Tags: protein

19 Apr 2017, Comments (0)

Meta Ball bite sized energy & balanced nutrition

Author: Healthnuttxo
21 Apr 2015, Comments (9)

Krush Nutrition Nutty by Nature Peanut Butter and Krush Bars

Author: Healthnuttxo


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Alright! I got some goodies from Krush Nutrition to try out, including their Nutty by Nature Peanut Butter, made with whey protein, flax and chia, as well as their Krush Bars in Raw Cookie Dough and Birthday Cake flavor. Let’s begin!

Naturally (no pun intended), I started with the Nutty by Nature Peanut butter. Oh…it’s been a while for me and peanut butter. See, we are good friends…but he is evil, and I end up eating the whole jar in 3 days or so…BAD. So we argue and we fight and I’m mad, and then I don’t buy it for weeks, sadly pass by it on the shelves…and somehow he always comes back!

LOL. What can I say I love nut butter. Here’s what it looked like!

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Mmmmm. You can see the baby chia seeds in there! I noticed everytime I ate the nut butter the top of it would have a slight oily residue, and underneath it was drier, but then if I left if overnight, it would go back to the same scenario. Which, I am not complaining,  because oil is good for nut butter. Nut butter without oil = awful. Trust me…I’ve tried taking oil out of Natural peanut butter before. BAD idea…

Anyway, this peanut butter…ah-mazing. So good I had to keep it in my roommate’s room so I wouldn’t eat the whole dang thing in a few days (I wish I was kidding). It is sweet and creamy, but has some texture to it. You can taste the sweetener, but it’s good, it’s xylitol, and I can guarantee that because I am a diabetic and I know my sweeteners! However, only 2 grams of sugar, despite the sweet taste. I really, really loved this nut butter, dangerously good if I do say so myself.

You can tell there is something mixed in it, most likely the whey protein, but does not take away from the flavor at all. It gets a teeny bit pasty at the end of the jar, but I’ll choose my battles. This thing tastes like the inside of a Nutter Butter cookie. UGH! SO GOOD! 

 

Moving on… Krush Bars! There are gluten free, protein bars, loaded up with fiber. The stats reminded me of a Quest bar, which I took a picture of below.
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As you can see, low sugar, high fiber, the whole deal. 240 calories, which is kind of high, but these are natural bars so I will take it.  Here is the Raw Cookie Dough bar up close

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And…here is the Birthday Cake bar up close. CHECK THOSE SPRINKLES!!!

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Let’s discuss. Both of these bars have a home-made feel…very soft, chewy, dense but not hard, authentic feel to them. Something that screams “hey, I wasn’t made in a huge factory. I was handmade”, which I kind of like. The Raw Cookie Dough was sweet, but semi muted in sweetness. I expected sweeter, seeing as cookie dough is sickeningly sweet (but, c’mon here Lisa, this is a PROTEIN version of cookie dough…not a tube of it…). There were a few chocolate chunks in the bar which were good, but again, not that sweet. This made sense, as the bar indicated there was no added sugar. There was a peanut butter undertone of flavor, which of course I enjoyed, and the overall flavor was nice. I felt it was missing something…but still a good bar. 3 1/2 stars

The Birthday Cake bar was delightful. The sprinkles added a nice touch and pop of color. It was sweet, but again semi muted in sweetness, and not sugary tasting. It was dense like a breakfast bar. It reminded me of a sweet treat or confection in a protein bar form. Not exactly screaming frosted ice cream birthday cake…maybe a less sweeter cake pop in bar form. With protein. However… the protein flavor was minimal, if not non-existent. I really enjoyed this bar. I wish I had another one. 4 stars

Overall…some good stuff from Pure Fitness Nutrition. I am mad because now I have to go buy more of that peanut butter. *sigh* It was too dang good! =]

IMG_0758Follow me on INSTAGRAM!!! Lisa_lifts

 

Sponsored, unbiased post. I received these items for free.

 

 

18 Nov 2014, Comments (8)

Quest Nutrition Protein Chips

Author: Healthnuttxo

Quest Nutrition Protein Chips!

I know, I know, I am a little behind on these, and while I did  get samples a little while ago my schedule is so tight I did not have a chance to post this until now.

SO,

Here we go!

I got 1 bag of 3 different flavors to try for free from Quest. I got the BBQ, Cheddar & Sour Cream, and Sea Salt flavors to try.

These chips are made without soy, and are gluten free. They are baked, not fried, according to the bag, and have roughly 21g of protein per serving with ~5 g of carbohydrates. They do not have any fiber in them, and are relatively low in fat. For example, the sea salt flavor had 1.5 grams of fat per bag.

One serving gives you a decent amount of chips, but they are flaky and airy, and a lot of the chips end up being very piecey and on the bottom of the bag. For example, I packed a bag for lunch one day and ended up eating entirely crumbs during class. Not super convenient! First up, the Sea Salt.

