Are Atkins Bars Keto? The Truth

When you start keto, finding foods that are low in carbs but that are still tasty can be a challenge. 

But, if you’ve been to the grocery store, at one point you’ve probably seen Atkins low-carb bars. 

Though the Atkins diet isn’t the same as keto, Atkins is still low-carb. 

In this article I’ll discuss how many carbs and net carbs are in the most common flavors of Atkins bars, as well as if they’re keto or not.

What Are Atkins Bars?

Atkins bars are low carb snack bars and that are designed to help people lose weight. People following following low carb diets like keto & Atkins can eat the bars as a tasty snack whilst still maintaining their carb limit.

Atkins bars are snack bars made for people who’re trying to lose weight or live healthily.

Most Atkins bars only have 3 – 10 net carbs per serving, so they’re great for people on low-carb diets.

There are a few different types of Atkins bars. 

But, they’re all pretty low in net carbs.

I’ve tried a lot of the Atkins bars, but my favorite ones are the chocolate covered ones since they’re bigger & more filling.

If you haven’t tried any Atkins Bars before, I recommend trying their Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar first.

What Is the Atkins Diet?

The Atkins diet is a high-protein, low-carb diet that restricts the amount of carbs you eat each day. It was first created in the 1970s and is still a popular diet today. 

Atkins is not the same thing as keto, but it is low carb. 

The big difference between keto & Atkins is that Atkins is higher protein.

Keto is more focused on fats so you can reach ketosis.

But, Atkins is more focused on protein so you can stay full.

More people now days are doing keto instead of Atkins because the benefits of ketosis are becoming more and more known.

People following the Atkins diet can eat the Atkins bars as snacks to maintain their low carb intake when they’re on the go.

But, the low-carb snacks that come from the Atkins Company are still great for people on keto since they’re low-carb.

Now that we’ve discussed what Atkins bars are, let’s take a look at what’s in them.

What Ingredients Are In Atkins Bars?

Atkins bars are mostly made of protein powder, polydextrose, artificial sweeteners, vegetable oil, palm oil, & flavoring.

The ingredient content varies by flavor.

But, most of the bars have those ingredients as the base of the bar. 

Those were the ingredients for the Atkins Meal Bars, which are the most common type of Atkins bar that you see at the store. 

There are also many other types of bars. 

Many of the bars are made with nuts and other plant-based protein sources. 

Atkins Harvest Bars are made with almonds, peanuts, coconut, and oats.

Atkins Protein Plus Bars are made with whey protein, soy protein, and coconut. 

Atkins Nut Bars are made with almonds, peanuts, and dark chocolate. 

Peanut Butter Crunch Bars are made with peanuts, peanut butter, and crispy oats.

How Many Total Carbs Are In Atkins Bars?

Most Atkins bars are high in total carbs because they have a lot of artificial sweeteners & fiber. But, most of the bars are under 10 grams of net carbs, making them suitable for people on low-carb diets like Atkins or Keto.

If you count total carbs instead of net carbs, you’re also counting the fiber & artificial sweeteners.

But, Atkins bars have a lot of fiber & artificial sweeteners, which don’t effect your blood sugar levels.

That’s why you should count net carbs instead of total carbs.

How Many Net Carbs Are In Atkins Bars?

The amount of net carbs in each Atkins Bar depends on the flavor. The higher carb bars are around 10 grams of net carbs whilst the lower-carb ones are closer to 4 grams of net carbs.

• Chocolate Almond Caramel — 3g net carbs per 190 calories
• Peanut Fudge Granola––3g net carbs per 210 calories
• Chocolate Peanut Butter––4g net carbs per 250 calories
• Vanilla Pecan Crisp — 4g net carbs per 200 calories
• Raspberry Chia — 4g net carbs per 180 calories
• Mocha Almond — 4g net carbs per 200 calories
• Almond Coconut — 4g net carbs per 200 calories
• Blueberry Greek Yogurt — 5g net carbs per 200 calories
• Cinnamon Bun––5g net carbs per 200 calories
• Peanut Butter Granola––5g net carbs per 220 calories
• Chocolate Chip Granola––5g net carbs per 210 calories
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel––9g net carbs per 210 calories
• Cookies & Creme — 9.5g net carbs per 200 calories
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough — 11.5 g net carbs per 210 calories

Carb content also varies between the types of bars. Harvest bars (the nuttier ones,) have the least amount of carbs in each flavor.

