Debunking the protein bar aisle – part II

And I finally get back on to blog.

I’m convinced the changes in my life are going to lead me to have more time and room for creativity to blog more often and with better content. So I am excited about that.

Then maybe I can start answering common questions on here. Sometimes, no, most times I feel like I repeat myself on nutritional advice throughout the weeks and months. Probably because I do! It’d be nice to direct everyone to a well put together place… one day… hopefully.

Last blog post I put up I accidentally deleted the ENTIRE BLOG after I posted it. Not sure how. Luckily WordPress gives you 30 days until content disappears and can un-delete your blog for you.

So there’s that…

OKAY. To what matters most.

Protein bars! Let’s start with…

RX bars:

Cost: about $1.80 per bar

At first, when I read the ingredients list, I thought that this has to owned by Larabar  (read my first blog here). Turns out – they’re not.

INGREDIENTS: Dates, Dried Egg Whites, Cashews, Almonds, Chocolate, Cocoa, Natural Flavours, Sea Salt.

As you can see – the ingredients list is small (this is for the chocolate sea salt as you see above) and the base is dates – JUST LIKE LARA BARS. So if you like the texture of larabar but are looking for something with more protein – look no further.

The difference here is pretty obvious – the dried egg whites. Easily considered the best source of protein as it is nearly 100% absorbable. Beats out whey, casein and any sort of vegetable base.

The bars themselves average out to about 200 calorie, 25 grams of carbohydrate about 12 grams of protein each. All with a bit of fiber.

Again – I still consider this an energy bar. But a much better choice for a post workout than the larabar alone, maybe post workout supplement it with a shake or a whole boiled egg. But a great afternoon pick me up.

Again, with that ingredients list, I see nothing wrong with these bars.

ONE bar:

Cost: about $1.97 per bar

I had actually never heard of these – so to those of you who suggested it, thanks! I love learning about new items (it is so hard to keep myself up to date sometimes)

But lets take a look at this bar..

Ingredients

Protein Blend (Whey Protein Isolate, Milk Protein Isolate), Isomalto-Oligosaccharides (Prebiotic Fiber from Vegetable Source), Vegetable Glycerin, Maltitol, Palm Kernel Oil, Sunflower Seed Butter, Natural Flavors, Nonfat Dry Milk, Soy Lecithin (an Emulsifier), Sea Salt, Confectioner’s Sprinkles [Sugar, Corn Starch, Blend of Vegetable Oil (Palm, Palm Kernel), Confectioner’s Glaze, Colored with Fruit and Vegetable Concentrates, Soy Lecithin (an Emulsifier), Dextrin, Carnauba Wax, Sodium Bicarbonate], Tapioca Starch, Distilled Monoglycerides, Calcium Carbonate and Sucralose.

So the sheer number of ingredients here also reminds me of a very similar bar that was featured in my first blog post as well. The quest bar! Although I do believe this list might just be a little bit longer… and just slightly more expensive.

If one of my dialysis patient’s showed up munching on this thing I would hit that thing right out of their hand and into the trashcan… after asking so kindly if I could please have that and I’ll buy them something else that won’t grow bones in their veins.

But for the average joe, I’ll let you keep it in your hand. But lets talk…

I’m sorry.. I just do not like this list at all. Why do you need so much wrapped in plastic? The bars themselves average out to about 200 calories, 20 grams of carbohydrate, 20 grams protein and 10 grams of fiber.. but also 5 grams of sugar alcohols.

This thing, though with less fiber than a quest bar, is going to bloat you so bad you’ll have Uber drivers buying extra air fresheners and driving in freezing temperatures with the windows down and apologizing to the poor rides after you because you just couldn’t hold it in anymore without a tear coming down your face and now his seats are fermented with your insides. *takes breath*

There are so many indigestible items in this bar that I’m not even sure you can absorb the protein.

Sorry – but I’m not ever going to recommend this bar to any of my friends, family, or clients. Save your money with this one.

Power crunch bar

Cost: about $2.24 per bar

And our most expensive find yet. And it reminds me of a vanilla nutty butty bar.

Their website does feature some very happy, very fit, very good looking models. They did a good job marketing IMO.

So, I don’t actually mind this ingredients list – as it isn’t marketing itself as a bar to support sports performance. It’s got a fun mix of plant proteins and some antioxidants.

However, the Vitamin E concerns me.

I’m sure there isn’t too much in one bar but if someone was new to keto and was eating these as meal replacements plus showing me the $500 of supplements their chiropractor or nutritionist sold to them..  I might raise a red flag.

Vitamin E is toxic in high amounts. Though still a very powerful antioxidant, it is fat-soluble so it is stored in the body (in the fat). If you want to freak yourself out, go read about high Vitamin E on WebMD.

The bars weigh in at about 200 calories, 11 grams of carbohydrates and 9 grams of protein. Absolutely no sugar alcohols. Cool

Besides my qualm with the vitamin E (why do they feel they need to add it anyway?) I don’t think this is a bad thing to reach for even if you’re a normal human being not trying to send your body into ketosis.

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AGAIN, this is just my opinion. I would like to say RX bar didn’t pay me for promoting them and bashing ONE bars. This really is just what I think and what I would tell those around me.

I will always stand by my food first approach. It’s cheaper, way easier to navigate and so much better for you.

Thanks for reading!