These were pretty good. The chips were half and half, were some would have a good amount of yummy salt flavor, and others would be on the blander side. The chips were piecey via mouth feel- they had this dried potato flavor to them but a rather strong undertone of whey protein flavor. They were dry, and brittle, and broke apart easily while chewing.

Next up, the BBQ flavor. Here’s a sneak peak.This bag wasn’t as damaged as my other two got during travel, so I got a shot of the chips as whole pieces not crumbs. The BBQ ones had a mild BBQ flavor, standard flavoring like most BBQ chips, but definitely not as strong. No flavor in the BBQ seasoning stuck out in particular. They had a nice crunch, and were not too salty, which was nice. I wish the flavor was a bit stronger. What happened was I would eat the chip, the seasoning would come off, and then it would taste like a plain chip within a few seconds of being in my mouth- that dried potato + whey flavor. It was doable for a snack ,but not my favorite.

Lastly, the Sour Cream and Cheddar. This had the same type of issue the BBQ one did. The flavors were good, mild, but good, but the seasoning came off so easily that it was as if they got sprinkled with seasoning after they were already baked. I wish it had some flavor throughout the chip. I definitely tasted cheddar flavors, can’t say I saw where the sour cream component was coming from. This bag I took with me to class and was the bag I ended up eating almost entirely in pieces, but I was hungry so it was still manageble.

Overall, to be honest, a disappointment from me! I expected better, seeing as I am in love with Quest Bars. I ended up buying a case of the sour cream  & cheddar after receiving my samples to try out of excitement, sure I would like them, and let’s just say I already ordered Quest Bars almost biweekly and I still have 2-3 bags of the chips left waiting to be eaten.

I probably won’t buy them again in the future, I really wasn’t that impressed with these. I can see them as a livesaver for someone who is on a strict diet and needs a “cheat”, because it is crunchy and has mild but good flavor, but it doesn’t beat out the quest bars. Also, there is no fiber in the chips, so they left me hungry where as a Quest Bar was much more fulfilling.  However, I did enjoy the fact they were only 5 grams of carbohydrates. Always down for low carb snacks being a diabetic. Overall, 2  stars

1 serving (Sea Salt) = 120 calories, 1.5 grams fat (0 saturated), 190 mg sodium, 5 grams of carbohydrate, 0 grams fiber, 0 grams sugar, 21 grams protein.

Ingredients (Sea Salt- from bag): Protein blend (milk protein isolate, whey protein isolate), dried potatoes, corn starch, high oleic sunflower oil. Contains less than 2% of the following: Sea Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Natural Flavors.

17 Oct 2012, Comments (1)

Health Warrior Chia Bar in Coconut, Acai Berry, and Chocolate Peanut Butter

Author: Healthnuttxo

I got some new, free  bars from Health Warrior. Their Chia Bars! All of the bars are vegan, a good source of omegas, and have 100-110 calories.

The first bar I tried was the Chocolate Peanut Butter. LOADED with seeds, this one had a crunchy texture. It was a bit bland, with very mild chocolate flavor. I didn’t detect too much peanut butter flavor as well. It wasn’t really all that sweet, but for some reason, I kind of liked it. It was nutty, and tasted very real and unprocessed. Was it amazing tasting and my favorite thing ever? No. But I liked the wholesome-ness it provided. However, kindof misleading for the fact I hardly tasted any chocolate or peanut butter flavor. (sad for a pb lover like me!) 2 1/2 stars.

Next up, the the Acai Berry.

A bit darker in color than the Chocolate Peanut Butter flavor, but still loaded with those seeds 🙂 This bar was a bit softer, and had a sweeter flavor too it.  I liked it much more than the Chocolate Peanut Butter flavor. It had a raspberry/pomegranate/cranberry flavor, and had a subtle tartness. It was sweet, but not too sweet, and seemed to be less crunch than the chocolate peanut butter variety. It also almost had a buttery taste to it, which I really enjoyed. Yum! 4 stars

Lastly, the coconut variety.

The softest bar of the three, and very good. Yummy coconut flavor, but none of those annoying coconut shreds (sorry…I had those haha). A mild crunch, and good flavor. It was moist and chewy, and definitely tasted coconut, without it feeling artificial or overpowering. It also had a subtle sweetness, which I enjoyed.  I liked this one as well! 3 1/2 stars.

Overall, not bad! I liked the Acai Berry one the best, and I think these are a good snack bar for in-between meals! Thanks Health Warrior for letting me try these new bars!

Here is the nutritional facts for the coconut


3 Jul 2012, Comments (2)

PowerBar Fudge Brownie Protein Plus Bites

Author: Healthnuttxo

It’s a known fact that I love carbs. However, I’ve been upping my protein take as of lately, and on the lookout for yummy protein-filled finds.

