Special Feature: Products Sally Recommends

Bar Brawl 3: 191 protein bars from 69 Brands. are any of them worth the calories?

by Stephanie Zonis

Nature Valley Protein Chewy Bars, www.naturevalley.com. Claims: gluten-free, partially produced with genetic engineering. Coconut Almond: 40 grams, 190 calories, 10 grams protein, 190 mg sodium, 7 grams sugars, 5 grams fiber. Narrower, taller rectangle studded with coconut and nuts; bottom is dipped in a “coconut flavored coating”. Light crispy texture with some chew from coconut. Somewhat too sweet and an unpleasant flavor from the soy protein isolate. Peanut, Almond, & Dark Chocolate: 40 grams, 190 calories, 10 grams protein, 180 mg sodium, 6 grams sugars, 5 grams fiber. Resembles a glazed nut bar with the bottom dipped in dark chocolate. Light textured, nice chewy-crunchy contrast. A little chocolate flavor, some nut flavor, a hint of salt. Bland. Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate: 40 grams, 190 calories, 10 grams protein, 180 mg sodium, 6 rams sugars, 5 grams fiber. Narrow rectangle with lots of chopped peanuts and some miniature chocolate chips on the exterior; bottom dipped in dark chocolate. Crunchy, a bit chewy, some flavor of chocolate and some of peanuts but bland overall.

nogii High Protein Bar, www.nogii.com. Certified gluten-free. Chocolate Coconut: 54 grams, 230 calories, 17 grams protein, 150 mg sodium, 14 grams sugars, 2 grams fiber. Looks like a milk chocolate covered candy bar. Interior looks like cookies and crème in a caramel base. Pleasant light crispy texture, but much too sweet. Peanut Butter & Chocolate: 54 grams, 230 calories, 20 grams protein, 230 mg sodium, 9 grams sugars, 2 grams fiber. Looks like a Rice Krispies ® bar with a bottom dipped in milk chocolate and a milk chocolate drizzle. Light, crispy texture with a little peanut butter flavor but almost no chocolate presence. Somewhat bitter aftertaste.

nogii Super Protein Bar, www.nogii.com. Certified gluten-free. Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Crisp: 94 grams, 390 calories, 30 grams protein, 350 mg sodium, 26 grams sugars, 2 grams fiber. Another chocolate covered candy bar lookalike. There seems to be a thin ribbon of caramel at the top of the bar, just under the chocolate coating. A bit of chewy caramel texture when you bite into it, also light-textured crispy bits. A little peanut butter flavor, a hint of chocolate taste, and a lot of sweetness. Cookies & Creme: 94 grams, 410 calories, 29 grams protein, 270 mg sodium, 24 grams sugars, 2 grams fiber. Looks like a large candy bar in a yogurt coating. This does look remarkably like a cookies & crème blend inside. Light and crispy texture but absurdly sweet.

NuGo Nutrition Bar, www.nugonutrition.com/products/family/. Certified kosher (dairy). Claims: low glycemic, low fat, non GMO protein. Peanut Butter Chocolate: 50 grams, 170 calories, 11 grams protein, 170 mg sodium, 13 grams sugars, 2.5 grams fiber. Narrower, taller rectangle of soy protein crisps, bottom dipped in and drizzled with milk chocolate. Initial light, crispy texture becomes slightly chewy---very pleasant. Slight peanut butter flavor and a very modest chocolate taste change to a soy presence.

NuGo Stronger Protein Bar, www.nugonutrition.com/products/stronger/. Certified gluten-free and kosher (dairy). Claims: no maltitol, non-GMO, lower sugar (50% less sugar than a regular high protein bar), 6 g net carbs. Alone among the protein bars I tried, NuGo claims that a serving is one-half of this bar. Statistics here are per serving, but it's absurd to think that most people would stop after eating half of this 80 gram bar. Real Dark Chocolate with Caramel: 40 grams, 160 calories, 13 grams protein, 100 mg sodium, 5 grams sugars, 4 grams fiber. Chocolate covered; looks like a large candy bar. Very difficult to bite into, but softens in your mouth. A little initial crunch, then not much texture. Some chocolate flavor but too sweet. Peanut Cluster: Front of wrapper claims 25 grams of protein, but you only get that by eating the entire bar, which is two servings according to the manufacturer. 40 grams, 155 calories, 13 grams protein, 95 mg sodium, 6 grams sugars, 5 grams fiber. Another larger candy bar lookalike, covered in chocolate. There's a thin top layer of caramel just under the chocolate coating; the bottom layer of the interior looks like peanut butter studded with nuts and crispy bits. Quite difficult to bite into, very chewy (not for those with dental work!), but softens in mouth. Some peanut butter and chocolate flavors. Not bad.

