Thoughts on Quest bars?

[EliKoehn]

I decided to buy a bulk order of some (surprisingly expensive) Quest bars, as I've finally been convinced of the importance of protein frequency, and I can easily remedy that by eating a bar at my desk a couple hours before training. No need to mix a shake and clean the bottle or open a can or cook something or worry about mercury levels, etc., for an extra 20g and another serving for timing purposes.

Bought on sale here and they were sold out of most flavors. Got mint chocolate chunk.

It's pretty good I guess? Smaller and denser than I was expecting honestly. Has a nice chewy texture and decent flavor, but I don't know if $2.50 a bar is a good per unit price or if I could have done better.

Anyone like these?

[paulinkansas]

I save my empty Greek yogurt containers and lids to make a Vince Gironda hormone precursor shake and sometimes take it with me to one work or the other. Won't go into detail on the ingredients, but it's 60-70 grams of protein.

[desslok]

I decided to buy a bulk order of some (surprisingly expensive) Quest bars, as I've finally been convinced of the importance of protein frequency, and I can easily remedy that by eating a bar at my desk a couple hours before training. No need to mix a shake and clean the bottle or open a can or cook something or worry about mercury levels, etc., for an extra 20g and another serving for timing purposes.

Bought on sale here and they were sold out of most flavors. Got mint chocolate chunk.

It's pretty good I guess? Smaller and denser than I was expecting honestly. Has a nice chewy texture and decent flavor, but I don't know if $2.50 a bar is a good per unit price or if I could have done better.

Anyone like these?

Some of them taste pretty good, but yeah they are super expensive for what they are. You are paying for convenience. Unfortunately i have to avoid them due to all the artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols(made that mistake on a road trip once was not pretty). Some flavors taste pretty good heated up in the microwave too.

[AdamWW]

They’re OK… most of them have identical textures and that ‘quest bar’ flavor…

But, they perform well in independent tests, and some of the options aren’t terrible

As long as you can handle the fiber bomb

[EliKoehn]

Paul, I'm going to do the precursor shake at some point soon. Manwittaplan's ears are burning somewhere.

Are they unsafe for some people or something, regarding the sugar alcohols?

And I only care about the protein frequency and the convenience, really. The flavor is just a plus if it's good. I want high performance and recovery once I resume eating at maintenance and protein frequency is probably where I'm most lacking.

And I actually was planning to refrigerate them! Who would microwave a protein bar?

[TolerantLactose]

lNo need to mix a shake and clean the bottle

I bring a shaker to work often. I just refill it with water after and let it sit until after work. That's enough to keep it from developing a bad smell over time.

I also have a bunch of protein bars from Pure Protein for about $1.30 CDN per bar (20-23g protein). I don't know how widely available they are.

[air2fakie]

I decided to buy a bulk order of some (surprisingly expensive) Quest bars, as I've finally been convinced of the importance of protein frequency, and I can easily remedy that by eating a bar at my desk a couple hours before training. No need to mix a shake and clean the bottle or open a can or cook something or worry about mercury levels, etc., for an extra 20g and another serving for timing purposes.

If you're paying $2.50/bar anyway, for variety you can also buy pre-packaged protein / nutritional supplement shakes in multi-packs. As long as you don't buy a plant-based one, you can freeze them beforehand and by the time you drink it, it'll be a creamy cold shake.

For example, Ensure Protein Max is 30g protein & 100mg caffeine.

[EliKoehn]

I bring a shaker to work often. I just refill it with water after and let it sit until after work. That's enough to keep it from developing a bad smell over time.

I also have a bunch of protein bars from Pure Protein for about $1.30 CDN per bar (20-23g protein). I don't know how widely available they are.

Thanks - and good thought. I have some powder at the office, but I just use it if I'm not going to be able to eat lunch or forgot my chicken, etc.

If you're paying $2.50/bar anyway, for variety you can also buy pre-packaged protein / nutritional supplement shakes in multi-packs. As long as you don't buy a plant-based one, you can freeze them beforehand and by the time you drink it, it'll be a creamy cold shake.

For example, Ensure Protein Max is 30g protein & 100mg caffeine.

Damn now I feel like I might have wasted my money because that sounds better...

[paulinkansas]

[QUOTE=EliKoehn;1651100003]I decided to buy a bulk order of some (surprisingly expensive) Quest bars/QUOTE]

Would that be a Quest request?

