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Protein bars offer a convenient nutrient-dense snack, but some of the trendy brands come with premium price tags. The good news is you can easily find affordable protein bars at Coles without sacrificing nutrition or taste.
Follow these tips for buying protein and energy bars that won’t break the budget:
Compare Prices by Weight
The first step is flipping over bars to compare the per 100g pricing. This allows you to calculate the cost per gram of protein rather than just the total price. Bars with a higher protein-to-dollar ratio are the better bargain.
Some savvy math can reveal hidden gems. For example, the XXL Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar might cost $5 for one massive bar, while the YY Protein Bar costs $2 for a smaller bar. But when you compare, the XXL bar actually costs $1 per 20g protein, while the YY bar comes out to $2 per 20g protein. Even though the XXL costs more total, you’re getting more protein per dollar spent.
Look for House Brand Savings
Coles offers their own line of homebrand protein bars that can save you up to half off versus name brands. Options include:
- Coles Protein Bars – Come in flavors like chocolate fudge, chocolate orange, and chocolate chip. Offer about 10-12g protein for under $2 per bar. Chewy texture.
- Urban Essentials Protein Bars – Have flavors like cookies and cream, salted caramel, rocky road, and mixed berry. Also 10g protein for around $2. Made with whey protein.
- Active Co Protein Bars – Offer unique flavors like lemon tea, matcha, and zesty orange. Around 15g of plant-based protein per bar for just $1.50 or less.
While cheaper, Coles’ bars still offer about 10-15g of protein making them an affordable option. Test out a few flavors to find your favorites. The homebrands use cost-effective proteins like whey, soy, and pea protein to keep costs low.
Buy in Bulk Where Possible
For family packs or boxes with 4-6 bars, buying in bulk almost always saves money per bar compared to individually wrapped ones. Shop this section and divide into portions at home.
For example, a 4-pack of the ProteinCo Salted Caramel bars costs $10 total. But one bar alone costs $3.50 each. Getting the pack brings the per bar average down to $2.50.
Bulk boxes let you try a wider variety for less too. Consider sharing the cost with family or friends as well if you don’t need a huge personal stash.
Look for Loyalty Discounts
Use your Flybuys number or the Coles app to get exclusive member pricing on select brands with weekly promotions. This can slash prices on normally expensive bars and let you stock up.
Watch for deals like 20% off Quest bars for Flybuys members or buy one, get one half off specials on Evolve bars. Maximizing these limited deals helps cut the overall cost.
Shop Post-Holiday Sales
Right after holidays like Christmas and Easter, stock up on discounted protein bars as grocery stores try to clear seasonal inventory. You can often get premium brands for cheap.
For example, Optimum Nutrition and Bounce bars often go on sale for half price or even cheaper right after peak chocolate gifting holidays. Load up your cart with a variety to stash in your pantry.
With a savvy shopping strategy, you can nourish your body with protein bars without the shocking bill. Try new budget-friendly flavors and brands using these tips for staying power on a budget.