Oatmega Grass-Fed Whey Bar, www.oatmega.com. Certified gluten-free and kosher (dairy). Brownie Crisp: 50 grams, 190 calories, 14 grams protein, 120 mg sodium, 5 grams sugars, 7 grams fiber. A narrower, moderately thick, chocolate brown rectangle with what look like crispy bits in it. Minimal chewiness, bits of crispness, some chocolate flavor, but with an odd aftertaste that might be the fish oil. Just OK. Chocolate Mint Crisp: 50 grams, 190 calories, 14 grams protein, 120 mg sodium, 5 grams sugars, 7 grams fiber. Narrower, thicker rectangle, chocolate brown with crispy bits. Light, crisp texture with a nice degree of chewiness from oats. Pleasant mint flavor but very little chocolate taste. Chocolate Peanut Crisp: 50 grams, 190 calories, 14 grams protein, 120 mg sodium, 5 grams sugars, 7 grams fiber. Darker brown narrow rectangle with lots of texture from nuts, bits of chocolate, oats, etc. Slight chewiness, with lots of light-textured crispy bits. I taste a little chocolate, a little peanut butter, some oats, some sweetness. Good. Vanilla Almond Crisp: 50 grams, 190 calories, 14 grams protein, 120 mg sodium, 5 grams sugars, 7 grams fiber. Light tan bar with lots of texture from oats, white chocolate, and crispy bits. Crunchy and chewy. Too sweet, and there's a flavor in here I don't like.

Oorja Nutrition Bars, https://oorjabar.com/. Claims: no artificial preservatives, gluten, bitter aftertaste, or artificial additives. 55 grams, 210 calories, 17 grams protein, 35 mg sodium, 6 grams sugars, 13 grams fiber. Slightly oily exterior. Broader, flatter rectangle the color of almond butter, with visible chunks of nut. Difficult to bite into but softens rapidly in the mouth. Great degree of chewiness---not too much nor too little. Some walnut flavor. Cinnamon and honey added judiciously. Good.

Organic Food Bar, http://organicfoodbar.com/. Certified organic, gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO. Kosher certification is on website, but bar wrapper states only that production facility is certified kosher. Claims: “the world's best-selling organic bar”, high energy, cold-processed, no preservatives, additives, or coatings. Original Protein: 75 grams, 330 calories, 22 grams protein, 5 mg sodium, 18 grams sugars, 8 grams fiber. Slightly sticky bar, darker colored, broader, taller rectangle. Soft, chewy texture, which becomes slightly granular as you chew. I taste dates and raisins, but nothing else. Just OK.

Oskri Protein Bars, www.oskri.com. Claims: gluten-free, vegan, made with plant protein. Dark Chocolate Bar—Almond & Cranberry: 56.5 grams, 230 calories, 16 grams protein, 0 mg sodium, 11 grams sugars, 4 grams fiber. Taller, narrower rectangle covered in dark chocolate; looks like a candy bar. Interior resembles almond butter with large pieces of almond. Nicely chewy, with crunch from almond pieces. Some initial “hit” of chocolate. Tastes like a mix of dates and raisins with a bit of tartness from the cranberries. Not bad. Dark Chocolate Bar—Cashew & Cranberry: 56.5 grams, 230 calories, 16 grams protein, 75 mg sodium, 11 grams sugars, 3 grams fiber. Another candy bar lookalike; a taller, narrower rectangle. Interior looks like nut butter with darker brown flecks (probably date paste or raisin paste). Pleasantly chewy texture. Decent “hit” of chocolate, minimal cranberry presence, but no cashew flavor.

Paleo Protein Bar, https://julianbakery.com. Claims: Paleo, grass fed beef protein, GMO-free, gluten-free, no sugar alcohols. Almond Fudge: Claims: “now with prebiotics”. 56.3 grams, 170 calories, 20 grams protein, 180 mg sodium, 1 gram sugars, 23 grams fiber. Exterior oily. Looks remarkably like a rectangle made of Tootsie Rolls ®. Somewhat tough to bite into; melts rapidly in mouth. Starts out with a decent chocolate flavor but that transforms swiftly into an unpleasant taste. Vanilla Pudding: Claims: “now with probiotics & prebiotics” 51.8 grams, 170 calories, 20 grams protein, 130 mg sodium, 1 gram sugars, 22 grams fiber. Note that the website nutritional information differs somewhat from the bar wrapper's; the above statistics were taken from the wrapper. Very difficult to bite into, but softens quickly in the mouth. Initial flavor and aftertaste are indeed of vanilla, but what is that awful taste in between?