[Strawng]

I suppose I’m in the minority here, but I love Quest bars. You HAVE to microwave them tho, OP. Do your poor teeth and your taste buds a favor & DO NOT put them in the fridge. At room temp they’re 6/10, but a good go in the microwave bumps most flavors up to an 8 or 9 for me

Oh, & like Adam said, watch out for the fiber. Idk how much fiber’s in your daily diet, but I’d say to generally avoid any more than one QB per day to avoid any potential explosive situations…

[AdamWW]

You HAVE to microwave them tho, OP.

ive never tried that... must do

[DougyF7]

I agree they are pretty dang good microwaved - chocolate chip cookie dough is the only one I really like. But something about them makes me feel full, but in a strange way after, not like in a normal way. Maybe that's all the fiber or the sugar alcohol (erythritol).

[GeneralSerpant]

14 g of fiber is why I go for them. Have put them in the microwave and agree it is agreeable.

[desslok]

Are they unsafe for some people or something, regarding the sugar alcohols?

For me they cause bloating and uncomfortable stomach, and If I have “too much” then its like the South Park episode with the explosive diarrhea. Why i avoid at all costs on road trips etc. there used to be some Big 100 Colossal protein brownie that basically had a warning label that said it may cause explosive diarrhea in somewhat nicer words.

[Strawng]

ive never tried that... must do

BRO...you've never actually tried a Quest Bar then. It's an absolute GAME CHANGER!!!!

I agree they are pretty dang good microwaved - chocolate chip cookie dough is the only one I really like. But something about them makes me feel full, but in a strange way after, not like in a normal way. Maybe that's all the fiber or the sugar alcohol (erythritol).

Hell yea!! I don't find them any more filling than most meals I eat, but I eat a plant-based diet with lots of fiber.

For me they cause bloating and uncomfortable stomach, and If I have “too much” then its like the South Park episode with the explosive diarrhea. Why i avoid at all costs on road trips etc. there used to be some Big 100 Colossal protein brownie that basically had a warning label that said it may cause explosive diarrhea in somewhat nicer words.

Yknow, out of all the endless varieties of foods that fuk up my chit, I can pretty safely say Quest Bars aren't one of them. One per day is nbd. It's when I eat 2+ that I run into problems.

Those brownie things, on the other hand, legitimately made me chit my pants once on the way to class. I was in college and it was an almost 2-mile walk to campus. Never again.

[EjnarKolinkar]

No need to mix a shake and clean the bottle or open a can or cook something or worry about mercury levels, etc.

Well whatever makes you happy mate. But let's just not get dramatic about shaking up some isolate whey as a big chore.

I think protein bars taste like styrofoam soaked in artificial sweetener though. After microwaving taste like warm styrofoam soaked in artificial sweetener.

[Camarija]

eating a bar at my desk a couple hours before training. No need to mix a shake and clean the bottle or open a can or cook something or worry about mercury levels, etc., for an extra 20g and another serving for timing purposes.

Alpha Chad kicks his legs up on his desk
Pops open a can of tuna
And then

Spoiler!

Microwaves it

:-P

You know, I've never tried a quest bar, but of the bars I've tried, I liked the snickers protein bar the best. Never really got into protein bars though, let me know how the quest bars work out for you bro!

[EliKoehn]

Well whatever makes you happy mate. But let's just not get dramatic about shaking up some isolate whey as a big chore.

I think protein bars taste like styrofoam soaked in artificial sweetener though. After microwaving taste like warm styrofoam soaked in artificial sweetener.

Touché. This is definitely a first world problem lol.

Alpha Chad kicks his legs up on his desk
Pops open a can of tuna
And then

Spoiler!

Microwaves it

:-P

You know, I've never tried a quest bar, but of the bars I've tried, I liked the snickers protein bar the best. Never really got into protein bars though, let me know how the quest bars work out for you bro!

Ironically, I actually have been forbidden to eat fish at my office because of sardines and herring. I got a narrow pass on tuna, but microwaving it will probably see that revoked.

Hopefully the extra serving of protein will do me some good for the final run of the 6 week program to retest my maxes, but taste/texture wise, they're okay. Probably not going to re-buy due to price, when I could just mix a vastly superior precursor shake instead.

[EliKoehn]

Just bumping to ask instead of starting another thread since the question is so similar...

Anyone try Optimum Nutrition's Cookies n Cream flavor protein powder? I'm a little let down. I've loved their chocolate for several years now, and once tried French vanilla which was also good. This time I decided to give cookies n cream a whirl and it is unfortunately kind of flavorless. Tastes like plain whey. Ultimately that's fine as it is a protein supplement after all, but it doesn't taste much like cookies or cream unfortunately, even though the brand is solid and well-liked.

