It’s been a minute since my last Pro(tein)/Con review, mostly due to the fact that by the end of last semester, I only snacked on Oatmega 3 bars. Over the break, however, a reader named Melissa e-mailed me recommending the Gnu Foods Flavor & Fiber bar, so I thought I should give it a shot for the sake of my admittedly bored taste buds. Now, to label this bar as a “protein bar” would be a misnomer. There isn’t a significant amount of protein in these, nor does Gnu Foods make any such claims… I just can’t give up a clever series title. Sorry.
Flavor & Fiber Chocolate Brownie Bar
Calories: 140 | Fat: 4 g (Sat Fat: 1 g) | Carbohydrate: 30 g | Fiber: 12 g| Protein: 4 g
- where you can find it: I’ve seen these bars at Snap Kitchen and Central Market here in Austin. Check out the Gnu Foods website to see where you can pick one up in your area.
- the good: I’ve now had two flavors of Gnu bars– cinnamon raisin and chocolate brownie. The cinnamon raisin version was tasty, but a pretty tough. While that texture kept me from gobbling the bar down in about .3 seconds, it also wore my jaw out. The chocolate brownie bar, on the other hand, was soft and rich and chocolaty and didn’t taste healthy at all. There are little grains throughout that keep it chewy without making it difficult to get through. I definitely preferred the chocolate.
Nutritionally, I’m pretty impressed with this bar. Normally I look for high levels of protein to keep me full, but since I’ve been recording my intake with My Fitness Pal, I’ve noticed that my protein intake is usually too high. Most days this doesn’t concern me, but when I’m not working out, I just don’t need that extra protein. This is where the fiber comes in. Fiber is every slender student’s friend because it’ll keep ya regular and slow down your digestion without adding extra calories. Awesome. This bar also has 4 grams of unsaturated (good) fat, a parameter I’ve been trying to increase in my diet. Fat also helps keep you full, FYI. Additionally, I wasn’t scared or confused when I read through the list of ingredients, which is always a plus.
- the bad: Because you can really only find these bars at specialty stores, they’re a bit on the pricey side. If you want a dupe, try Fiber One bars. They have a little less fiber and healthy fat for the same amount of calories. They’re somewhere in between a Chewy bar and a candy bar in flavor and are easily found at any grocery store.
- repeat? Because of the price and how difficult they can be to find, I don’t think I’ll be adopting Gnu bars as my daily snack. Should I find myself becoming bored, though, I might pick one up occasionally as a special treat. I really want to try the carrot cake, espresso chip, and blondie flavor. Yurm.
Thanks again to Melissa for recommending the Gnu Foods bar! If you have any suggestions, please send them in! Also, keep submitting your nutrition/fitness/random questions AND let me know how your sorority keeps it slender!
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