Browsing the grocery store the other day, I found these little gems- PowerBar Fudge Brownie Protein Plus Bites. The whole bag I would consider the equivalent of a typical protein bar- 20 grams of protein and 300 calories for all 8 bites/balls. I almost didn’t buy it for one reason, the 25 grams of sugar per bag. However, I figured I could let it slide as I mostly buy/eat low sugar items and I would save these for a post-workout treat.

Each bite is in the shape of a small ball, with a crumb-like consistency covering the ball. The bites are dense and chewy, and really quite good. They are sweet and have a chocolate flavor, and the crumbs add a little bit of extra flavor. I can definitely taste the “protein” in it, as in it had a slight chocolate protein powder taste, but not too overwhelming.

I actually really enjoyed these! I think even if I don’t eat all of them in one sitting, I could pop one or two bites in my mouth after a workout before my drive home from the gym, and then eat a full meal once I arrive home. In fact, on the back of the bag it states “ever taken a few bites of a protein bar, and stowed the rest in your gym bag for later?” (SO ACCURATE for me! I usually eat bars in pieces =] )

I also like the fact that on the back of the bag it states that it is made with “TriSource” protein, which has a “sustained” “digestion rate” , which I definitely like!

Overall, I like these! I obviously wish they weren’t as high in sugar as they are, but I think they are a good post-workout protein-filled treat and quite delicious. Overall, 4 stars.


25 Jun 2012, Comments (2)

Zone Perfect Perfectly Simple Cranberry Almond Bar

Author: Healthnuttxo

Another new flavor for me to try from Zone Perfect on their Perfectly Simple line. This time, Cranberry Almond, which I also received in the mail to try for free.

I looked at the stats before indulging in the snack. 170 calories, 10 grams of protein, 4 grams of fat, 19 grams os sugar ( a little high for me), gluten free, and made with 10 ingredients (bonus points here! Less ingredients something is made with in my book, the better!)

I opened up the bar and saw a light brown colored bar, with visible chunks of nuts and pieces. I took a bite, and was pleasantly surprised. It had a cranberry-pomegranate flavor, and also had apple flavored undertones. It was sweet without being overly sweet, but more of a fruit-kind-of-sweet.. It had that tang that cranberries and pomegranates have, but wasn’t so tangy that it was intolerable. The almonds added a tiny bit of a crunch, which was nice, and provided a mild flavor.

What I noticed about this bar, similar to the last Coconut flavored bar I tried, was it’s “piecy” consistency. The last bar I tried was Toasted Coconut, so I chalked up the “piecy-ness” to the flakes of coconut. However, as I chewed this bar, I noticed it was kind of piecy in consistency as well. After looking at the dry ingredients, I assume it’s from the sweetened cranberries and pieces of each individual ingredient.

Overall, a good bar! I liked the flavor, although it was a tad on the tangy side, and the bar was dense and had a nice chew to it. Not my favorite, but I would eat it again if the opportunity arose or if I saw it in the stores. 3 stars


18 Jun 2012, Comments (3)

Zone Perfect Perfectly Simple Toasted Coconut Bar

Author: Healthnuttxo

Something new to try! I got a free box in the mail from Zone Perfect that had three new bars of theirs from the “Perfectly Simple” line. Inside was a Toasted Coconut flavor, Peanut Crunch and Cranberry Almond. All of the bars are gluten free, have some protein in them, and have minimal ingredients.

I decided to try the Toasted Coconut bar first. I opened the bar and it didn’t look as I expected. It was a rather dull color, with bits of what looked like nuts or coconut shreds and a rather dense bar. I broke off a piece, and realized it was a little dense.

After taking a bite, I actually enjoyed it. A good amount of sweetness, it has a yummy coconut flavor balanced with some almond flavor as well. What I didn’t really like was the consistency. Although I appreciate that there’s actual coconut in this bar, it had that flaky/shredded coconut consistency when you bit into the bar. With every bite I felt shreds of coconut between my teeth. Some people like that, I happen to not, but that’s just me.

However, the flavor made up for it. Loved the flavor, and the chewiness that the bar had to provide. I also like that it only has 8 ingredients, is gluten free, and has 10 grams of protein per bar. The bar’s first ingredient is also a form of sugar, which I didn’t like. It is also a tad high in calories, this one is 200, and while I feel I can get many other bars with way more protein, I enjoyed this bar minus the consistency.

Overall, 3.5  stars.

14 May 2012, Comments (4)

Clif Builder’s S’mores Protein Bar

Author: Healthnuttxo

Another Builder’s Bar review! This time, the S’mores flavor. Who could really ever resist a S’more? Chocolate? Marshmallow? Graham crackers? All warm and gooey…

Ok I’ll stop now, before day dreaming turns into my actually going out to buy ingredients to make S’mores….

