Are Atkins Endulge Bars Keto Friendly?

Atkins products have been popular ever since low-carb diets became the trend. Their products are marketed to low-carb and keto dieters to help them lose weight quickly.

Atkins has meal bars, snack bars, shakes, and protein powders. They even have dessert bars called Endulge which claim to be low-carb as well.

Are Atkins Endulge bars keto-friendly?

We discuss the ingredients and nutritional content of these dessert bars and why we think Atkins Endulge bars are not keto-friendly.

We also share some keto-friendly alternatives to Atkins Endulge Bars!

What are Atkins Endulge Bars?

Atkins Nutritional is a company known for manufacturing meals and snacks that are marketed to those who want to lose weight, especially with a low-carb diet. 

Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. was originally known as Complementary Formulations back in 1989. It was only renamed in 1998 after dietary supplements were made to support the Atkins diet.

After filing bankruptcy in 2005, it came back in 2007 after being bought by North Castle Partners. 

In 2010, Atkins Nutritionals was bought by Roark Capital Group and sold to Conyers Park Acquisition Corporation.

Atkins brand currently sells low-carb foods and drinks, like snack bars, meal bars, shakes, dessert bars, bites, and more.

The Endulge bar is meant to be a snack or dessert bar. Unlike their meal bars, the Atkins Endulge Dessert bar is not meant to be used as a meal replacement.

This means it has fewer nutrients, especially protein. However, Atkins Endulge still claims to be high in fiber and low in sugar despite being marketed as a dessert.

Compared to their snack bars, the dessert bar is still lower in protein with a similar amount of net carbs.

All Atkins products, even their shakes and peanut butter cups, claim to only contain 2 to 4 grams of net carbs. 

Net carbs are calculated by subtracting the total fiber and sugar alcohol from the total carb count.

The idea behind net carbs is that not all carbs from your food or drink are absorbed by the body.

However, this term is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Some also think that the net carb count is inaccurate.

This is because we have different digestive responses and different types of macronutrient computations.

Atkins Endulge Bars Nutrition

The nutritional information of Atkins Endulge bars varies as they come in a variety of yummy flavors like Lemon Tart and Chocolate Caramel Fudge Dessert. 

Here’s a list of the nutritional content of the Chocolate Caramel Fudge Dessert bar:

• 130 calories
• 7g total fat
  • 6g saturated fat
  • 0g trans fat
  • 0g polyunsaturated fat
  • 1.5g polyunsaturated fat
• 0mg cholesterol
• 120mg sodium
• 16g total carbs
  • 9g dietary fiber
  • 1g total sugar
• 7g protein

The nutritional content of this bar is not ideal for the keto diet. The fat to carb ratio is too low for our liking. We prefer snack foods that have more fat and fewer carbs.

On keto, you get your energy from fat to produce ketones. Always go for high-quality sources of fat, such as grass-fed meats, MCT oil, cheese, and more.

It also only has 7g of protein, unlike the meal bars which have around 14g. Protein is a macronutrient that is used to make muscles, tendons, organs, and skin.

Evidence shows that eating more protein can help with muscle growth, repair, and strength.

Protein consists of smaller molecules called amino acids that are connected to form long chains. This is the good stuff that makes up your whole body, even your hormones and neurotransmitters.

Unfortunately, Atkins Endulge bars have no vitamins and minerals, unlike the meal bars, which have 20% of the recommended daily value of vitamin A and 20% of the DV of vitamin C.

Atkins Endulge Bar Ingredients

Among its ingredients are polydextrose, vegetable glycerin, chicory root fiber, soy protein isolate, coconut oil, collagen, whey protein isolate, cellulose powder, whey protein concentrate, flavoring, and more.

The whey protein comes from milk, which is separated from the curds during the cheesemaking process.

Whey protein has some lactose, while isolate contains very little. If you are lactose-intolerant, Atkins Endulge bars may not be recommended.

Studies reveal that whey protein helps build and maintain muscle mass. It also assists athletes with recovery from heavy exercise and increases muscle strength.  

Atkins Endulge also contains collagen, the most abundant protein in the body that can relieve joint pain and improve skin health.

You can increase collagen intake with collagen peptides.

Sugar and Net Carbs

You should know that Atkins is low-carb because the sweetener used in this is sucralose which is associated with negative health outcomes.

