The ultimate protein bar competition. Who will win between Aldi, Fulfil and Grenade protein bars? Review reveals all.
Protein bars are all the rage. Funnily enough, the Fulfil protein bars were the first brand I’d ever tried way back in 2017. My nutritionist (hey, Helen) recommended them to me to help with weight and muscle gain due to their high protein content.
Spoiler: the Fulfil range were my gateway protein bar. I was hooked from then.
However, once I discovered the different brands, from Grenade’s protein bars to even Aldi protein bars, my obsession only grew. I had to know which one was the best. Nutritionally and flavour-wise, of course.
So, I set out on my mission to compare Google’s top 3 searches of protein bars, as asked by the public.
Standing in the aisles of Holland and Barrett, I stumbled across my first hurdle: which flavour do I choose?
Now, in order to make this battle of the brands completely fair, I had to opt for a basic flavour combination across the board.
But one flavour trumps all: cookie dough.
(If you don’t like cookie dough, you’re wrong. Leave the chat.)
Aside from taste, texture etc. we also need to test that these bars are doing their job: “high in protein”. We don’t want to be duped.
Before we jump in, I asked my followers which protein bar they thought would taste the best. I wanted to know whether there would be a preempted opinion. Will Aldi taste cheap? Will Fulfil really fulfil?
But what’s the true verdict? Let’s find out.
Aldi Protein Bars vs Fulfil Protein Bars vs Grenade Protein Bars
#1 Fulfil Protein Bar
Kicking it off with my pre-loved favourite, the Fulfil protein bar. This one was the white cookie dough flavour (stop dribbling) and I really, really took my time to savour the flavour.
Taste: 9/10
Perfect level of sweetness. It actually tastes like chocolate and the fake caramel is very authentic to its sugary reality. There was also no weird aftertaste. White chocolate lovers, this is one for you.
Texture: 8/10
Fulfil has nailed the texture. It’s got a good crunch and it’s nicely chewy. The only downside (and this is me being really picky) is that the Fulfil protein bars are slightly powdery.
Appearance: 10/10
It looks like a real-life chocolate bar: edible, irresistible and mouth-wateringly good.
Nutrition: 9/10
Protein bars are fairly processed, but these have some natural ingredients including cocoa butter and whole milk powder. These bad boys have 20g of protein, less than 3g of sugar and only 198 calories. This will definitely help you hit your macros if you’re falling below your goal.
Variety: 7/10
Fulfil boasts 12 fun flavours, from salted caramel to mint chocolate – so there is something for everyone. They are vegetarian (no gelatine), but unfortunately, not vegan.
Price: 8/10
Fulfil bars are on the pricey side, but definitely worth buying in bulk. As a new customer, you can get 10% off your first purchase. Also, Holland and Barrett are doing a Buy One Get One Half Price deal in most in-store branches.
Bonus points: super vitamins!
The slight edge that Fulfil has over the majority of protein bars is that it has 9 vitamins including Vitamin C (better immunity), Vitamin B1, B6 and B12 (more energy), calcium (stronger bones) and even folic acid (prevents anaemia).
#2 Grenade Protein Bar
Moving swiftly onto our next contestant: the Grenade protein bar. Now, Grenade is probably one of the most popular out there. They’ve got over 237K Instagram followers and counting. Suffice to say, they’re killing it! But do Grenade protein bars match up?
Taste: 9/10
If you’re looking for authentic cookie dough that’s healthy AND packed with protein, it’s here.
Texture: 9/10
Grenade’s cookie dough protein bar is like biting into the real deal. It’s fudgy, not claggy and has that grainy, sugary aftermath. Nailed it.
Appearance: 10/10
It looks smooth and creamy. The chocolate practically glistens. Job done!
Nutrition: 8/10
With a whopping 23.3g of protein, this beats the other brands by a long shot. The bar also contains 214 calories and only 1.5g of sugar. Delightful.
Variety: 6/10
Grenade’s got 14 flavours to share, including Jaffa Cake and the classic PB&J. The downside? It’s not suitable for vegetarians or vegans because the ingredients contain beef gelatine. (Sigh.)
Price: 6/10
These protein bars aren’t cheap. Grenade’s box of 12 collection (£34.20) averages at £2.85 per bar. The cheapest I’ve sourced them in bulk is on Amazon for £20, or individually at Tesco for £2.75. Every little helps.
#3 Aldi Protein Bar
Finally, the one we’re all waiting for, let’s be honest. Aldi’s protein bars à la Harvest Moon. When I first spotted these in store, I almost squealed. Mainly because of the price…
Taste: 8/10
3 words: gooey, fudgy, yummy. I was pleasantly surprised.
Texture: 6/10
All aboard the chew chew train! The caramel in these protein bars is very hard, almost like candy. You’ve got to really dig those gnashers in. (Defo not dentures approved.) The chocolate is also a little more crumbly than I’d like, so there’s a lot of evidence left – plate required.
Appearance: 8/10
On the outside, the Aldi cookie dough protein bars look identical to Grenade’s. It might be a knock-off brand, but you wouldn’t be able to tell.
Nutrition: 7/10
Surprisingly, Aldi protein bars share very similar ingredients to its more established competitor, Grenade. On par with Fulfil bars, it has 21.1g of protein, 219 calories and only 1.9g of sugar.
Variety: 5/10
Sadly, Aldi has shot themselves in the foot slightly. They can’t market to vegetarians or vegans as the bars contain beef gelatine… and they only have 4 flavours. Very limited choice.
Price: 10/10
If you’re tight on budget, then head down to Aldi. Priced at only, £1.29 per bar! Now that’s a bargain. Aldi has the cheapest protein bars I’ve found that actually tastes decent. (I actually preferred these to MyProtein, but shh, don’t tell them!)
Bonus points: packaging!
Aldi’s packaging is not too offensive to the eyes and it’s quite playful. A yes from me.
And the winner is…
Firstly, I’d like to thank all brands for being here today. It’s been a pleasure taste-testing you all. But of course, there can only be one winner.
*drumroll*
FULFIL!
Based on the taste and nutrition alone, Fulfil triumphs. They give you energy, support muscle recovery post-gym and are great for veggies. Although Fulfil bars have 20g of protein (less than Grenade and Aldi), that’s still the same as your average chicken breast!
Fancy trying protein bars for free?
Head over to Gymfluencers to get your fitness freebies and try before you buy, No catch, no pressure.
