PhD Smart Keto Protein Bar (Box of 12)

This is a full box of 12 PhD Smart Bars in one flavour — a triple-layered, high-protein snack bar with about 20–22 g of protein and less than 2.1 g of sugar per 64 g bar. A soft protein core, a caramel layer and crispy soya pieces, coated in couverture chocolate. Palm oil free and made in the UK by PhD (Science in Sport). Buying the box is the best value per bar.

• ~20–22 g protein per bar (whey, milk and collagen blend)
• Less than 2.1 g sugar per bar
• Palm oil free, triple-layered, couverture-chocolate coated
• ~245–260 kcal per 64 g bar

About PhD

PhD Nutrition is a British sports-nutrition brand (part of Science in Sport) known for genuinely good-tasting protein bars and powders. The Smart Bar is their flagship snack: it earned a following because it tastes like a chocolate bar while carrying the protein of a shake and keeping added sugar very low.

Why we carry it

We have curated Top Nutrition & Fitness by taste since 2016, and the Smart Bar is one of the few high-protein bars that we think genuinely eats like a treat rather than a supplement. The caramel layer and crispy inclusions give it real texture, and at under 2.1 g of sugar it is an easy swap for a candy bar when a craving hits.

Flavours

Choc Peanut Butter, White Choc Blondie, Cookies & Cream, Salted Caramel, Dark Chocolate Raspberry, Salted Fudge Brownie, Birthday Cake and Mississippi Tough Mudder Pie (availability varies). Every flavour shares the same triple-layer build.

Nutrition (per 64 g bar)

Values vary slightly by flavour. Contains milk and soya; may contain gluten. Not suitable for vegetarians or vegans (contains whey and bovine collagen) — for a plant-based option see the PhD Smart Plant bar.

Low sugar, but is it "keto"? An honest look at the carbs

Total carbohydrate reads around 23–26 g per bar, which looks high next to the tiny <2.1 g of sugar — but nearly all of that carbohydrate is maltitol (a sugar alcohol), glycerol and isomalto-oligosaccharide (a prebiotic fibre), which the body largely does not absorb as regular carbs. Subtract those and you are left with only a few grams of net (impact) carbs per bar.

FAQ

How much protein is in a PhD Smart Bar?
About 20–22 g per 64 g bar, depending on flavour.

Is the PhD Smart Bar keto / low net carb?
Effectively yes: sugar is very low (under 2.1 g), and by the standard net-carb method (total carbohydrate minus fibre and sugar alcohols) it works out to roughly 2–4 g net carbs per bar — low enough for most low-carb and keto plans. Honest caveat: the sugar alcohol here is maltitol, which is mildly glycemic (not zero-impact like erythritol or allulose), so enjoy it as a keto-friendly, low-net-carb bar rather than a truly zero-carb one. Excess sugar alcohols can have a laxative effect.

Is it vegetarian or vegan?
No. It contains whey and bovine collagen. If you want plant-based, choose the PhD Smart Plant bar (vegan, gluten free).

Does it contain palm oil?
No — the Smart Bar is palm oil free.

What is the best way to buy them?
Buy single bars to build your own mix, or order a box of 12 of your favourite flavour. Single bars qualify for our Mix & Match snack deal, and free shipping applies on qualifying orders.

PhD Smart Bar (Français)

La PhD Smart Bar est une barre protéinée à trois couches offrant environ 20 à 22 g de protéines et moins de 2,1 g de sucre par barre de 64 g. Un cœur protéiné moelleux, une couche de caramel et des éclats de soja croustillants, le tout enrobé de chocolat couverture. Sans huile de palme, fabriquée au Royaume-Uni par PhD.

Le sucre est très bas (moins de 2,1 g) et, selon la méthode des glucides nets (glucides totaux moins les fibres et les polyols), la barre contient environ 2 à 4 g de glucides nets — donc faible en sucre, faible en glucides nets et riche en protéines. Nuance honnête : le polyol utilisé est le maltitol, légèrement glycémique (pas « zéro impact » comme l'érythritol) — une barre « céto-compatible » plutôt que zéro glucide. Contient du lait et du soja; peut contenir des céréales contenant du gluten.