Are Quest Bars Keto? The Reality

If you’ve been to the grocery store recently, you’ve probably seen Quest’s Protein Bars. 

In all of their delicious looking flavors, you were probably tempted to buy one (me!)

But, you may be wondering if Quest Bars are keto or not. 

In this article I’ll discuss how many carbs are in Quest Barbs and whether they’re keto or not.

What Are Quest Bars?

Quest Protein Bars are low-carb, low calorie protein bars made by Quest Nutrition. Each bar usually has over 20 grams of protein and under 200 calories. They come in many flavors, but their most popular flavors are chocolate chip cookie dough, cookies & creme, & chocolate sprinkled doughnut.

Originally, Quest Bars were targeted at people wanting to eat more protein on the go.

But, Quest Bars became popular with the keto community over time because they are also sugar-free and low in carbs. 

But another big reason that Quest Bars became so popular is because they taste so good.

When I tried the chocolate chip cookie dough Quest Bar, I was shocked at how similar it tasted to cookie dough.

So it makes sense why people like to eat Quest Bars.

The 3 Types of Quest Bars

However, Quest doesn’t just offer protein bars. They also offer different types of snack bars. 

• Quest Protein Bar––The most popular type of Quest Bar is the protein bar. Compared to the other bars, it has the most protein & fiber. This makes it the best choice if you want to stay full, gain muscle, or lose weight.
• Quest Snack Bar––The Quest SnackBbar has less protein & is made with whole nuts & dairy protein. It’s higher in fat & lower in fiber, so it’s closer to a snack then a protein bar.
• Quest Hero Bar––The Quest Hero Bar is the in–between for the protein bar & the snack bar. It has a little bit of nuts & dairy protein, but it also has the fiber & protein from the protein bar.

How Many Carbs Are In Quest Bars?

Quest Bars have 3 – 5 grams of net carbs depending on the type of bar. Quest’s Hero bars only have 3 grams of net carbs. Quest’s protein bars have 4 grams of net carbs. And Quest’s snack bars have 5 grams of net carbs. This makes Quest Bars great for people on low-carb diets like keto.

However, Quest Bars are low in net carbs, but not total carbs. 

Net carbs are the carbs in a food after excluding the fiber & artificial sweeteners.

So, Quest Bars are high in total carbs because they contain a lot of fiber and artificial sweeteners.

We know that the fiber is good for you, especially if you want to lose weight, so no need to worry there.

But, it’s constantly being debated whether artificial sweeteners are bad for your health or not. 

But, as long as you only eat artificial sweeteners every once in a while, you’ll probably be ok.

Are Quest Bars Keto?

Yes, Quest Bars are keto friendly. That’s because they only have 3 – 5 grams of net carbs, depending on the type of bar. 

However, if you’re trying to avoid artificial sweeteners on keto, you should avoid Quest Bars.

You should also avoid Quest Bars if you find that eating fiber gives you digestive issues.

But, for most people, Quest Bars can be a great way to get more protein & fiber into your diet whilst enjoying a yummy dessert.

How Many Calories Are In Quest Bars?

Most Quest Bars have between 150 – 210 calories. Quest’s Protein Bars have 180 – 210 calories per bar. Quest’s Hero bars have 150 – 200 calories per bar. And Quest’s Snack bars have 210 calories per bar. This makes Quest bars low in calories and great for people trying to lose weight.

So, if you’re trying to lose weight but still want to enjoy a sweet treat, Quest Bars are the way to go.

How Many Grams of Fiber Are In Quest Bars?

Quest Bars have 7 – 17 grams of fiber per bar. But, the amount of fiber depends on the type of bar. Quest’s Snack Bars have around 7 grams of fiber per bar. Quest’s Hero Bars have around 10 grams of fiber per bar. And lastly, Quest’s Protein Bars have around 17 grams of fiber per bar.

This makes Quest Bars, specifically Quest’s Protein Bars a great way to get in your daily fiber intake. 

Eating more fiber makes you more full, which can help you to lose weight.

So most of the time you should go with the classic Quest Protein Bar over the other options.

But, the Quest Bar you choose is dependent on your goal.

Which Quest Bar Should I Choose?

If your main goal is to stay full, build muscle, or to lose weight, go with Quest’s protein & fiber packed protein bar. If you just want a tasty, light snack, go with Quest’s Snack Bar. But, if your goal is somewhere in between, go with Quest’s Hero Bar.

What Sweeteners Are In Quest Bars?

Quest Bars are sweetened with stevia & erythritol, which are both high–quality & healthy sweeteners.