Sucralose on keto can disrupt gut bacteria and increase inflammation in your body. It can also lead to insulin sensitivity, a condition associated with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

It also has Maltitol, a sugar alcohol with a glycemic index of 36. This amount is more than half of the GI of table sugar.

Here’s a list of the net carb content of each Atkins Endulge bar:

• Caramel Nut Chew Bar: 6.5g net carbs
• Chocolate Coconut Bar: 6g net carbs
• Peanut Caramel Bar: 5g net carbs
• Chocolate Caramel Mousse Bar: 8g net carbs.

As mentioned, net carbs are equal to total carbs minus dietary fiber and sugar alcohol. 

If you look closely at the nutrition labels and do the math, the net carbs of Atkins Endulge Bars are around 5-8g.

However, the packaging only states they have 3g of net carbs. This could be because the amount of sugar alcohol was not included on the label.

If you compare the Endulge variant to the meal bars, the former is lower in calories yet higher in carbs, making it less nutrient-dense. 

Compared to their protein shakes, Atkins Endulge bars are also higher in carbs and less nutrient-dense. 

Atkins Endulge Bars are not Keto-Friendly

Atkins Endulge bars will not kick you out of ketosis if you only eat an occasional one as a treat. Just remember not to go beyond your daily carb intake for that day.

The standard keto diet usually recommends 25-50g total carbs a day. Anything above this may kick you out of ketosis.

With 5-8g of net carbs, Atkins bars will still let you stay in ketosis as you indulge in the sweet treat.

However, for a dessert bar, Atkins Endulge is relatively high-carb. Other variants of Atkins bars only have an average of 3g of net carbs.

Atkins Endulge also contains sweeteners that are not acceptable on the keto diet. Sucralose does not offer that rewarding effect to the brain, so you may tend to eat more than expected.

Lastly, Atkins Endulge does not contain any quality essential nutrients. It is lower in carbs and has no vitamins and minerals, so we don’t consider it keto-friendly.

Unless you’re willing to go dirty on keto, you probably want to avoid Atkins Endulge bars.

Keto-Friendly Alternatives to Atkins Endulge Bars

Here are our recommendations for some low-carb alternatives to Atkins Endulge Bars.

Perfect Keto Bars

Any flavor of Perfect Keto Bar is low enough in carbs to help you with weight loss while also getting some quality nutrients.

This leading keto bar uses superior ingredients that help with your overall health. 

The flavors include Birthday Cake, Cookie Dough, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, and Almond Butter Brownie.

They have 10g of grass-fed collagen and 19g of fats and are sweetened with the best keto sweetener, stevia. This combination will keep you as satiated for hours. 

This meal bar has no fillers or additives and has only 3g net carbs.

This means you can stay in ketosis while also ensuring you don’t lack any nutrients. 

Dang Bar

Are you on a vegan keto diet? Then Dang Bars are the best keto snacks for you. They make your diet sustainable and convenient!

These keto-friendly bars will help you adhere to a keto meal plan without the consumption of animal products. They contain 100% plant-based ingredients and are gluten and dairy free.

The healthy plant-based fats come from coconut, cocoa butter, almonds, peanuts, and vegan pea protein.

They have 15-16g of fat, 9g of protein, and only 4-5g of net carbs per bar. Enough to satisfy your cravings without getting kicked out of ketosis!

The flavors include Almond Vanilla, Lemon Matcha, Chocolate Sea Salt, Cardamom Chaim Saigon Cinnamon Chocolate, and Toasted Coconut. 

Atlas Keto Protein Bar

If you’re a picky eater on the keto diet, Atlas Keto Protein Bars are the best choice for you. They come in so many flavors, so they are perfect for those who are particular about flavor.

For a meal replacement, Atlas is low-carb with only 3-4g of net carbs per serving. This leaves you with plenty of carb allowance for the rest of your day.

This protein bar has 15-16g of protein and 10-11g of fat. This makes it a suitable protein bar for all keto dieters. It is grain-free, soy-free, non-GMO, has zero added sugar, and is gluten-free.   

Atlas bars also have antioxidants, omega 2 fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.

The flavors include Almond Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Cacao, Mint Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Raspberry, and Vanilla Almond Chai. 

Grenade Carb Killa Caramel Chaos

Grenade Carb Killa bars are one of the best keto-friendly snacks you can have if you want something extra sweet.

While they contain some sugar alcohols, the net carb count remains low at 2g net carbs. The sweeteners used are maltitol, xylitol, and sucralose. 