Paleo Ranch Mega Bar, http://paleoranch.com/home/. Certified Paleo and gluten-free. Claims: soy-free, dairy-free, grain-free, “high concentrations of BCAAs, leucin, isoleucine and valine”. Cinnamon Raisin: 72 grams, 300 calories, 17 grams protein, 140 mg sodium, 22 grams sugars, 7 grams fiber. A longer, narrower rectangle the color of chocolate (contains no chocolate, though) with bits of nuts visible. Difficult to bite into but softens rapidly in the mouth. Nice chewiness. Overwhelming cinnamon presence. Cranberry Almond: 72 grams, 310 calories, 17 grams protein, 140 mg sodium, 23 grams sugars, 7 grams fiber. Narrower, longer rectangle with slightly sticky exterior (sticks mostly to wrapper). Medium brown color with small chunks of nuts. Difficult to bite into, but softens quickly in mouth. Nicely chewy, with a bit of crunch from the nuts. Heavy apple and date presences with a nice touch of cinnamon. Good.

Papa Steve's No Junk Raw Protein Bar, https://papasteves.com/. Limited room temperature shelf-life; can be refrigerated or frozen. Certified AKA (Ashley Koff Approved) Claims: Free of soy & wheat, raw superfoods, tastes clean, handmade locally in Southern California from whole raw foods, no refined sugar, non-GMO. These “bars” look more like amorphous blobs, but they're none the worse for that. Almond Coconut Crunch: 71 grams, 265 calories, 20 grams protein, 31 mg sodium, 16 grams sugars, 10 grams fiber. Puffed millet appearance (again, it's actually (organic) puffed brown rice with coconut shreds sprinkled atop. Crunchy, a little chewy, strong date/coconut/cinnamon presence with some apple flavor, as well. Good. Apple Cinnamon Pecan: 62 grams, 210 calories, 12 grams protein, 87 mg sodium, 6.5 grams sugars, 14 grams fiber. I can see nuts, oats, and seeds in this, with a glazed-looking exterior. Pleasant cinnamon aroma. Nicely chewy, with very little crunch. The cinnamon flavor is noticeable but not excessive, and the dried apples are a great touch. A favorite. Banana Oat Choco Chip: 62 grams, 265 calories, 13 grams protein, 4 mg sodium, 12 grams sugars, 15 grams fiber. Chewy texture, with crunch from oats, almonds, hemp seeds, etc. The banana flavor is a little too strong for me. Blueberry Almond Crunch: 71 grams, 260 calories, 20 grams protein, 31 mg sodium, 19 grams sugars, 10 grams fiber. Somewhat drier texture than other flavors. A little chewiness and a lot of crunch. I taste dates, some blueberry, and a little apple. Good. Dark Chocolate Coconut: 65 grams, 300 calories, 16 grams protein, 5 mg sodium, 9 grams sugars, 16 grams fiber. Looks like a veggie burger with a little dried coconut sprinkled atop; you can see all kinds of nuts and seeds and rice in there. Some chewiness, some crunch, with a definite coconut chew at the end. Very slight chocolate flavor; the dates and coconut dominate the flavor. The ORAC (antioxidant) score for raw cacao powder is listed on the packaging, but that score is for 100 grams, and you're eating less than that---though how much less, you don't know. Peanut Butter Choco Chip: 71 grams, 295 calories, 20 grams protein, 88 mg sodium, 15 grams sugars, 8 grams fiber. Looks as though it's filled with puffed millet, but those are (organic) brown rice puffs. The light-textured, crispy brown rice puffs contrast nicely with the chewiness of other ingredients. I taste peanut butter, some chocolate, dates, and cinnamon. Rather crumbly, but good taste and texture. Peanut Butter Crunch: 65 grams, 295 calories, 20 grams protein, 160 mg sodium, 8.5 grams sugars, 17 grams fiber. I taste peanut butter, fading to a little saltiness and what's probably whey protein. Some chewiness, combined with a light, crispy crunch. Not as good as the others from this manufacturer. Vanilla Cashew Coconut: 62 grams, 260 calories, 12 grams protein, 88 mg sodium, 6 grams sugars, 14 grams fiber. Very sticky; difficult to remove from packaging. Nice chewiness with a little crunch and some texture from both coconuts and oats. I can really taste the coconut and vanilla. A favorite.

Paradise Herbs & Essentials ORAC-Energy Protein & Greens Chocolate Bar, http://paradiseherbs.com/products/orac-energy-protein-greens-chocolate-bar/. Pea protein is certified kosher and halal. Claims: vegan, lab certified 20,000 ORAC, “plant actives are naturally occurring in their full spectrum form, they are never isolated, fractionized, or added!”, “Non GMO pea protein synergistically enhanced with Aminogen ® enzyme formula proven to increase protein digestibility and amino acid absorption!”. 63 grams, 250 calories, 14 grams protein, 50 mg sodium, 16 grams sugars, 5 grams fiber. Another dark chocolate covered, candy bar lookalike. Green interior tastes of leafy greens with significant bitterness. Awful.

