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

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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

Honest Foods: Blueberry Vanilla Crackle

Of Honest Foods’ “Granola Plank” line, this was our favorite – and a new member of our Hall of Fame. The bar blends flavor and texture perfectly, starting with a base of nuts, seeds, and puffed rice, wheat and corn. It’s soft but has a slight amount of chew and crunch, which has then been perfectly flavored with vanilla extract, dried fruit (blueberries & cranberries), brown rice syrup, brown sugar, natural flavors, and a touch of salt. The resulting bar has great depth of flavor, starting with the grains and nuts, followed by the dried fruit, and finally finishing with vanilla. From a nutrition point of view, this bar, which is labeled for 2 servings, has 380 calories, 3g of fiber, 4g of protein, iron, calcium, and 300mg omega-3. It’s got a lot of substance to it, so we’d certainly recommend that you only eat half at a time – you certainly won’t be hungry. Packaging is simple and extremely appealing, with a large window to view the bar. The placement of the Honest Foods logo in the centers adds a touch of wholesomeness and credibility to the product. Overall, one of the best bars we’ve had in a while.

Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Zone Perfect Fruitified: Apple Cinnamon

Be it brownie or graham, Zone Perfect has always been able to handle the art of getting bits of titular ingredients into its bars better than the competition, and its Apple Cinnamon flavor is no exception, with tasty – almost juicy – bits of moist apple studding this otherwise pedestrian product. While it’s got nice cinnamon flavor and an easy chew, the bits of soy protein that Zone uses to impart nutritional balance on its products seem to fall into a dusty mix pretty quick in this version. That’s not to say that it’s bad – the bar does well on the virtue scale and would likely be a great pre- or post-workout snack. But the combination of sharp smell and grainy texture does detract from the mix.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Calories: 180
Fat: 2 g
Carbs: 27 g
Fiber: 3 g
Protein: 14 g

Honest Foods: Apple Ginger

Honest Foods bills its bars as “baked whole food bars”, which appears to refer to its soft oat and nut base. The bar has a soft but slightly chewy texture, with a heavy amount of oat flavor. There’s a hint of almond butter to it, but otherwise we do not taste any of the other nut ingredients that are in the bar. Then there’s the apple, which hits your palate in a big way. Really, we think there’s too much sweet apple flavor relative to the base grain flavors. Plus, it almost completely hides the ginger, which seems like a bit of an afterthought. Packaging wise, we like the look of the bar and the Honest name (hey, it worked for Honest Tea). Definitely worth a try.

Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Pro Bar: Koka Moka

We were sucked in by this bar’s subtle but appealing name, but what was inside the wrapper is ultimately what would keep us coming back for more.  The core flavor is quite pleasant, blending raisins, dates, oats, and sunflower seeds with the decadent flavor of dark chocolate.  There’s an occasional crunch from raw almonds and sesame seeds, which helps give the bar its diverse texture.  The addition of other seeds (such as flax, pumpkin, and hemp), nuts, and whole grains help add to the product’s fiber (6g) and protein (9g) content while also rounding out the bar’s earthy flavor.  The only dig as this product is the high calorie (360) and fat (18g) content per bar.  That rules it out as a snack, but certainly makes it a good choice for a meal replacement.  Packaging is good, but when put side by side with other Pro Bars, the brand looks a bit monotonous. Adding something that helps whet the appetite and/or gives the bar a bit of personality would be a nice touch.  Overall, exceptional flavor and nutrition content still make this a very worthy bar to choose.

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars