NRG BAR: Chocolate Coconut

When we saw the name “Chocolate Coconut,” we were fully expecting a bar that’s sweet and indulgent. After all, using chocolate in a bar is something that’s rarely done with restraint. Fortunately for NRG BAR, their Chocolate Coconut bar is not that, with chocolate chips and cocoa delivered as an accent to the bar’s core oat flavor. And of course, there’s the coconut, which, through the use of unsweetened coconut flakes, adds a very subtle crunch and note of flavor to the bar’s finish. One of the other flavors that’s in the mix, but not marketed on the label, is cinnamon, which adds a natural note of spice to the finish. Otherwise, the bar is soft and chewy, but feels slightly dry in the mouth. At 270 calories, the bar has some substance to it, as well as 6g of protein and 5g of fiber. On the outside, they’ve created a visually appealing label, with a cool looking logo and good use of color. While you can’t see inside the wrapper, it certainly has a vibe of sportiness to it, which seems to be what they are going for. Adding USDA Organic certification would be a plus in the future, but otherwise, we wouldn’t really change a thing about the look. Overall, a very enjoyable product that’s well executed.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Think Thin: White Chocolate Chip

Think Products’ Think Thin bar is a pretty standard protein bar that comes in a friendly – if boring – wrapper. On the taste front, the bar’s white chocolate coating fails to distract from the core flavor of whey and soy protein. It also suffers from a uniform, mushy texture. On the outside, the bar shoots for mainstream appeal with a pale-green label featuring a photo of white chocolate chunks. Unfortunately, the chunks are difficult to see due to the lack of contrast. The label lists the product’s name in a subdued font, along with a boast calling it a “high protein bar for an active lifestyle.” That’s a fair claim considering its 20 g of protein and total absence of sugar. The bar also boasts notable doses of a suite of vitamins and minerals, including copper, folate and calcium. Overall, Think Thin White Chocolate Chip is a solid nutritional choice, though its labeling, texture and flavor could be improved.

Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Clif Bar: Crunchy Peanut Butter

Great crunch and chew – no mouth-tiring work. A bit acidic, possibly from brown rice syrup, but with nice chunks of peanut butter. While the peanut bits provide some crunch, the bar could use a few more and the calorie cost would likely be offset by a potential reduction in sugar content. Nevertheless, the classic Clif wrapper and overall utility of this bar, which basically comes out like a protein-dense peanut butter cookie, mean that this product, one of the earliest of the Clif Bar offerings, is still one of its best ones.

Total Calories: 250
Fat: 6 g
Protein: 11 g
Fiber: 5 g

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Odwalla: Chocolate Chip Peanut

While the name “Chocolate Chip Peanut” did a good job of whetting our appetite, we were somewhat letdown by what’s inside this wrapper. There’s neither a lot of peanuts or chocolate chips, but instead you’ve got more of a “peanut butter crunch” thing going on, with a heavy note of peanut butter, followed by some oats and small bits of peanuts. Chocolate is in there, but not to the extent that it deserves to get full billing as part of the flavor name. Oddly enough, this product is also one that has extra protein compared to the other Odwalla bars, although it still comes in at only 7g per bar. In addition to protein, the bar has a fair amount of potassium, fiber, vitamins and minerals on 230 calories and 8g of fat. Like the rest of the Odwalla Bar line, this one’s biggest problem is its wrapper, which is littered text. There’s absolutely no way that any consumer is going to pick up and read more than a quarter of what’s on this wrapper. Our suggestion – get rid of it and stick with the important stuff. That would create room for graphic elements that actually make the bar look appetizing and help sell the bar. Overall, this bar needs work in both flavor and packaging.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Supreme Protein: Peanut Butter Crunch

Like the other products in the line, Supreme Protein: Peanut Butter Crunch looks and tastes like a candy bar, but delivers like a protein supplement. This bar bursts with creamy peanut butter flavor and offers a texture that blends chewy, crunchy and chewy. From a nutritional standpoint, it freights 15 grams of protein and small doses of 19 vitamins and minerals in 200 calories with just 5 grams of sugar. Its formulation uses artificial sweeteners to achieve its indulgent flavor.The label suffers from over-crowding, with boasts about the bar’s low-carb and trans fat-free credentials, it’s core ingredient and a tag calling it “new and improved” fighting for space with the brand name, flavor, and protein claim. Overall, Supreme Protein’s Peanut Butter Crunch is tasty bar with a significant protein dose for its calorie count, but the line could be bettered by packaging that moved some of its boasts off the front label.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Luna Protein: Cookie Dough