These two sweeteners have been shown to be safe & healthy to consume.

But, just to be sure, try to limit your consumption of artificial sweeteners when possible.

Which Quest Bar Is the Healthiest?

The healthiest type of Quest Bar is their protein bar. That’s because, compared to the snack & hero bars, it has the most fiber & protein and is still low in calories.

As I said before, if your overall goal is to lose weight, build muscle, or just stay more full, go with the protein bar.

Which Flavor of Quest Bar Is the Healthiest?

No flavor of Quest Bar is “the healthiest.” They all have very similar ingredients, so just go with whatever flavor you enjoy the most.

If there was an unsweetened Quest Bar flavor, that would probably be the healthiest.

But since the ingredients in Quest Bars are all so similar, it doesn’t matter which one you choose.

How Many Quest Bars Can I Eat on Keto?

You could eat around 2–3 Quest Bars per day & still remain in ketosis. But, since artificial sweeteners may cause gut issues, try to limit your consumption of an artificially sweetened food, like a Quest Bar, to once a day.

Another issue with artificially sweetened foods is that they give you dopamine, the brain’s reward chemical.

This was helpful for humans when they needed motivation to climb up a tree to get honey when they could’ve been stung by bees. 

But, going into the grocery store to buy some protein bars isn’t a challenge.

So after eating artificial sweeteners, your brain would receive dopamine without working hard. 

This would make you more lazy & tired, so that’s why you should avoid sweet foods when possible.

FAQ

Now I’ll answer some of the most common questions that people on keto ask me about Quest Bars.

Are Quest Bars Good for Weight Loss?

Yes, Quest Bars are good for weight loss. That’s because they’re high in protein & fiber whilst being low in calories. That means you can satisfy your sweet tooth whilst staying full for longer with the protein & fiber.

Are Quest Bars Ok for Diabetics?

Yes, Quest Bars are ok for diabetics. That’s because they only contain around 3 – 5 grams of net carbs per bar, so they won’t spike your insulin. They also have a lot of fiber, which would also slow down your insulin. And the artificial sweeteners in Quest Bars probably won’t raise your insulin either.

Are Quest Bars Gluten–Free?

Yes, Quest Bars are gluten free. Quest bars don’t contain any grain products, so they’re gluten free. Quest bars have also passed the FDA’s test on whether a product is gluten free or not.

Are Quest Bars Dairy–Free?

No, Quest Bars aren’t dairy free. That’s because their main ingredient is milk protein. The first two ingredients on the package of a Quest Bar are milk protein isolate & whey protein isolate. 

So, if you’re trying to avoid dairy, skip Quest Bars.

Are Quest Bars Low–FODMAP?

No, Quest Bars aren’t low FODMAP. That’s because they contain many ingredients that may cause gut issues, like artificial sweeteners, fiber, & milk protein.

If you want a lower FODMAP protein bar, try making your own protein bars at home.

Are Quest Bars Vegetarian?

Yes, Quest Bars are vegetarian. They don’t contain any meat products in them, only milk.

Are Quest Bars Vegan?

No, Quest Bars aren’t vegan. This is because Quest Bars are mostly made up of milk protein. The first two ingredients on a Quest Bar are milk protein isolate & whey protein isolate.

How Many Carbs Are In Quest Protein Bars?

Quest Protein Bars have 4 grams of net carbs per bar.

How Many Carbs Are In Quest Snack Bars?

Quest Snack Bars have 5 grams of net carbs per bar.

How Many Carbs Are In Quest Hero Bars?

Quest Hero Bars have 3 grams of net carbs per bar.

How Many Calories Are In Quest Protein Bars?

Quest Protein Bars have between 180 – 210 calories per bar. This makes them a great snack to satisfy your sweet tooth whilst not going overboard on calories.

How Many Calories Are In Quest Snack Bars?

Quest Snack Bars have 210 calories per bar. This makes them a nice, light snack that’s still low in calories.

How Many Calories Are In Quest Hero Bars?

Quest Hero Bars have between 150 – 200 calories per bar. This makes them a good, well-balanced snack that helps you to satisfy your cravings without going overboard on the calories.

Conclusion

In conclusion, since Quest Bars only have 3 – 5 grams of carbs per bar, they’re a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth on keto. And depending on the type you choose, they also have a lot of fiber & protein. This can help you to stay full for longer which can help you to lose weight on a low-carb diet with more ease.

If you’re interested in learning how I lost over 40 pounds with keto & intermittent fasting, & how I broke each one of my plateaus, read my article here.