Gigi's Protein Bar Porn/Review Thread

[Gigi999]

Pure Bar Dark Chocolate Berry





Overall Rating: 6/10

When I first opened this bar, I thought it looked a lot like a larabar, but with little pieces of nuts inside. It has a slightly firmer texture, but one typical of fruit and nut bars. It does taste like chocolate and berry, but the two flavors are not very strong. If I didn't know the flavor of the bar, I probably would not have guessed it other than just chocolate. I think this might be because of the number of different fruits pure uses, as opposed to only chocolate, dates, and berries. Texturally, the little walnut and almond pieces improve the bar by breaking up the "cocoa" flavor. Without these pieces, it would taste a lot like "kit's organic bars" by clif. Overall, I really like that this bar is organic and raw, but none of the flavors were strong enough for me to have again. It tasted mostly like a mixture of dates, various fruits and nuts, and some cocoa powder.

Nutrition: 7/10

Around 190 calories for 6g of protein. It is really high in both carbs and sugar. It is both "raw" and "organic", which is impressive, and the ingredients do not look too bad. I would consider this more of a fruit and nut bar for a high carb day, not as a protein bar.

Cost: $1.99

Pure Bar Banana Coconut




Overall Rating: 7/10

I really haven't seen many bars with banana in them, so I was excited to try this! It is really similar to the chocolate berry one above, with the texture typical of fruit and nut bars. However, the banana and coconut flavors come through more and are easier to distinguish. Texturally, the little walnut and almond pieces improve the bar by breaking up the mostly "banana" flavor. Without these pieces, it would taste a lot like "kit's organic bars" by clif. Overall, I really like that this bar is organic and raw, and I might repurchase this to eat with some greek yogurt or coffee. I prefer this flavor over the chocolate raspberry, and am curious now as to how it would taste warmed up as the flavors might become more prominent.

Nutrition: 7/10

Around 200 calories for 6g of protein. It has a little less carbs and sugar than the other flavor, but still on the higher side. It is both "raw" and "organic", which is impressive, and the ingredients do not look too bad. I would consider this more of a fruit and nut bar for a high carb day, not as a protein bar.

Cost: $1.99

[AntM1564]

Personally, I get easily bored with the same flavor profiles (especially the typical peanut butter and chocolate) so I try to have a variety of different bars. This is not the case with really good bars (like the 10/10's on here). Most of the time I like the sweet/salty flavors, softer type bars that can be heated up. I love chocolate, but if its a "chocolate" protein bar, it has to have a strong chocolate flavor to be worth having again.

Do you have certain flavors you prefer? I think most people would enjoy unique flavors like the lemon cashew, it's also more of a "summery" flavor than the other ones. And you're right, it does also look like a pound cake!

I'm not a big fan of chocolate in general. If I had to choose different types of chocolate, I'd go white chocolate>dark chocolate>milk chocolate. I don't have a favorite flavor, I like to experiment. But I would gravitate towards nut and fruit flavors.

[FsAxis92]

Protein bar junkie checking in. Subbed.

[Gigi999]

I'm not a big fan of chocolate in general. If I had to choose different types of chocolate, I'd go white chocolate>dark chocolate>milk chocolate. I don't have a favorite flavor, I like to experiment. But I would gravitate towards nut and fruit flavors.

I agree with you on experimenting, and really good white chocolate bars are hard to pull off! A lot of times it is difficult to even distinguish between white chocolate and yogurt in some of them.

[Gigi999]

Quest Apple Pie





Overall Rating: 7/10

Before I had ever tried any quest bars, the apple pie flavor was the one most people seemed to rave about. When I first tried it out of the package, I thought it tasted like apples but after I warmed it up for 20 seconds, I got more of the “apple pie” flavor. It has little pieces of apple inside with some specs of cinnamon, and the aroma alone is amazing! It has a firmer texture than the newer quest bars, but it is best warmed up. The part I love about apple pie the most is the buttery flaky crust (I'm usually "that" annoying person who picks off all the crust on pies), which I did not really taste at all in this bar, hence the 7/10 rating. I would recommend this bar if you enjoy apple pie or fruity bars in general, but my quest favorites (that I would rather purchase) will continue to be chocolate chip cookie dough, raspberry white chocolate, and cookies n’ cream.

Nutrition: 10/10

It is by quest, so I again do not really have much to say besides the sodium is a little high and the sucralose (not a big deal really). It has 20 grams of protein for only 170 calories!!! These are one of the best macros for a protein bar, the fiber is another plus!