Luna Protein Cookie Dough proves to be a disappointment from a company that otherwise produces good bars. The flavor sounds intriguing and enjoyable – who doesn’t like cookie dough? – but the result falls short of its potential. The taste of the chocolate coating overpowers the hint of cookie dough – reminiscent of that found in ice cream – that emerges only in the finish. Textually, the bar is a mostly-uniform, chewy mush with an occasional crunch from chocolate chips in the filling. It also leaves a syrupy feeling and aftertaste in the mouth. Nutritionally, this is a lighter bar, weighing in at 180 calories. It boasts a smattering of vitamins and minerals at moderate levels, topping out at 30 percent of your daily suggested intake, but it comes up light on the protein front, especially for a product with “protein” in its name. While 12 grams might be significant for someone with an inactive lifestyle, that’s a small dose for most consumers who will reach for a protein product. Overall, Luna Protein Cookie Dough disappoints, missing the mark on flavor and coming up short on protein.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Supreme Protein: Rocky Road Brownie

Supreme Protein Rocky Road Brownie looks, feels and tastes like a candy bar. With a layer of marshmallow over a layer of brownie, all wrapped in a mixture of chocolate and peanuts, you’d be forgiven for confusing this bar with a high-sugar, high calorie indulgence. Instead, it offers 15 grams of protein with just 210 calories and 3 grams of sugar, owing its sweetness to the use of sugar alcohols (which are not readily absorbed by the body). It also boasts an interesting, chewy/crunchy consistency. If it can be criticized for anything, it’s the vitamin panel. The Supreme Protein Rocky Road Brownie bar offers only small doses of your daily vitamins, topping out at 25 percent of vitamin E. But, if you’re just looking for a low-sugar protein bar that doesn’t taste like chalk, you’re not going to do much better than this.

Rating: 4.5

Bear Naked: Chocolaty Cherry

Bear Naked, which is now owned by Kashi (a subsidiary of Kellogg’s), has been known for its granola products since its inception in 2002. Now, they’ve moved into the bar category in a big way, with this being the first of several granola based bars that they have launched. It’s an exceptionally well executed bar from start to finish, with a slightly chewy mix of granola that has been lightly flavored with cherries, coconut, chocolate, maple syrup, and a touch of vanilla. They’ve also fortified the bar with flax and sesame seeds, which aids the consistency of the bar. The resulting bar has 10g of fat, 230 calories, 4g of fiber, and 4g of protein, which certainly make it qualify for an on the go breakfast. On the packaging front, it’s easily identifiable as a Bear Naked product, with prime placement of the logo on the front of the wrapper. It’s also rather appealing to the appetite, with a wholesome theme that’s aided by the use of a clear area that allows viewing of the bar that’s inside. On the other hand, we’re confused about the “+energy” text that’s in bold on the front of the wrapper. This isn’t an energy bar, so, trying to catch buyers who are looking for energy seems like a distraction. Aside from this one minor grievance, this is an exceptional bar.

Rating: 4.5 of 5

ProBar Fruition: Strawberry

ProBar’s Strawberry “fruition” bar is a particularly enjoyable one, complete with large chunks of dried strawberries interspersed throughout the bar. That, paired with the soft date and rolled oat base, makes for something that’s extremely satisfying to the palate. The product also has brown rice syrup (sweetener), black and white chia seeds (for a touch of crunch), and cashews (in ground form). There’s a nice amount of sweet flavor to this bar, especially compared to ProBar’s flagship line which has savory flavors as well, while the soft and chewy consistency makes it extremely easy to eat the product at a fast pace. At 160 calories, this 1.7 ounce bar makes for a nice snack, which is made better by the fiber (4g), protein (3g), and vitamins and minerals. Packaging is simple and aesthetically appealing, with bright fruit images going around the border of the wrapper. It looks similar enough to the regular ProBar line while still feeling different. Plus, we love the new look to the logo and the new tag line. Overall, an awesome bar that makes for a nice complement to the core ProBar lineup.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