Pegan Protein Bar, https://julianbakery.com/product-category/protein-bar/?fwp_product_type=pegan. Certified vegan. Claims: GMO-free, gluten-free, no sugar alcohols, Paleo. Website claim: 99% organic. Cinnamon Raisin Roll: 61.6 grams, 20 grams protein, 0 mg sodium, 5 grams sugars, 17 grams fiber. Protein from sacha inchi seeds. A solid dark brown rectangle. Very difficult to bite into. Tough to chew initially but softens in the mouth. Cinnamon flavor bowls you over; there's no room for any other taste.

Perfect Bar, https://perfectbar.com/. Very limited room temperature shelf-life; can be refrigerated or frozen but manufacturer suggests the former. Certified organic, gluten-free, and kosher (dairy). AKA approved (approval is from Ashley Koff, a registered dietician). Claims: non-GMO. Almond Butter: 65 grams, 310 calories, 13 grams protein, 60 mg sodium, 18 grams sugars, 4 grams fiber. A medium-sized, somewhat thick rectangle the color of almond butter, sprinkled liberally with sesame seeds. Somewhat oily exterior. Moderately chewy; melts quickly in mouth. Slightly too sweet but pleasant almond butter flavor with slight sesame aftertaste. Blueberry Cashew: 65 grams, 300 calories, 12 grams protein, 65 mg sodium, 18 grams sugars, 2 grams fiber. Cashew butter colored bar with blueberries visible. Initial cashew flavor with some texture from the dried blueberries. Somewhat too sweet. Carob Chip: 71 grams, 330 calories, 16 grams protein, 50 mg sodium, 19 grams sugars, 5 grams fiber. Initial chew fades very quickly to a melt-in-your-mouth texture. Peanut butter and strong honey flavors; slightly too sweet. Carob chips are not pleasant. Slightly oily exterior. Peanut Butter: 71 grams, 330 calories, 17 grams protein, 60 mg sodium, 18 grams sugars, 4 grams fiber. Slightly oily exterior. Starts out with a pleasant peanut butter flavor, though slightly too sweet. Melts nicely in the mouth. A very odd aftertaste, probably from the blend of 10+ “dried whole food powders”, including organic kale, organic rose hip, and organic kelp.

Power Crunch Original Protein Energy Bar, http://powercrunch.com/. Claim: “High-dh hydrolyzed whey protein in a crème filled wafer bar.” Serving size is referred to as “1 Cookie”. Peanut Butter Creme: 40 grams, 20 calories, 13 grams protein, 120 mg sodium, 5 grams sugars, 1 gram fiber. White coating on a peanut butter filled wafer sandwich interior. Very dry interior. Slightly too sweet and slightly salty. Peanut Butter Fudge: 40 grams, 200 calories, 13 grams protein, 120 mg sodium, 5 grams sugars, 1 gram fiber. Chocolate covered, with a peanut butter filled wafer sandwich interior. Some peanut butter flavor, some chocolate flavor, a bit salty, with a crispy, dry texture. Just OK. Triple Chocolate: 40 grams, 205 calories, 13 grams protein, 100 mg sodium, 5 grams sugars, 1 gram fiber. Chocolate covered wafer cookie sandwich; appealing appearance. Slightly dry. Very little chocolate flavor, with a slightly salty taste.

Premier Protein Bars, www.premierprotein.com. Claims: gluten-free, no artificial sweeteners, flavors or colors, partially produced with genetic engineering. Chocolate Peanut Butter: 72 grams, 290 calories, 30 grams protein, 440 mg sodium, 8 grams sugars, 3 grams fiber. Looks like a large, tall, chocolate covered candy bar; interior resembles peanut butter with crispy bits. Nice chewiness, a bit of crispness. Tiny “hit” of chocolate, but zero peanut butter flavor and an awful protein-y taste. Yogurt Peanut Crunch: 72 grams, 290 calories, 30 grams protein, 440 mg sodium, 9 grams sugars, 3 grams fiber. A longer, narrower rectangle covered in a yogurt glaze. Interior looks like peanut butter with light-textured crispy protein bits. Nice chewiness, with some crispness from protein. Initial sweetness of yogurt glaze changes to a soy-peanut butter flavor.