Cost: $2.99

[Gigi999]

Power Crunch Chocolate Mint





Overall Rating: 9/10

I love the little chocolate mints on the beds at fancy hotels (always race to the beds to get them before anyone else does) and mint chocolate chip ice cream, so I was really excited to try this bar when I saw it. It looks exactly like a wafer bar, with two thin layers of chocolate mint in between the crispy wafers. I definitely got a mint flavor in addition to the chocolate, and I will agree that they taste a lot like thin mint cookies. They are little less sweet than a typical wafer and surprisingly do not have much of a protein aftertaste. I would definitely buy these again, and appreciate that they have only 10 carbs (great for a rest day). I like this flavor as much as the “berry”, and would rate them above all other power crunch flavors.

Nutrition: 10/10

Around 13g protein for 205 calories, with only 10g carbs, moderate fat, and low sugar (stevia). The protein source is the “Proto-Whey” protein blend that most Bio-Nutritional bars have, which is great.

Cost: $1.50

[jh18]

Power Crunch Chocolate Mint





Overall Rating: 9/10

I love the little chocolate mints on the beds at fancy hotels (always race to the beds to get them before anyone else does) and mint chocolate chip ice cream, so I was really excited to try this bar when I saw it. It looks exactly like a wafer bar, with two thin layers of chocolate mint in between the crispy wafers. I definitely got a mint flavor in addition to the chocolate, and I will agree that they taste a lot like thin mint cookies. They are little less sweet than a typical wafer and surprisingly do not have much of a protein aftertaste. I would definitely buy these again, and appreciate that they have only 10 carbs (great for a rest day). I like this flavor as much as the “berry”, and would rate them above all other power crunch flavors.

Nutrition: 10/10

Around 13g protein for 205 calories, with only 10g carbs, moderate fat, and low sugar (stevia). The protein source is the “Proto-Whey” protein blend that most Bio-Nutritional bars have, which is great.

Cost: $1.50

Love power crunch bars. Taste great and affordable. Do wish they had a little more protein in them. The cookies and cream is my fav followed by chocolate mint.

[AntM1564]

I need to try my Quest Apple Pie heated up. That Power Cunch bar looks so good! Almost like a waffer.

[Mikelh]

Power crunch bars are strong win. Haven't had the mint, but every other flavor i've tried is great

[FsAxis92]

Power crunch bars are strong win. Haven't had the mint, but every other flavor i've tried is great

Samesies. I sampled them at the Arnold and they were nomnom. Surprisingly filling, I might add. Which is strange because I have a bottomless Pitt of a stomach.

[FsAxis92]

Quest Apple Pie





Overall Rating: 7/10

Before I had ever tried any quest bars, the apple pie flavor was the one most people seemed to rave about. When I first tried it out of the package, I thought it tasted like apples but after I warmed it up for 20 seconds, I got more of the “apple pie” flavor. It has little pieces of apple inside with some specs of cinnamon, and the aroma alone is amazing! It has a firmer texture than the newer quest bars, but it is best warmed up. The part I love about apple pie the most is the buttery flaky crust (I'm usually "that" annoying person who picks off all the crust on pies), which I did not really taste at all in this bar, hence the 7/10 rating. I would recommend this bar if you enjoy apple pie or fruity bars in general, but my quest favorites (that I would rather purchase) will continue to be chocolate chip cookie dough, raspberry white chocolate, and cookies n’ cream.

Nutrition: 10/10

It is by quest, so I again do not really have much to say besides the sodium is a little high and the sucralose (not a big deal really). It has 20 grams of protein for only 170 calories!!! These are one of the best macros for a protein bar, the fiber is another plus!

Cost: $2.99

Was it a fresh bar? When they're fresh Apple Pie is absolutely insanely good.

[Mikelh]

Samesies. I sampled them at the Arnold and they were nomnom. Surprisingly filling, I might add. Which is strange because I have a bottomless Pitt of a stomach.

I am right there with ya. Could eat forever lol. It's been a while since Ive had one of those bars so i can't recall how filling they were. I do know they were delicious though. Dat pb chocolate one.. MMMM

[Gigi999]

I need to try my Quest Apple Pie heated up. That Power Cunch bar looks so good! Almost like a waffer.

A def must try! I'm also usually puzzled when someone tells me they don't "like" quest bars, but it's usually because they have not tried them warmed up. It just changes the texture so much for the better (especially heated for longer on lower power)!

Was it a fresh bar? When they're fresh Apple Pie is absolutely insanely good.