365 Organic: Honey Roasted Cranberry Delight Bar

When we first saw this bar, it looked to us like 365 Organic (aka the Whole Foods Market store brand) was trying to create their own interpretation of a kind bar. Well, looks can be deceiving. This USDA Organic certified bar is made of only five ingredients (peanuts, honey, dried cranberries, raisins, and dried apricots) and, as a result, delivers a very straightforward and enjoyable flavor. The bar tastes rather sweet and is sticky to the touch, so it’s good that it comes in a rather small 1.4 ounce portion. Still, if you’re in the mood for a snack, it’s certainly a decent alternative to the puffed rice and soy style bars that many other manufacturers are cranking out. On the other hand, there’s not a lot of substance or nutritional benefits from this bar, with Vitamin A (2%), iron (4%), protein (5g), and fiber (2g) being on the lower end of the spectrum. Packaging definitely has a no-frills feeling to it, with a clear wrapper and a stuck on label that manages to cram the product’s logo and name into the same space as the nutrition and ingredients panels. Ultimately, this is one of those bars that is only going to sell based on having a low price – it certainly can’t compete with the flashier and more appealing brands that are lining the shelves next to it.

Rating: 2.5 of 5 stars

Myoplex Lite: Peanut Caramel Crisp

With a label boasting 15 grams of “high quality protein” and bearing the Myoplex brand name, the promise of this bar is clear. A protein blend (both soy and whey) stands at the top of the ingredient list and that’s reflected in the taste. While its layer of crushed peanuts and caramel over chocolate creates an interesting texture – a mixture of crunchy and chewy – the peanut and chocolate accents only create a distraction from the cardboard undertone common to the protein bar category. The real test, though, is the nutrition panel. The bar’s 15 grams of protein is less than others in the category, but it also weighs in at a scant 190 calories – making it more of a pre-workout snack than a meal replacement. Where the bar really shines is on its nutrient content. It boasts 50 percent the USDA’s daily suggested intake of a suite of vitamins, including A, C, and E. It’s also a significant source of calcium, magnesium and zinc. Overall, the Myoplex Lite bar offers a good source of quick nutrition, even if it’s not the tastiest option on the shelf.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Pure: Cherry Cashew Bar

This bar is made with ingredients that are USDA Organic, raw, vegan, and gluten free, which helps make it live up to its “for all people” tag line. There’s a pleasant base of date and almond flavor to the mix, which has been sweetened with agave and has a slight crunch from small chunks of walnuts throughout. The cherry flavor is subtle, adding a nice tart flavor to the otherwise earthy tasting bar. We’re definitely pleased to see that they didn’t make it too “fruity” tasting. Nutritionally, this 1.7 ounce bar packs a fair amount in, including 400mg of omega 3, 4g of organic fiber, 6g and protein, 200 calories, 9g of fat, and vitamins and minerals. Packaging has a relatively simple style of presentation to it, with a white wrapper that’s decorated with a yellow illustration of a female face. It’s an appealing design that has a definite vibe of health and nutrition to it. The rest of the wrapper has a lot of text on it, but in this case, it all logically fits together as opposed to creating clutter. Overall, an exceptional tasting bar that delivers the perfect balance of flavor and nutrition.

Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Honey Stinger: Dark Chocolate Coconut Almond Pro

Part of Honey Stinger’s protein bar lineup, this bar’s most notable selling point is the fact that it contains 20g of protein. Advertised as a having dark chocolate, almond, and coconut flavors, this 3 ounce bar is loaded with enjoyable flavor as well as nutrition. The flavor of this bar can definitely hold its own, with the smooth chocolate center delivering a rich dose of flavor with light coconut and almond notes. If there’s anything we might change, it’s the sweetness of the bar, which is a bit strong, but it does help mask the underlying protein flavor. The bar weighs in at 380 calories, so there’s plenty of substance to it, plus there’s 20g of fiber, 3g of fiber, and loads of vitamins and nutrients. Packaging definitely looks and feels like a protein bar, with a dense 3 oz bar that has bold and colorful labeling. Plus, the Honey Stinger bee logo works quite nicely, emitting a wholesome but aggressive vibe that helps define this product’s niche. Overall, a really nice tasting bar that’s backed with 20g of protein. One of our favorite protein bars to date.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Sun Valley Bar: Goji Lemon

