Hey guys!

As yet another follow-up to my pal who’s going vegan for lent, I wanted to do a post on some of the vegan protein bar options out there.
[photo cred]

The following vegan bars were available at my local Whole Foods recently (yes, I totally went in there with a notepad and pen and made them start sweatin’ thinking I was with the Ethics Police over their recent scandal):

If I didn’t note the price, it’s because this doofus forgot to note it. Note to my newbie vegans: A “vegan” protein bar is one that does not contain animal substances. Most protein bars contain some form of dairy (or “whey”), which makes them not vegan. Check out this list of dairy ingredients for more information.

In terms of vegan protein/meal/snack bars, you’ll see that there is quite a variety of options out there — some providing as little as 3g of protein and some as much as 20g. Your choice will depend on a number of factors, obviously. I, for instance, would rarely ever go for a bar with more than 200 calories, but that’s because I don’t eat food bars as a meal replacement or protein supplement – I just eat them as a snack. My favorite brands are Amazing Grass, Honest Foods, Clif, Larabar and Gnu — but that’s only because those are the ones I’ve tried! I was unable to link to the sites in the image above, so I will do so below. You should take time to read the entire nutrition label before you choose a bar to see what best fits your lifestyle. For instance, if you’re all about taste, and you’re particularly picky, you might not like the Amazing Grass bar (I loved it, but I’ve read a few reviewers who didn’t). If you’re looking for extra fiber, Gnu bars are for you.

You don’t have to fork over all your cash for these bars. You can find a lot of them for less at Target, Costco (if you divide the bulk price per item), amazon.com, etc.

It’s good to remember that it’s a total myth that vegans and vegetarians don’t get enough protein. So, don’t think that if you’re going vegan it means you need to wash down every meal with a protein shake and a brick of protein bars. Think of it this way, 2 tablespoons of peanut butter usually has more protein than one of the bars listed above (p.b. has about 8g protein per 2 tbsp.). As Lindsay from Happy Herbivore so kindly reminded me, vegans & vegetarians don’t need to take supplements or eat with a protein scarcity mentality if they are eating a variety of nutritious meals (hey, ya heard of quinoa? It’s a pretty awesome grain that so happens to be a complete protein in and of itself). Though, check with a Dr. yadda yadda –  all that legal crap still spews from my finger tips after my 3-year stint at a law firm. In fact, you’re probably better off if you view these snack bars as candy bars. I know some of them, like Larabar, are really good at limiting the ingredients list and some have nothing artificial in them, but, still, think before you consume. That’s kinda the new motto I’m using and *cough*trying to implement.

If you’re looking for a good vegan protein powder, I can’t recommend one from experience, but I’ve heard of Vega and Sun Warrior as being specifically vegan. Lindsay happens to like the Living Harvest hemp protein powder. If you go to any health food store (e.g. Trader Joes & Whole Foods), you’ll see that they have a variety of non-dairy protein powders.

Links to Vegan Snack & Protein Bar Sites

• Amazing Grass
• Bumble Bar
• Clif Builder Bars
• Clif Z
• Gnu Bars
• Honest Foods — Now available at Starbucks, remember? (Posted here)
• Larabar
• Odwalla
• Organic Food Bar
• ProBar
• Pure Bar
• Raw Organic Bar
• Raw Revolution

Do you guys eat protein bars? Snack bars? What are your faves, vegan or not? Protein powder?

Well, my friends, I’m off!  Despite the rumor to the contrary, I do sleep and I need some major Zzzs right about now.

<3,

The Cranky One

I am surprised to see that so-called “health food” brands such as Fiber One, Quaker Oats and Kashi often use compounds in their foods that I can’t even pronounce.  I am also surprised, and disappointed, to find that the most prominent ingredient is often sugar-based (just because it’s brown rice syrup doesn’t make it “healthy!”).  Also, Fiber One tends to use high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).  Some say research on HFCS is sketchy and that it all breaks down to sugar anyway (ah, how philosophical); others point to animal research that suggests HFCS leads to weight gain due to it being metabolized differently than natural sugar (Vertanian, Schwartz, and Brownell 2007). You decide what you’re willing to risk (was the use of “risk” a rhetorical ploy? Maybe!).

And what’s with all this maltodextrin stuff in my “health” and “sports” foods?  This annoys me because I don’t understand it!  I’ve read up on Maltodextrin and am overwhelmed – apparently it’s an artificial sweetener with fewer calories than sugar and while it is processed, it’s derived from natural sources (such as corn starch).  So is it good or bad or what? (Recall Austin Powers, “oh no, I’ve gone cross eyed!”)

Enough of my philosophizing.

Clif Bars are a great option for pre- or post-workout fueling.

These are delicious and all natural, however high in calories. For the Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch (yum!): 250 calories, 6 g fat, 5 g fiber, 11 g protein. Sold at Costco for savings.

Kashi Go Lean Roll! Bars. Taste-wise, I really enjoy these.  They are like a Snicker bar only a little more “chalky.”

For the Caramel Peanut bar: 200 calories, 5 g fat, 6  g fiber, 12  g protein.  Downside, they are also loaded with additives.  I have eaten these because they are delicious, filling and easy to grab on the run. Whether they are really healthful is not a question I may adequately answer. Verdict: In a crunch, have a crunch. They are yummy but not for everyday consumption. Sold at Costco for savings.

Larabar brand bars have now been spotted at Costco, finally!

Larabar bars (that’s fun to say!) contain less than 6 ingredients each, all of which are “raw” and natural.  The only downside is they can be costly and calorie-dense.  The Peanut Butter Cookie bar has 210 calories, 13 g fat, 4 g fiber, 5 g fiber.  They are high in fat, but its all-natural fat, so it’s not really a concern. Verdict: Get from Costco for savings and enjoy raw deliciousness (but keep tabs on your calories!).

Luna Bars (in the Clif Bar family) are a good option.

They are geared towards women (which is a whole other topic for another day!) and tend to be lower in calories than their counterparts and have mostly organic ingredients.  They taste good too.  My favorite is the Peanut Butter Cookie type with stats of: 180 calories, 6 g fat, 3 g fiber, 10 g protein. Verdict: go for it.

Quaker Oats “True Delights” in Dark Chocolate Raspberry Almond. I got a free, full-sized sample (thank you!) and taste-tested.

140 calories, 4.5 g fat, 3 g fiber, 2 g protein per bar.  Verdict: If you are insanely sweets-deprived like I am, you might enjoy it — but even then, only slightly.  I am very easy to please if anything has any sweetness to it and this was just kind of “meh” for lack of a better word.  It’s also full of additives (including maltodextrin, go figure). Verdict: Pass.

I am seriously considering making my own granola/energy bars and trying an all-natural foods diet.  You may end up finding me in a hippy compound somewhere wearing a potato sack (if I can bring my laptop, who am I kidding here?!).  ‘Til then – any tips on your fave bars would be great!