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NRG BAR: Chocolate Coconut

admin — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:38:41 +0000

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

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Post tags: bar, chocolate, Coconut, flavor, tastes

Think Thin: White Chocolate Chip

admin — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:18:45 +0000

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

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Post tags: chocolate, flavor, Protein, tastes

Clif Bar: Crunchy Peanut Butter

admin — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 13:00:19 +0000

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

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Post tags: bar, calories, chewy, Nutrition, tastes

Odwalla: Chocolate Chip Peanut

admin — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:00:14 +0000

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

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Post tags: bar, crunch, flavor, sweetness, tastes

Supreme Protein: Peanut Butter Crunch

admin — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:00:38 +0000

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

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Post tags: bar, flavors, Protein, tastes

Luna Protein: Cookie Dough

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 13:00:36 +0000

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

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Post tags: bar, calories, chewy, chocolate, flavor, flavorings, tastes

Supreme Protein: Rocky Road Brownie

admin — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:00:35 +0000

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

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Post tags: bar, calories, chewy, chocolate, flavor, tastes

Bear Naked: Chocolaty Cherry

admin — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:00:35 +0000

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

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Post tags: bar, chocolate, flavor, flavors, tastes

ProBar Fruition: Strawberry

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:00:13 +0000

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

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Post tags: bar, flavor, fruit, fruits, tastes

365 Organic: Honey Roasted Cranberry Delight Bar

admin — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:00:27 +0000

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