Admittedly, our expectations for this bar were somewhat low. Why? Well, aside from the fact that we haven’t had that many goji flavored bars (or other food products) that taste all that good, it’s the combination with lemon that made us have low expectations (lemon + goji??). Fortunately, what’s inside the wrapper is an extremely enjoyable product, with a perfectly balanced mixture of flavors. There’s a soft base of oats, almond butter, seeds, and nuts, which gives way to a touch of goji and a pleasant note of what tastes like lemon zest. It very much has a homemade feeling to it, which is furthered by the product’s minimalist label design. Nutritionally, the bar has 230 calories, 10g of fat, 7g of sugar, vitamin A, vitamin C, and iron. The ingredient list is mainly comprised of items that are recognizable to your average consumer, which is certainly a plus. So, our only concern for this product is its minimalist packaging, which doesn’t allow you to see in and is completely devoid of any personality. That, in our opinion, might make for a tough sell when it’s going up against more flash competitors. Still, a very enjoyable product.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

NoNuttin’ Granola Bar: Chocolate Chip

Compared to their Double Chocolate Chunk flavored bar, NoNuttin’s Chocolate Chip bar has far less chocolate flavor. However, it’s still plenty to satisfy and it also leaves more oat flavor in the mix. Plus, there’s a note of what tastes like brown sugar and/or brown rice syrup (kind of earthy, hint of molasses). All of these flavors combine to give the bar just the right amount of each flavor, with a mild level of sweetness to complement the oats and chocolate. It has a definite high quality feeling to it, which is definitely a plus for this bar. From a portion point of view, this bar is definitely on the lighter side, having only 130 calories and 5g of fat per bar. However, being a gluten and nut free formulation is something that should definitely give this bar some added marketability. On the packaging front, this 1.06 ounce bar has a pastel green wrapper that’s pretty busy as far as text elements are concerned. While the name itself is clever, we’re not huge fans of the logo (they’ve got a yellow character blocking the “o”), plus something just feels disjointed about the way that things have been arranged. Our eye was circling around looking for the focal point and trying to absorb everything that’s on there. Still, the flavor is great and if they can tweak the label we think this bar would be perfect.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Two-Time National League MVP, Albert Pujols, Endorses OhYeah! Protein Shakes & Bars

CHARLOTTE, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–ISS Research® announces an agreement with two-time National League MVP, Albert Pujols, to endorse its OhYeah!® nutrition bars and shakes. Read more

Kashi Golean Roll: Oatmeal Walnut

Kashi’s “GoLean Roll” line is an interesting one and their Oatmeal Walnut flavor is definitely one of the better flavors. This bar is very chewy, almost to the point of being difficult to eat (it will give your jaw a workout), and there’s a slight amount of crunch to it from the puffed rice coating. The center of the bar has a pretty decent “oatmeal” flavor, although it was hard to distinguish anything that really tasted like walnut. Ultimately, our biggest issue with this bar is how processed it tastes (and looks). The same can be said for the long ingredients list, which, despite being “all natural,” will require a food science degree to decipher. Nutritionally, the bar has 12g of protein, 6g of fiber, and 190 calories. It claims to be developed for an “optimized glycemic response” (slow release carbs to balance blood sugar and protein/fiber to help you keep satisfied). On that front, the bar seems to work as advertised – it definitely satisfied our hunger. Packaging is good and takes advantage of the popular Kashi brand, but we can’t help but feel like the concept of a “roll” is somewhat unappetizing. Overall, a decent bar, but we’d like it more if it were easier to chew.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

State of the Functional & Nutritional Bars Market

An interview with DSM, one of the world’s largest suppliers of nutritional ingredients. Read more

Clif Bar: Maple Nut

Maple Nut is one of the more enjoyable Clif Bar flavors that we’ve sampled. It tastes like exactly what the name implies, with a soft but slightly crunchy body that has just the right amount of maple flavor to it. There’s also a touch of salt to the finish, which gives the product a slightly savory note that helps balance everything out. In terms of ingredients, the bar’s key ingredients are organic oats and soy rice crisps, which help to add some substance and nutrition to the bar. They also account for the bar’s soft, but crunchy texture, which is quite pleasing and further adds to the sense of substance. Nutritionally, the bar has 10g of protein, 5g of fiber, 240 calories, and an ample dose of over a dozen vitamins and minerals. It’s a great choice if you need a snack before a workout or something to help get you through a long afternoon. Packaging is clean and appealing, although we’re not sure why the color purple was chosen to go with a maple and nut flavored bar. Still, the overall product is extremely good and we’d definitely reach for it again.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Vega Whole Food Energy Bar: Berry Flavor