Primal Kitchen, www.primalkitchen.com. Claims: Made with grass-fed collagen, Paleo approved, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, 8500 mg collagen. Dark Chocolate Almond: 48 grams, 230 calories, 15 grams protein, 70 mg sodium, 3 grams sugars, 6 grams fiber. Looks like almonds held together by a cooked chocolate syrup. Difficult to bite into. Some chewiness, not as crunchy as one would think; the almonds didn't have much texture. A little chewiness from coconut. While the bar contains three sources of chocolate flavor, there was almost no chocolate presence. Almost a salt taste at the beginning (was that the collagen?) but not much flavor overall.

ProBar Base, http://theprobar.com/#1. Certified gluten-free. Non-GMO Project verified. Mint Chocolate: 70 grams, 280 calories, 20 grams protein, 410 mg sodium, 17 grams sugars, 4 grams fiber. Looks like a large, tall, milk chocolate covered candy bar. Multilayered interior: bottom layer is chocolatey crispy bits, with a deep caramel colored top layer. Pleasant crisp texture. Nice level of mint, but little chocolate presence.

PureFit Premium Nutrition Bar, https://purefit.com. Certified gluten-free, 100% vegan, and kosher. Claim: non GMO and US soy. In process of obtaining Non-GMO Project verification. Almond Crunch: Looks like a bar of almond butter. Slightly sticky; sticks to wrapper but not fingers. Nice chewy texture with some crunchy bits. I guarantee there is almond flavor in the “natural flavors” here, and it overwhelms everything. Berry Almond Crunch: 57 grams, 220 calories, 18 grams protein, 160 mg sodium, 17 grams sugars, 3 grams fiber. Almond butter colored, narrower, thicker rectangle with bits of red berries visible. Chewy, with a light crispy texture from the protein crisps. An initial modest flavor of almond butter changes to an unpleasant soy taste. Chocolate Brownie: 57 grams, 220 calories, 18 grams protein, 160 mg sodium, 15 grams sugars, 4 grams fiber. Chocolate colored rectangle with visible protein crisps. Nice chewiness, with a bit of texture from the protein crisps. Little chocolate flavor and unpleasant soy taste. Oatmeal Cinnamon (previously Granola Crunch): 57 grams, 220 calories, 18 grams protein, 180 mg sodium, 16 grams sugars, 3 grams fiber. Exterior slightly sticky, but sticks mostly to wrapper. A light tan colored bar. Chewy, with a minimal crunch. Some pleasant cinnamon taste, but a bitter flavor, too. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip: 57 grams, 230 calories, 18 grams protein, 180 mg sodium, 17 grams sugars, 1 gram fiber. Slightly sticky exterior. Resembles a rectangle of peanut butter cookie dough with chocolate chips. Chewy, with some crispy bits. Some peanut butter flavor with a periodic “hit” of chocolate but also tastes of soy. Peanut Butter Crunch: 57 grams, 230 calories, 18 grams protein, 160 mg sodium, 16 grams sugars, 3 grams fiber. Looks like a peanut butter taffy rectangle with chopped peanuts. Softer texture than many. Interior studded with light crispy bits. Some peanut butter flavor at first but the soy protein isolate taste overwhelms it. Peanut Butter Toffee Crunch: 57 grams, 230 calories, 18 grams protein, 160 mg sodium, 16 grams sugars, 3 grams fiber. Slightly sticky exterior. Looks like a peanut butter bar studded with bits of chopped peanuts. Some light-textured crispy protein bits with a little chewiness. First flavor (peanut butter) changes into an unpleasant soy taste.

Raw Rev Glo, www.rawrev.com. Certified non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan, and kosher. Creamy Peanut Butter & Sea Salt: 46 grams, 180 calories, 15 grams protein, 110 mg sodium, 2 grams sugars, 14 grams fiber. Oily exterior. Smaller, dark colored rectangle with visible chia seeds. Initial peanut butter taste changes quickly to something unidentifiable but definitely unpleasant. Mixed Nuts, Caramel & Sea Salt: 46 grams, 190 calories, 10 grams protein, 135 mg sodium, 5 grams sugars, 10 grams fiber. Somewhat oily exterior. Somewhat chewy texture. A little sweet, a little caramel-y, but bland overall. The chocolate chips in the bar are noticeable but very “melty”, probably due to their formulation, as the bar was kept out of sunlight and at a temperature no higher than 70 degrees F. Peanut Butter, Dark Chocolate & Sea Salt: 46 grams, 180 calories, 11 grams protein, 100 mg sodium, 3 grams sugars, 13 grams fiber. An oily exterior. Short, broad rectangle, with chocolate chips and chia seeds plainly visible. Slight peanut butter flavor, a hint of chocolate, then a change to an unpleasant, almost vegetal taste. Not much texture.

