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The honest comparison
To be fair, they are two different products. A protein bar is built to pack as much protein as possible into one bar — handy after strength training. Our energy balls are made from dates and nuts: quick, natural energy from real ingredients. Want 20 grams of protein? Buy a protein bar. Want a snack where you recognise every ingredient? Then read below exactly how the two compare — including the points where a protein bar wins.
| Energy balls (dates & nuts) | Protein bar (average) | |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients | 4–6 whole ingredients: dates, nuts, coconut, cocoa, spices | 10 or more, including protein concentrate, fillers and emulsifiers |
| Protein | ± 5 g per ball (48 g) — naturally from nuts | 15–20 g per bar (± 55 g) — from protein powder |
| Sugar | ± 16 g per ball, naturally from dates | Often less than 2 g — sweetened with sweeteners |
| Sweeteners | None | Usually maltitol, sucralose or both |
| Vegan | Yes, 100% plant-based | Often not: milk protein or collagen |
| Shelf life | 2 weeks in the fridge — freshly made | About a year, at room temperature |
| Made | By hand, fresh every week, in Almere | In the factory |
Protein bar figures: average of popular protein bars in Dutch supermarkets, based on the labels. Energy balls: our own Power Balletjes, average across the five flavours.
…your goal is muscle building or recovery and you want to get 15 to 20 grams of protein in quickly, for example straight after strength training. That's what a protein bar is made for, and it does it well. Do check the label: many bars contain sweeteners and sugar alcohols that can be hard on your digestion.
…you want a snack made from ingredients you recognise: dates, nuts, coconut, cacao. For the mid-afternoon dip, before a workout, on the go or with coffee — natural energy without sweeteners, 100% plant-based and freshly handmade every week.
That depends on what you're looking for. For quickly getting a lot of protein after strength training, protein bars are effective: around 20 grams of protein per bar, little sugar. But many popular protein bars achieve that with protein concentrates, sweeteners such as maltitol and sucralose, and emulsifiers — more supplement than food. As a daily snack, a short, recognisable ingredient list is a more logical choice.
Energy balls are made from whole ingredients — with us dates, nuts and, for example, coconut or cocoa — and mainly provide quick, natural energy. Protein bars are built around protein powder and provide 15 to 20 grams of protein per bar, usually sweetened with sweeteners instead of sugar. They're two different products for two different moments.
Honest answer: our Power Balletjes contain around 5 grams of protein per 48 gram ball — that comes naturally from the nuts. That's not a high-protein product and we don't claim it is. If you're after 20 grams of protein after exercise, a protein bar or shake is more practical. If you're after an honest snack made from real ingredients, energy balls are a good fit.
Because dates are naturally full of fruit sugar — that's where the sweetness and the energy come from. Protein bars solve that with sweeteners and sugar alcohols: the label then shows little sugar, but there is maltitol or sucralose in it. We choose the date. Four of our five flavours contain no added sugar; only Chocolate Pistachio has a thin layer of dark chocolate.
If your goal is muscle recovery and protein intake, choose a protein bar or shake — 5 grams of protein per ball won't win that. If you want quick energy before exercise, or simply a healthy snack in the afternoon, energy balls made from dates and nuts are the more natural choice.
You can buy our handmade energy balls (Power Balletjes) online via adabakes.nl — we ship across the Netherlands — or fresh at the Saturday market on the Stadhuisplein in Almere. Five flavours, from €8,90 per box of 4.
Want to taste for yourself?
Five flavours of handmade energy balls, fresh from Almere. From €8,90 — free shipping from €50 across the Netherlands.