I am right there with ya. Could eat forever lol. It's been a while since Ive had one of those bars so i can't recall how filling they were. I do know they were delicious though. Dat pb chocolate one.. MMMM

Hmm, now I am thinking it might have been an older one. But I did eat it the day I bought it. I might retry it and see if it tastes any different, but I did the same with strawberry cheesecake and ended up with the same opinion. Fresh chocolate chip cookie dough, are so amazing though! I always get huge massive chocolate pieces.

[Gigi999]

Balance Cookie Dough





Overall Rating: 7/10

One of the flavors I truly enjoy in a protein bar is cookie dough, simply because it's rare for me to actually eat the real thing (I have to stop myself from eating the whole batch before it's baked). I've always seen these bars, so I assumed they were like a lot of the other grocery store brands but I was wrong! It tastes very similar to the little pre-portioned out cookie dough squares in the nestle chocolate chip cookie dough packets. The texture is shocking similar to real cookie dough! There are even chocolate chip pieces mixed into the "dough" which is very creamy. The chips don't quite taste like real chocolate chips and there is a slight protein aftertaste after the first couple bites, but overall the bar is still very good. I'm curious as to how it would taste heated up now, but it does also have a very thin chocolate coating which would melt. I really think it is worth a try if you like cookie dough, and I probably would eat it more often if the nutritional profile was better.

Nutrition: 6/10

Around 210 calories for 15g of protein, with a 40-30-30 macro ratio. The protein is from a blend of soy, whey, milk, and casein. It claims to have a lower GI and a variety of minerals/vitamins. It does also have some processed oils, fructose, maltodextrin, and dextrose, which are not ideal.

Cost: $1

[Gigi999]

Thinkthin Chocolate Covered Strawberries




Overall Rating: 5/10

Before I actually tried this bar, I thought I was really going to love it. The name and smell of strawberries alone were convincing. There are even tiny little flecks of strawberry pieces in the moist, but crumbly inside encased in a waxy chocolate coating. I was a little surprised after actually tasting it however. The strawberry taste is extremely artificial and it has the same protein aftertaste as the other bars. The flavor is "chocolate-covered strawberries", but there wasn't any chocolate flavor at all in the inside, and the strawberry flavor still is not very prominent (not as much as the smell unfortunately). I still prefer the peanut butter and caramel fudge over this flavor, and would not purchase it again.

Nutrition: 6/10

Around 200 calories for 15g of protein. It is moderate in carbs, average for the protein to carb/cal ratio.
On the plus side, it is gluten free. However, the protein is a blend of casein, whey, soy, and glycerin and it also has sugar alcohols, "0g" sugar.

Cost: $1.99

[AntM1564]

A def must try! I'm also usually puzzled when someone tells me they don't "like" quest bars, but it's usually because they have not tried them warmed up. It just changes the texture so much for the better (especially heated for longer on lower power)!

So true. I had one of my WCR out of the wrapper and it was very good, but once I put it in my toaster oven, it was even better.

[stainlesstyle]

5 star thread. Thanks for the detailed reviews with pictures, really enjoying all of them!

[Gigi999]

Vega One Chocolate Cherry




Overall Rating: 10/10

This was the second flavor of vega one’s protein bars I tried before I was hooked. It is definitely rare to see chocolate and cherry together in a protein bar, but it reminds me of old time dark chocolate covered cherries, which I love. The chocolate coating on the outside is delicious, a very intense rich chocolate. The inside tastes mostly like cocoa but with a hint of cherry. There is a perfect amount of both the chocolate and cherry flavors, so that one does not overpower the other. Texturewise, it is a little different than the vega sport bars, in that is studded with more seeds and the sweetness from the dates and sorghum comes through more. There are even little dried cherry pieces throughout the bar! Overall, this is one of my favorite bars ever, and I love the flavor combination! It is also very wholesome and filling, and I will continue to repurchase it.

Nutrition: 10/10

Around 240 calories for 15g of protein, 6g of fiber, and only 14g of natural sugar. It is also vegan, lower in fat, and moderate to high carb. The ingredients look beautiful. A billion probiotics, antioxidants, green blend, and the protein is from brown rice and peas.