R.E.D.D. Superfood Energy Bar, www.reddbar.com. “R.E.D.D.” stands for “Research Enhanced Design & Development”. Certified gluten free and kosher. Claims: 11 superfoods, 23 vitamins + minerals, 39 mg natural caffeine, non-GMO, ancient grains, minimally processed, no artificial colors or flavors, soy free, brown rice syrup free, plant-based, ethically sourced. These are not marketed specifically as protein bars, but they meet my requirements, so I included them. Chocolate: 62 grams, 220 calories, 10 grams protein, 180 mg sodium, 14 grams sugars, 8 grams fiber. A short, wide rectangle that looks like a brownie with chocolate chips and nuts. A definite chocolate flavor; some crispy bits of texture in an overall tasty foundation. A favorite. Peanut Butter: 56 grams, 230 calories, 10 grams protein, 80 mg sodium, 14 grams sugars, 4 grams fiber. A broad rectangle, darker brown in color with many seeds and nuts. Chewy and crunchy, with light-textured crispy bits. Initial moderate peanut butter flavor fades too quickly Good.

rise Protein Bar, https://risebar.com/. Certified gluten-free and kosher (dairy). Claims: Free of GMOs, preservatives, soy and peanuts. Almond Honey: Claims: 3 simple ingredients. 60 grams, 280 calories, 20 grams protein, 25 mg sodium, 13 grams sugars, 4 grams fiber. Almonds, honey, and whey protein isolate are the only ingredients. Almond butter colored bar that looks almost like taffy. Difficult to bite into at first, but softens quickly in the mouth. Initial flavor of almond changes rapidly to one of honey. Not bad but slightly too sweet.

RX Whole Food Protein Bar, www.rxbar.com. Claims: no added sugar, no dairy, no soy, no gluten. Blueberry: 52 grams, 210 calories, 12 grams protein, 110 mg sodium, 15 grams sugars, 4 grams fiber. Aroma of blueberries when package is opened. Nicely chewy, with almonds and cashews providing good textural contrast, but the blueberry presence was overwhelming. Coconut Chocolate: 52 grams, 210 calories, 12 grams protein, 150 mg sodium, 13 grams sugars, 4 grams fiber. Good chewy texture, with a nice coconut flavor and occasional crunch from a piece of almond or cashew, but no chocolate presence. Coffee Chocolate: 52 grams, 200 calories, 12 grams protein, 140 mg sodium, 13 grams sugars, 4 grams fiber. A chocolate covered bar with visible nut pieces. Nice chewiness, strong but good coffee flavor, no chocolate taste, a bit salty. Maple Sea Salt: 52 grams, 220 calories, 12 grams protein, 260 mg sodium, 14 grams sugars, 5 grams fiber. Strong maple aroma; tastes mostly of maple (“natural maple flavor”), dates, and salt. Nicely chewy consistency. Good but a little too salty. Peanut Butter: 52 grams, 210 calories, 12 grams protein, 190 mg sodium, 15 grams sugars, 4 grams fiber. Oily exterior. Broad, flattish rectangle; date colored with chopped nuts throughout. Somewhat difficult to bite into but softens quickly in mouth. Great chewiness! A little peanut flavor, but the chopped nuts are soggy and provide no textural contrast.

SimplyProtein Bar, www.simplyprotein.com. Certified kosher (dairy), non-GMO Project verified. Claims: gluten-free, low glycemic, vegan, clean ingredients, simple, natural, excellent source of fiber. Lemon Coconut: 40 grams, 150 calories, 15 grams protein, 190 mg sodium, 1 gram sugars, 7 grams fiber. Looks like a Rice Krispies ® bar with a few flakes of coconut on the outside. Light, crisp, dry texture. No strong flavor but some taste/texture of coconut and a little lemon presence. Peanut Butter Chocolate: 40 grams, 150 calories, 15 grams protein, 210 mg sodium, 1 gram sugars, 7 grams fiber. Chocolatey-looking narrow rectangle, looks like a Rice Krispies ® bar made with short grains of rice. Very light, crisp texture. A little chocolate taste, ditto peanut butter taste, but dry and salty.

SimplyProtein Whey Bar, http://simplyprotein.com/products/simply-bar/whey-protein-bars. Certified kosher (dairy). Claims: gluten-free, low glycemic, very low sodium, soy-free, clean ingredients, excellent source of calcium, “the most protein for the least calories”. Apple Cinnamon: 40 grams, 150 calories, 15 grams protein, 25 mg sodium, 4 grams sugars, 5 grams fiber. Looks like a thick rectangle of puffed millet (contains no millet, however). Not easy to bite into. Very dry. Light, crisp texture with bits of chewiness from dried apple. Pleasant hint of apple flavor but too much cinnamon. Coconut: 40 grams, 150 calories, 15 grams protein, 25 mg sodium, 4 grams sugars, 5 grams fiber. A light tan, thick rectangle that looks like it's made from puffed millet (again, contains no millet). Light, crispy texture. Some coconut flavor from dried coconut and probably from that “natural flavor” as well. Not bad but too dry.