Like the other Vega Whole Food Energy bars, this one is made from “raw, alkaline, plant based superfoods.” You’ll find dates, hemp protein, almond butter, agave nectar, sprouted whole flax seeds, cranberries, raisins, almonds, sesame seeds, organic sprouted mung beans, organic wheat grass, and a few other ingredients for flavoring. It’s a soft but chewy bar, with a slightly dry texture, especially at the finish. Flavor is really enjoyable, with notes of the fruit and nuts throughout. There’s also a slightly earthy note of flavor to the bar, which is likely from the wheatgrass, mung, and flax. Nutritionally, the bar is a winner, with 10g of raw protein, 250mg of potassium, 6g of fiber, omega 3 and 6, vitamins, and minerals on top of 240 calories. The bar is great as for snacking before a workout – or to help supplement a meal with something that’s sweet but nutritious. Packaging is probably the only area that we’d like to see some improvement, with a look that feels technical rather than inviting. To a degree, the label made us expect a bar that didn’t taste good, which is fortunately not the case. Overall, it’s a very enjoyable product, but kicking up the packaging a bit would definitely help.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kashi GoLean Roll: Caramel Peanut

We can honestly say now that the success Kashi had with its earlier Roll bar was no fluke – the caramel peanut is as formidable as the chocolate in terms of taste and ability to satisfy. Its flavor can’t be beat in terms of caramel notes, although the nuts and rice are a bit bland. Texture is an issue, however, as the “nougat” center of the role – quotes used because very little nougat is used in the making of this bar – is resistant enough to yank out fillings or whole teeth, especially when your jaw is already tired from cranking through most of this bar. Still, it’s well worth the trouble, especially with 12 g of protein and 6 g of fiber sitting around to soothe the pain.

Calories: 190
Fat: 5g
Protein: 12 g
Fiber: 6 g
Total Carbs: 27 g

Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Larabar Jocalat: Chocolate Coffee

Like other Larabar products, this one is made with simple, understandable ingredients, including dates, walnuts, hazelnuts, cocoa, cashews, and coffee (all are USDA Organic). The resulting mix is quite good, especially since the flavor of the nuts helps mask the flavor of the dates, which can tend to overwhelm other flavors. The use of cocoa also helps quite a bit, with a touch of indulgence added to this nutritious tasting bar. And speaking of nutrition, the bar has 4g of protein, 5g of fiber, vitamins and minerals, and 190 calories. So, there’s some substance to it, but not too much, and just the right amount of vitamin content to make this a worthwhile snack. Last, but not least, is the packaging. It’s dark colored theme seems like the right choice for a chocolate and coffee flavored bar, while placement of the USDA and Fair Trade logos are a plus. On the other hand, the “JOCOLAT” text seems to make it hard for the eye to find the flavor of the bar – just something to consider. Overall, a very enjoyable bar.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Eat Natural: Almond & Apricot Bar

Made in the UK, this bar is billed as being a “luxurious bar full of premium quality ingredients and nothing else.” It’s a yoghurt coated bar that’s made with dried fruit, nuts, puffed rice, and honey. Flavor is really good, with a pleasant tasting body that’s light but crispy, with a sweet note of honey, fruit, and yogurt followed by some crunch from the almonds, which are added in large pieces. Eat Natural has done a great job with this bar, blending extremely enjoyable flavor, substance, and nutrition. From a nutrition point of view, this 235 calorie bar has 2g of fiber, 4g of protein, calcium, and iron, which certainly isn’t the most nutritious bar out there, but it’s still a good one. Packaging is intuitive and appealing, with the name “EAT NATURAL” making a pretty obvious statement about what’s inside the wrapper. Plus, you can see through the clear plastic wrapping, which helps whet the appetite. Overall, a very enjoyable bar that’s flavorful, nourishing, and nice looking.

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Clif Bar & Company Gives Protein Some Zest With New Lemon-Flavored CLIF Builder’s™ Bar

BERKELEY, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Clif Bar & Company is bringing the refreshingly tangy taste of lemon to its CLIF Builder’s™ protein bar lineup. Read more

Auto Control Medical introduces first low-carb, low-sugar snack food tailor-made for managing diabetes

TORONTO, June 15 /CNW Telbec/ – Auto Control Medical is pleased to announce that ExtendBar is now available in Canada. Read more

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