Cost: $3.39

[Gigi999]

Quest Raspberry White Chocolate




Overall Rating: 10/10

This is another unique flavor, and one of the more “aesthetic” protein bars with lots of MASSIVE white chocolate chips and real raspberry pieces even with seeds still in them. The texture is a little softer than the other quest bars but very similar to the chocolate chip cookie dough. You can definitely taste the tangy raspberries (and smell them), and the white chocolate flavor, though the chips taste slightly different and are drier than real white chocolate. I also got a slight cheesecake flavor, even more than the strawberry cheesecake Quest bar. With the combination of sweet, salty, tangy, fruity, and doughy flavors, the bar is a must try. It is one of my favorite Quest bar flavors and I will continue to repurchase it! (Also, this bar warmed up slightly until the dinosaur white chocolate chips melt multiplies the intensity of the flavors/aroma and it becomes even more amazing.)

Nutrition: 10/10

Around 190 calories for 20g of protein, minimal net carbs, 17g fiber, and only 8g of fat. Like every other quest bar, the macros are very impressive. Just the sodium is slightly high and there is some sucralose in addition to the stevia.

Cost: $2.99

[Mikelh]

^^WCR has the best chunks evarrrr

[Gigi999]

So true. I had one of my WCR out of the wrapper and it was very good, but once I put it in my toaster oven, it was even better.

^^WCR has the best chunks evarrrr

Mentioned WCR, so I just had to review it haha. Still have yet to review CCCD and CnC, I've gotten ridiculous chips in those as well!

[Gigi999]

Lara ALT Lemon Pound Cake




Overall Rating: 9/10

Another lemon flavored bar! As soon as I opened the bar, I got a really fresh scent lemoney scent. The texture is slightly chewy from the dates and crunchy from the pieces of protein “crisps” and almonds. It tastes like a lemon pound cake or any dessert with a lot of lemon in it! It is crunchy, chewy, sweet, and tart all at the same time. It is smaller than most protein bars, but it is also more dense and filling. If you like tart flavors, lemon bars, or lemon creme pie, you will love this bar! Also, this bar tastes great heated as well, the lemon flavor intensifies. The lemon pound cake and pumpkin pie are both my favorite lara ALT bars and I will continue to repurchase them.

Nutrition: 10/10
Around 210 calories for 10g protein and only 9g of fat. In comparison to the “larabars”, the ALT bars have more carbs and protein and less fat but still the same natural quality ingredients. The protein is from pea protein, so the bar is also vegan and gluten free.

Cost: $1.25

[FsAxis92]

Lara ALT Lemon Pound Cake




Overall Rating: 9/10

Another lemon flavored bar! As soon as I opened the bar, I got a really fresh scent lemoney scent. The texture is slightly chewy from the dates and crunchy from the pieces of protein “crisps” and almonds. It tastes like a lemon pound cake or any dessert with a lot of lemon in it! It is crunchy, chewy, sweet, and tart all at the same time. It is smaller than most protein bars, but it is also more dense and filling. If you like tart flavors, lemon bars, or lemon creme pie, you will love this bar! Also, this bar tastes great heated as well, the lemon flavor intensifies. The lemon pound cake and pumpkin pie are both my favorite lara ALT bars and I will continue to repurchase them.

Nutrition: 10/10
Around 210 calories for 10g protein and only 9g of fat. In comparison to the “larabars”, the ALT bars have more carbs and protein and less fat but still the same natural quality ingredients. The protein is from pea protein, so the bar is also vegan and gluten free.

Cost: $1.25

They're really great. I go back and forth between liking the seeds and not caring for them. This flavor has grown on me a lot for not liking white chocolate.

[Gigi999]

They're really great. I go back and forth between liking the seeds and not caring for them. This flavor has grown on me a lot for not liking white chocolate.

I agree, they're a little different from most bars because the crisps are denser than the whey crisps in majority of protein bars. I heard there is a new ALT flavor btw (with chocolate chips in it), still have not tried it though.

[Gigi999]

Organic Food Bar Omega-3 Flax




Overall Rating: 6/10
This bar smells and tastes a lot like flax seeds, and the flavor is so strong that it takes over the bar. There are some really otherwise delicious ingredients (dates, raisins, almond butter) that are very hard to taste as a result. Texturally, there are small pieces of flax sprouts and bits of raisins in the soft, pliable bar. Despite the extremely healthy nutritional profile and 2,000g of omega-3’s I would not repurchase this bar simply because of the taste, unlike the “protein” flavor bar from Organic Food, which is so good I ate it all before I could take pictures for reviewing!

Nutrition: 10/10
Around 310 cals for 11g protein and 16g fat. Beautiful ingredients; Almond Butter, Dates, Biosprouts, Raisins, Quinoa, and “lots of love.” The Kosher and Organic bar also contains 2,000g of omega-3 fatty acids and it is alkaline forming. The fat is slightly higher and protein is lower than most bars, but it is a great source of nutrients and fuel.