Square Organics Protein Bar, www.squareorganics.com. Certified organic and gluten-free. Non-GMO Project verified. Claim: vegan. Both bars tasted looked like unusually thick chocolate covered graham cracker. Chocolate Coated Coconut: 48 grams, 230 calories, 11 grams protein, 30 mg sodium, 13 grams sugars, 2 grams fiber. Interior resembles fudge with shreds of coconut. Pleasantly chewy, with some chocolate flavor. Good. Chocolate Coated Crunch: 48 grams, 210 calories, 12 grams protein, 40 mg sodium, 13 grams sugars, 2 grams fiber. Tasty dark chocolate exterior. Interior is light-textured, with crispy bits, but it hasn't much flavor and the texture is slightly granular.

SunWarrior Organic Sol Protein Bar, https://sunwarrior.com/. Certified organic. Claims: soy-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, dairy-free, vegan. Blueberry Blast: 62 grams, 212 calories, 17 grams protein, 60 mg sodium, 7 grams sugars, 16 grams fiber. Dark colored, flattish rectangle with bits of dried blueberry visible. Softer texture than many others. Briefly chewy, with just a little crunch---nice texture initially, but it becomes granular as you chew. Flavor is somewhat of blueberry but moves quickly to an unpleasant vegetal taste. Coconut Cashew: 62 grams, 17 grams protein, 228 calories, 90 mg sodium, 3 grams sugars, 17 grams fiber. Softer than most others. Not much chewiness, which is OK. There's a touch of texture from the coconut and some granular texture, too. Just a little cashew and coconut flavor, pleasant aftertaste of cinnamon.

The GFB (“Gluten Free Bar”), www.theglutenfreebar.com. Certified gluten-free, vegan, and kosher (pareve). Non-GMO Project verified. Claims: soy-free, dairy-free. Chocolate Peanut Butter: 58 grams, 240 calories, 12 grams protein, 70 mg sodium, 14 grams sugars, 4 grams fiber. Slightly oily exterior; looks like a dry brownie. A bit difficult to bite into at first, but nice chewy texture with some light crispy bits. Little chocolate flavor, some peanut butter flavor. Just OK. Cranberry Toasted Almond: 58 grams, 240 calories, 12 grams protein, 100 mg sodium, 13 grams sugars, 4 grams fiber. Broader, flatter, dark-colored rectangle with visible bits of cranberry. Somewhat difficult to bite into, but softens quickly in the mouth. Nice chewiness, with some crunch from almonds. Cranberry bits provide a nice hint of tartness and texture. Too much almond extract, otherwise good. Dark Chocolate Coconut: 58 grams, 230 calories, 10 grams protein, 110 mg sodium, 20 grams sugars, 4.5 grams fiber. A broad, flattish rectangle that looks like a dry brownie with coconut. Somewhat dry; nice chewiness with some light crispy bits, and just a hint of chocolate flavor. Oatmeal Raisin: 58 grams, 220 calories, 12 grams protein, 120 mg sodium, 18 grams sugars, 4 grams fiber. Broader, flatter rectangle that looks like a dark brown cookie. Nice cinnamon aroma. Softer texture than many; a little chewy and a little crunchy. Cinnamon flavor is too strong.

ThinkThin, www.thinkproducts.com. Protein & Fiber Bar, https://purefit.com/, Certified gluten-free and kosher (dairy). Claim: GMO-free. Cupcake Batter: 40 grams,150 calories, 10 grams protein, 200 mg sodium, 5 grams sugars, 5 grams fiber. The most prominent statistic on the label is the “150 calories”, designed to indicate a snack-size protein bar (as opposed to a meal replacement). A narrower rectangle with a white glaze (the “frosting”), covering a “yellow batter cupcake” bar. Somewhat chewy initially; melts quickly in your mouth. Generic baked goods flavor rapidly changes into an unpleasant taste. Poor. Limited Edition Dark Chocolate Peppermint: 40 grams, 150 calories, 10 grams protein, 160 mg sodium, 5 grams sugars, 5 grams fiber. A thin, dark chocolate covered rectangle. Somewhat chewy. A hint of dark chocolate and a little mint, both quickly replaced by an unpleasant flavor.