Insert Clif Builder’s S’mores Protein Bar, made with natural ingredients, organic ingredients, and still some muscle-loving protein. I liked the chocolate chip one I had a few days ago, and bought a whole bunch more.

Upon first bite, I REALLY liked it. It was sweeter than the Chocolate Chip flavor, and more flavorful. The top part was soft and chewy and dense, and the bottom part of the bar was “crunchier”, and together it was a really complimenting texture.

The flavor I would say was a predominant sweet chocolate, with a good bit of marshmallow flavor. I did get the sense that the bar contained a “toasted” flavor, kind of like a graham cracker would provide. As with the other bar, or any protein bar really, I needed some water to drink with this. (Hey, some milk if you feel like adding even more protein!) It had that salty/sweet combination going on, and water fit the bill quite nicely.

Overall, yum! Love the high protein, and that it’s low glycemic according to the wrapper. I also like how it doesn’t taste chalky like some protein bars can. It is a bit high in sugar/sodium and low in fiber, so overall, 4 stars

Will buy again! 🙂

2 May 2012, Comments (7)

NuvoSport ProGel

Author: Healthnuttxo

Pro Gel.

What’s that?

Protein gelatin, perhaps? =D

I know, I never saw/heard/thought of it before, but low and behold, it exists!

I got a free sample to try from the company, and with the combination of 1. Being hungry 2. Not wanting to eat junk food and 3. on a high protein diet, I saw this as the perfect opportunity to try this snack.

Side note: it came with a super cute small spoon. (win!!!!)

I opened  up my Pro-Gel, which was packed with protein, low in calories, and even had some fiber. Here’s how it looked.

I scooped some out, and noticed it’s thickness. Now, I’ve had my fair share of Jell-O in the past, so I’m familiar with the consistency. This was pretty much the same just…thicker and a bit stickier.

The flavor? It was ok. It reminded me of a strawberry Kiwi flavored gelatin. And a sugar-free one at that. Being a diabetic, I’m used to sugar free products, and I can really tell when a product has been sweetened by sugar or not. This tasted like it was sweetened with sugar, as it was “sweet” but not really sugar sweet.

However, the tartness overpowered any potential sweetness it could have. And while I appreciate it that this doesn’t taste like it’s fortified with any protein, I don’t think I’d be able to eat it again. It wasn’t really that good, and too tart. Perhaps if it was a cherry flavor I would have liked it more. But whatever flavor it supposedly tasted like other than “tart”, I was not a fan of.

Overall, 2 stars. It wasn’t horrible, I just wouldn’t buy it in the future. Love the high protein for such a small cup, but I’ll stick to my eggs, protein bars, milk and lots and lots of peanut butter for my protein for now!

close up of nutrition

27 Apr 2012, Comments (5)

Clif Builder’s Bar Chocolate Chip

Author: Healthnuttxo

I’m not a meat eater. Good for my cholesterol levels, bad for my protein levels- especially since I’m a total gym bunny. So I often try to find high protein foods to supplement the protein I lack when I don’t eat that cheeseburger or steak (which, mind you, hasn’t been done since 7th grade! Wow….such a long time!)

I also am quite fond of protein bars. Weird? Nah. I just think you have to find the right ones! Some can be a bit chalky, or others pounded with sugar and fat, but if you find a good bar with a good amount of protein I think it”s perfect as a  light meal or alongside some fruit for a light meal.

So, what took me so long to finally try these Clif Builder’s Bars? No clue. What’s WRONG with me!? Maybe I was blinded to the protein bar section in CVS or Whole Foods that contained the Clif Builder’s Bars. But, the other day I picked up one of every flavor from Whole Foods, hoping they would be a success.

Not going to lie, already had 2 of them (two thumbs up!!) before I thought to review one. Well DUH on my part, seeing as  I have a health food blog that reviews new products I eat and all…. =P

The bar was actually quite good. It was a soft chew, with a crunchier inside very similar to the “crispie” part in the Luna bars. It did have that infamous “soy” flavor, but not overpoweringly so. The softer  part on top was chewy, dense, and almost had a vanilla flavor. The crunchier “Luna-like” part on the bottom was chocolately in flavor, but not really super flavorful. All together, I got almost a light caramel/chocolate malt flavor. It was weird…but it was good. I liked it.

I can’t say this SCREAMED chocolate chip flavor, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it. It was more of a chocolate malt flavor, or chocolate in general. It had that kind of flavor that made me crave some water, but was sweet as well. I would most likely buy this one, especially since it had no sugar alcohols and no artificial ingredients, which often accompany protein bars.

Overall, 4 stars. I had this for lunch with a giant fruit cup and was quite satisfied. Its high in saturated fat and sugar, but also high in protein and with a low glycemic index. Perfect for a diabetic like me! =)

WHAT’S your favorite protein bar brand/name? Let me know! =)

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