There are better keto sweeteners you can try, such as stevia and monk fruit. But for occasional sweets, it won’t hurt to spoil yourself with a Grenade Carb Killa.

After all, it contains 23 grams of protein! For bodybuilders and athletes, this meal replacement bar is worth a try!

Keto Bars

That’s right. The brand of this keto bar is Keto Bars because they focus only on making 100% keto bars.

They are available in Chocolate Covered Strawberry, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Dark Chocolate Coconut Almond, and Mint Chocolate flavors.

These low-carb bars contain 3-5g of net carbs and 18-21g of fats. While they have only 5-8g of protein, they contain healthy fats without any gluten, soy, carbs, and sugar.

They are perfect for keto dieters who are strict with their macro ratios. One of these keto bars will not affect your ketosis.

Collagen Protein Bar

Bulletproof Collagen Protein Bars have 4-5g of net carbs, 11-12g fats, and 11g of protein.

Some people on the keto diet are unfamiliar with the benefits of collagen. This amazing nutrient helps with your skin, nails, hair, joints, and muscles!

The Collagen Protein Bar is high in protein and is virtually tasteless, so you can snack on it when you want something to keep yourself satisfied.

Its fats come from MCT oil, a reliable and healthy fat derived from coconut. On the other hand, its protein comes from the collagen of grass-fed cows!

It only has 2g of sugar and it is minimally processed!

Make Your Own Protein Keto Bar

You can also try making your own protein keto bars! Here are two recipes to try.

Paleo, Vegan, Low-Carb Keto Protein Bars

This homemade protein bar from The Big Man’s World is suitable not only for keto but also for paleo and vegan diets.

It only requires the following ingredients:

• 2 cups smooth almond butter
• ½ cup sticky keto sweetener of choice
• ¾ cup coconut flour
• 2 cups sugar-free chocolate chips.
  

With only 5g of carbs and 10g of fats per serve, this protein bar is great for a low-carb snack and is super easy to make!

Low-Carb Vegan Protein Bars

If you want another plant-based protein bar option for the keto diet, this recipe by Chocolate Covered Katie only has five ingredients:

• ½ cup nut butter of choice
• 3 tbsp keto protein powder
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 ½ tbsp granulated erythritol
• 4 oz sugar-free chocolate chips.
  

This recipe only has 3.9g of total carbs per serving!

FAQ Keto Diet and Protein Bars

How Many Atkins Endulge Bars Will Kick You Out of Ketosis?

As mentioned, one or even two won’t kick you out of ketosis. If you’re not eating any more carbs or going over your limit, then you won’t get kicked out of ketosis.

However, Atkins Endulge bars can make you crave more because of the sweetener it contains.

Once you give in to your cravings, you might end up eating way too many carbs.

Learn how many carbs will kick you out of ketosis so this doesn’t happen to you.

Does an Atkins Endulge Bar Help with Weight Loss?

Atkins Endulge Bars can help you with weight loss if you’re craving something sweet but don’t want to go over your carb intake.

If you only eat one when you’re seriously craving, then you can still lose weight with this treat. But if you eat them regularly and exceed your carb limit, you’ll end up stalling your weight loss efforts.

The keto diet only helps you lose weight if you stick to low-carb and high-fat foods and maintain a good level of ketosis.

How Much Protein Do You Need on Keto?

The answer depends on each person.

Aside from being high-fat and low-carb, keto is a moderate-protein diet. Many keto dieters stick to keto-friendly protein bars to increase their protein intake without the unwanted carbs.

We have a guide on how much protein you can eat on keto which you can check out!

What Is the Best Dessert on the Keto Diet?

The best dessert on the keto diet is one made by you. Making your own desserts instead of buying them will allow you to measure and control how much carbs and sugar they contain.

You’ll also get to choose the best ingredients to enjoy your sweet treat without getting kicked out of ketosis.

Check out some recommendations for keto dessert recipes now!

Ditch Atkins Endulge Bars on Keto!

Atkins Endulge bars have the highest carb content among the Atkins products.

Although they are considered low-carb for a dessert bar, one bar means you are lowering your carb allowance for healthy nutritious foods. 

Plus, the sweetener in Endulge might make you want to eat more!

Always stick to low-carb, high-fat, and nutrient-dense foods on the keto diet to lose weight healthily. 

If you plan on having a cheat meal on keto, make sure to do it the right way!