, and 15-24g of net carbohydrates per serving, depending on the flavor.
Did you find this One Protein Bar Dietitian Review helpful? I would love your feedback in the comments!
Related Posts:
- Are Quest Bars Healthy? Dietitian Review
- Are Love Good Fats Bars Healthy? Dietitian Review
- Best Protein Bars you can Buy at the Grocery Store
Additional Sources:
- Glycerin, Technical Evaluation Report, USDA (2013).
- O’Donnell, K., & Kearsley, M. W. (2012). Sweeteners and sugar alternatives in food technology (2nd ed.). Wiley-Blackwell.
- Novel Food Information – Isomalto-oligosaccharide, Health Canada (2012).
- Sugar Alcohols and Polydextrose Used as Sweeteners in Foods. Health Canada (2005). Accessed September 25, 2023.
- Calcium Caseinate, Health Canada (2023).
- Bob’s Redmill, What is Tapioca Flour & Where Does it Come from? (2022).
- List of Permitted Food Additives, Health Canada (2023).