Vega Sport Protein Bar, https://myvega.com/. Certified vegan, Non-GMO Project verified. Claims: plant-based, gluten-free, 2.5 grams BCAAs, 2 grams glutamine, 1 gram Omega-3. Chocolate Coconut: 60 grams, 250 calories, 15 grams protein, 40 mg sodium, 19 grams sugars, 4 grams fiber. Resembles a dark chocolate covered candy bar. A little chewy at first; melts quickly in the mouth with a trifle of texture from coconut, but then the texture turns granular. Some chocolate flavor here, but there's another flavor I don't like. Chocolate Peanut Butter: 60 grams, 260 calories, 15 grams protein, 150 mg sodium, 16 grams sugars, 3 grams fiber. Another dark chocolate candy bar lookalike; interior looks like peanut butter with chopped nuts in it. A bit chewy, a little crunchy, with a granular texture that follows. A “hit” of chocolate is followed by some peanut butter flavor.

Wella Bar, www.wellabar.com. Extremely limited room temperature shelf-life; can be refrigerated or frozen. Certified organic and kosher (dairy). Claims: gluten-free, non-GMO, fresh ground peanut butter (and the peanut butter tastes freshly ground). Were it not for the fact that these bars are slightly too sweet, the Cranberry Crunch and Powerful Peanut would have been on the “Favorites” list. There's good flavor in each bar I tried, but the honey is too dominant. Cranberry Crunch: 55 grams, 270 calories, 12 grams protein, 20 mg sodium, 14 grams sugars, 3 grams fiber. Peanut butter colored rectangle with chunks of cranberry visible. Fine peanut butter flavor; slightly too sweet but the tart cranberries provide some contrast. A little chewy, a little crisp crunch. Good. Peanut Cacao: 55 grams, 260 calories, 11 grams protein, 35 mg sodium, 13 grams sugars, 3 grams fiber. A dark peanut butter colored bar with bits of peanut. Good peanut butter flavor. No chocolate/cocoa flavor; slightly too sweet. Powerful Peanut: 58 grams, 280 calories, 13 grams protein, 30 mg sodium, 14 grams sugars, 3 grams fiber. Slightly oily exterior. Fresh-ground peanut butter flavor. Initial chewiness melts away quickly; a few pieces of chopped peanut provide textural contrast. Slightly too sweet but good.

Whole Earth & Sea Organic Vegan Greens Protein Bar, http://www.wholeearthsea.com/product/organic-vegan-green-protein-bar/. Certified organic, non-GMO, and kosher. 75 grams, 290 calories, 15 grams protein, 30 mg sodium, 23 grams sugars, 9 grams fiber. Larger, broader, taller rectangle; chocolate covered and looks like a candy bar. Somewhat difficult to bite into. Green interior with a pleasant soft textures that changes to slightly granular as you chew. Some chocolate flavor from exterior but interior has almost no taste.

Zing Nutrition Bars, https://zingbars.com/. Certified gluten-free, vegan, and kosher (dairy). Non-GMO Project verified. Dark Chocolate Coconut: 50 grams, 210 calories, 10 grams protein, 50 mg sodium, 13 grams sugars, 6 grams fiber. Chocolate covered candy bar lookalike with a light tan interior. Coconut texture, plus a bit of texture from a few light crispy bits. I taste sweet and a hint of dark chocolate. Not much flavor overall. Dark Chocolate Mint: 50 grams, 210 calories, 11 grams protein, 90 mg sodium, 13 grams sugars, 5 grams fiber. Dark chocolate covered, broader rectangle; interior looks like protein crisps in an indeterminate base. A texture that's both chewy and crispy. Nice “hit” of dark chocolate from exterior coating; level of mint is just right, neither too faint nor too assertive. Tastes like a chocolate mint candy bar. A favorite. Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter: 50 grams, 210 calories, 13 grams protein, 150 mg sodium, 15 grams sugars, 5 grams fiber. Another candy bar lookalike: a dark chocolate covered bar with a dark peanut butter colored interior containing crispy bits. Somewhat difficult to bite into. A nice chewiness. Doesn't taste like peanut butter. Some chocolate presence.



Stephanie (HandOverTheChocolate@comcast.net) has had a strong affinity for chocolate from a very early age. Family members claim that, as a child, she was able to hear chocolate being opened in the kitchen no matter where she was in the house. Stephanie was baking by the time she was 6 and ran a short-lived baking business out of her parents’ kitchen when she was in high school. She has a Master’s Degree in Foods from Virginia Tech but no formal training in cooking or baking. Consequently, she is a home cook, not a chef. Prior to beginning this column, she had written about chocolate for some 8 years.



Note: This information was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the businesses in question before making your plans.

Share this article with a friend:

Free eNewsletter SignUp

Sally's Place on Facebook    Sally Bernstein on Instagram    Sally Bernstein at Linked In




Global Resources

Handmade Chocolates, Lillie Belle Farms

Food411 Food Directory