Are Atkins Bars Keto?

Yes, Atkins bars are keto-friendly. Atkins bars are low-carb, moderate in protein, & high in fat. This makes them great for keto dieters who want to enjoy a sweet treat whilst still staying within their macronutrient range.

But, some people may argue that Atkins Bars aren’t keto because they have artificial sweeteners.

This is because some artificial sweeteners raise your blood sugar, so they may kick you out of ketosis.

However, the sweeteners in Atkins Bars, polydextrose & sucralose, haven’t been researched that much on their effects on blood sugar, so we aren’t quite sure if they’re good or bad.

But, in general, you’d probably still stay in ketosis if you ate Atkins Bars once in a while.

How Many Calories Are In Atkins Bars?

The amount of calories in each Atkins Bar depends on the flavor. The highest calorie bar is the chocolate peanut butter bar at 250 calories. The lowest calorie bar is the raspberry chia bar at 180 calories.

• Raspberry Chia — 180 calories per bar
• Chocolate Almond Caramel —190 calories per bar
• Cookies & Creme — 200 calories per bar
• Vanilla Pecan Crisp —200 calories per bar
• Mocha Almond — 200 calories per bar
• Almond Coconut — 200 calories per bar
• Blueberry Greek Yogurt —200 calories per bar
• Cinnamon Bun — 200 calories per bar
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough — 210 calories per bar
• Chocolate Chip Granola — 210 calories per bar
• Peanut Fudge Granola — 210 calories per bar
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel — 210 calories per bar
• Peanut Butter Granola — 220 calories per bar
• Chocolate Peanut Butter — 250 calories per bar

But, since the calorie content is so close between all the flavors, just go for the flavor you like the most.

FAQ

Now I’ll answer some of the most common questions people on keto have about Atkins Bars.

What Sweeteners Are In Atkins Bars?

Atkins Bars are mostly sweetened with polydextrose & sucralose. These two sweeteners are highly-debated on whether they have an impact on blood sugar or not. But, right now there isn’t enough research to prove if these sweeteners are bad for you or not.

Are Atkins Bars Healthy?

Yes, Atkins bars are healthy. Since they’re low in carbs & calories, they’re a great alternative to normal snack bars if you want to stay healthy or lose weight. But, if you were super health conscious, you may want to avoid Atkins Bars since they contain vegetable oils & artificial sweeteners.

How Many Atkins Bars Can I Eat on Keto?

You can eat as many Atkins Bars as you want on keto. Since they’re pretty low in carbs, you could eat them often without getting kicked out of ketosis. But, health wise it would be better if you focused on more nutritious foods like meat & vegetables instead of processed snacks.

Are Atkins Bars Gluten-Free?

Yes, Atkins Bars are gluten-free. They don’t contain any grain products like wheat or rice in them, so they don’t have any gluten. So, if you have digestive problems when you eat gluten, you can indulge in Atkins Bars without worrying.

Are Atkins Bars Ok for Diabetics?

Yes, Atkins Bars are ok for diabetics. They are low in net carbs, so they wouldn’t spike your blood sugar or insulin. So, if you’re a diabetic, you can enjoy these sweet treats without worrying about the carbs in them. 

Conclusion

If you’re looking for low-carb foods to help satisfy your sweet tooth, Atkins bars are a great option. You’ll be able to find them in most grocery stores and they come in a variety of flavors. Since the nutrition profile on all of the flavors are pretty similar, just go with which one you like the best!

If you want to learn how I lost 40 pounds with intermittent fasting, here’s my article where I discuss how I lost weight with intermittent fasting & how you can too.