Has anyone else tried this flavor?

[aspalmat]

I suppose I’m in the minority here, but I love Quest bars. You HAVE to microwave them tho, OP. Do your poor teeth and your taste buds a favor & DO NOT put them in the fridge. At room temp they’re 6/10, but a good go in the microwave bumps most flavors up to an 8 or 9 for me

Oh, & like Adam said, watch out for the fiber. Idk how much fiber’s in your daily diet, but I’d say to generally avoid any more than one QB per day to avoid any potential explosive situations…

I'm in on the love them side. The Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Oatmeal Chocolate Chip are awesome!

[Strawng]

Just bumping to ask instead of starting another thread since the question is so similar...

Anyone try Optimum Nutrition's Cookies n Cream flavor protein powder? I'm a little let down. I've loved their chocolate for several years now, and once tried French vanilla which was also good. This time I decided to give cookies n cream a whirl and it is unfortunately kind of flavorless. Tastes like plain whey. Ultimately that's fine as it is a protein supplement after all, but it doesn't taste much like cookies or cream unfortunately, even though the brand is solid and well-liked.

Has anyone else tried this flavor?

No, but ironically enough, Quest makes a fantastic CnC powder

[AdamWW]

No, but ironically enough, Quest makes a fantastic CnC powder

I always loved the thick texture of their powder... it's been a WHILE since I bought them

[Strawng]

I always loved the thick texture of their powder... it's been a WHILE since I bought them

Same. I actually like mixing it in nonfat Greek yogurt to make a nice, thicc proyo

It's also particularly great for baking.

[paulinkansas]

mixing it in nonfat Greek yogurt.

I spoon out some Greek yogurt on a plate, mix in some seasoning and cover my chicken pieces with it as a marinade. Doesn't take long to rest, about 30 minutes. Chicken is pretty tender.

[Omni]

No, but ironically enough, Quest makes a fantastic CnC powder

Quest does make a decent protein blend! I would compare it to PEScience in regards to the consistency and flavors.

[faithbrah]

Just bumping to ask instead of starting another thread since the question is so similar...

Anyone try Optimum Nutrition's Cookies n Cream flavor protein powder? I'm a little let down. I've loved their chocolate for several years now, and once tried French vanilla which was also good. This time I decided to give cookies n cream a whirl and it is unfortunately kind of flavorless. Tastes like plain whey. Ultimately that's fine as it is a protein supplement after all, but it doesn't taste much like cookies or cream unfortunately, even though the brand is solid and well-liked.

Has anyone else tried this flavor?

it tastes weird honestly. i had it like a year and a half ago and had to power through it. it's okay with oatmeal but one of the weirdest ones to drink, same with rocky road

[coachcalande]

Portable protein that is FAST and easy to consume is certainly necessary at times. You definitely pay for the convenience and the added candy stuff.

My “take it with me” protein is pretty darned good.

I slice an 8 oz chicken breast in half, add a slice of hard cheddar, eat it dry on whole wheat or oatmeal bread.


Usually I put one down at around 9 am and another down at noon.

I pack each sandwich in its own Tupperware, throw two or three cold packs in a cooler.

If I’m out later, I’ll bring a third sandwich.


No microwave and no time - so the days of chicken, rice and broccoli are over at work.


Now there used to be something called a “super shake” sold by the case for those looking for canned stuff. Not sure if that product still exists.

[gbullock32]

Always have 2 protein bars, either Quest or ONE bars, in my lunchbox just in case. They are easy and fast and sometimes I just need to smash something and move on, no time to sit and eat a whole food meal, though I prefer to when I can.

[MrCarrot]

When I first discovered protein bars, I always went for Quest. I seem to recall they had the highest quality protein out of all the bars available in the UK. I found all the flavours pretty decent apart from, I think it was chocolate brownie, which was a bit bland.

As someone else mentioned, you have to microwave them. I used to add a bit of syrup on top along with a small slice of vanilla ice cream.

I tend to go for the more conventional "chocolate bar" type of protein bar now, for example Carb Killer.

I would happily eat a Quest Bar but I think Holland and Barratt in the UK stopped selling them. I used to buy them on a short sell by date and get them cheap.

[GayCumLord]

They’re OK… most of them have identical textures and that ‘quest bar’ flavor…

But, they perform well in independent tests, and some of the options aren’t terrible

As long as you can handle the fiber bomb

this,

the fiber bomb makes for some fat dumps