Cost: $2.99

[Gigi999]

ISS Research Victory Peanut Butter Chip




Overall Rating: 7/10

I really was not sure of what to expect in a “peanut butter chip” flavored bar, but it definitely smelled like peanut butter. To my surprise, there was not much texture in the “taffy-like” bar. It was softer and more pliable than the newer quest bars and warmed up became even softer but the peanut butter flavor did not come through as much as expected (at least for a peanut butter fan). I also did get a slight protein aftertaste when I tried the bar out of the wrapper, but after it was warmed up, it was less noticeable. Because of the texture, it was also extremely difficult to warm up without it melting too much. I would recommend the chocolate chip cookie dough flavor from this brand over the peanut butter chip unless you prefer a more subtle peanut butter flavor (I have yet to meet a bodybuilder that does though). I personally would not purchase this flavor again, but I have heard it tastes good frozen. I might try freezing a different flavor, maybe the vanilla almond.

Nutrition: 10/10

Around 200 calories for 21g of protein, low fat, low sodium, very low net carbs, good-looking ingredients, and a similar prebiotic fiber syrup to the one used by Quest. The nutritional profile is very impressive especially because no sugar alcohols are used to sweeten it, and it is really easy to fit into my macros.

Cost: $1.99

[Gigi999]

Quest Peanut Butter & Jelly





Overall Rating: 9/10

The picture of the sandwich on the quest bar wrapper reminded of the perfect sandwich; thinly sliced fresh bread, a layer of strawberry or raspberry jelly, and a thick spread of crunchy peanut butter, all with a chilled glass of vanilla almond milk. The smell of this bar is amazing, almost identical to an actual peanut butter and jelly sandwich, with the berry jelly being more dominant. The texture is a little crumblier and firmer than the newer quest bars and there are little chopped peanuts and uneven swirls of jelly throughout the bar. Served with some milk, this bar tastes best heated up, which allows the flavors and scents to intensify and the taste/texture of bread to come out more. I will continue to repurchase this bar, especially because it is only 210 calories compared to the likely 500-600 calorie pb&j sandwiches that I still absurdly enjoy (despite being 20 years old).

Nutrition: 10/10

It's by quest, so I don't really have much to say besides the sodium is a little high and the sucralose (not a big deal really). It has 20 grams of protein for 210 calories!!! These are higher cal than some of the other quest bars, but still quite impressive for a high protein bar.

Cost: $2.99

[Mikelh]

The victory bar review is spot on

you a chem or biochem major or something like that? Been noticing the texts in the background lol

[Gigi999]

Zone Perfectly Simple Toasted Coconut





Overall Rating: 8/10

For a very long time I did not know about the “perfectly simple” line by zone, or that it only had 8 ingredients. I assumed that it was in the realm of all the other zone bars. The bar smells like real shredded coconut, which is also visible in the bar. Texturally, there are pieces of coconut and crunchy chopped almonds through the bar base, which is firmer than a larabar but similar in taste because of the date paste. There is a perfect combination of textures and sweetness, and I would definitely purchase this bar again.

Nutrition: 9/10

Around 200 calories for 10g protein. It is also low fat, gluten free, and low sodium, but the primary protein source is soy protein isolate and the sugar is on the higher side. Despite this, the small ingredient list still makes this bar a better option than most non-specialty bars, which are often more processed.

Cost: $6.99 for 6 bars

[Gigi999]

Go Macro Cashew Caramel “Protein Paradise”




Overall Rating: 7/10

Go Macro has a lot of different flavors and my natural instinct was to choose the “protein” one first. I smelled a hint of cashew, but really did not get much caramel. Texturally, the bar has little pieces of cashews and seeds throughout, there is a slight hint of caramel from the mesquite, and cinnamon brings all the flavors together. The vegan bar is sweetened with brown rice syrup instead of the typical date paste or fruit sugars, which may be the reason why it is less sweet than most bars. Besides the really high carbs, it is a great bar but none of the flavors stood out enough and it was not sweet enough for my liking. Personally, I would not purchase this flavor of go macro again, but if you prefer a more subtle cashew/nut flavor and need some carbs, this bar would make a great snack.

Nutrition: 9/10
Around 260 calories for 12g protein, very low sodium, moderate fat, very high carb. It is gluten-free, vegan, non-gmo, and macrobiotic. The ingredients are also organic, with the protein sources of brown rice and pea proteins.

Cost: $2.59