We first tried and reviewed GoMacro MacroBars almost 12 years ago! A lot has changed with their formula, packaging, and varieties over the years, so Sarah S. is giving us a big update.
GoMacro MacroBars have been a staple in our house, and my purse, for over 5 years. That was back when the packaging was different and there were only a few flavors. They were one of the only gluten-free and vegan bars I liked at the time. Over the years, some things have changed. They have new packaging and many new flavors, but the simplicity of this snack remains.
The ingredients in GoMacro MacroBars seem almost too good to be true. The GoMacro founders were followers of the Macrobiotic Diet, which focuses on unrefined, whole, and natural foods – ingredients that are grown, not made. This translates into no refined sugars, white flours, or preservatives in their flagship bar line.
However, I was concerned that brown rice syrup is the first ingredient in many of the GoMacro MacroBars. It was also surprising, since these bars are not as sweet as many other bars on the market. It seems that by law ingredients have to be listed in order of weight, and brown rice syrup is very dense. In fact, brown rice syrup weighs more than many of the other ingredients in these bars. So even though the bars contain more oats and nuts by quantity, brown rice syrup has to be listed first because it weighs more.
As a side note, I like companies that give back to society. And GoMacro selects one flavor every quarter to highlight as their “Give Back Bar.” They donate 10% of the sales of that bar to a non-profit organization. Plus, a portion of the proceeds from their Everlasting Joy Bars goes toward feeding the homeless.
Tasting Notes for GoMacro MacroBars
I was given the opportunity to try their three new bar flavors (sent to me by GoMacro). And I’m also including tasting notes for three of our favorite flavors of GoMacro MacroBars, which we purchase regularly. At last count, they had a total of 13 flavors!
I truly enjoy the texture of the GoMacro MacroBars. They are soft, chewy, and dense, not dry or crumbly. So they stick together, even when smashed in a purse or gym bag on the go.
Sweet Awakening (Mocha Chocolate Chip)
As a coffee and chocolate lover, I had big expectations for this flavor. Fortunately, it was everything I dreamed it would be! It’s a coffee-infused bar with subtle sweetness, a hit of cocoa, and chocolate chips sprinkled through out. This is a great grab-and-go flavor to pair with your cup of Joe on busy mornings, but it also makes a nice afternoon energizer.
Ingredients: organic brown rice syrup, organic almond butter, organic protein blend (organic sprouted brown rice protein, organic pea protein), organic puffed brown rice, organic sunflower seed butter, organic fair trade chocolate chips (organic coconut sugar, organic cocoa, organic cocoa butter), organic cacao powder, organic coffee, organic coconut sugar, organic vanilla flavor. Manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts and other nuts. May contain pit or nutshell fragments.
Nutrition (per 2.3-ounce bar): 270 calories, 9g fat, 37g carbs, 3g fiber, 12g sugars (includes 12g added sugars), 10g protein.*
Protein Decadence (Dark Chocolate + Almonds) – NEW
This flavor reminds me of a brownie! Not a sugary sweet chocolate brownie, but a dark chocolate one with a generous sprinkling of chocolate chips. It has just the right amount of sweetness for me. The almonds in this bar are not very pronounced, so it has a fudgy chewy texture. It satisfies my chocolate cravings, but also fills me up and provides lasting energy.
Ingredients: organic brown rice syrup, organic almond butter, organic protein blend (organic sprouted brown rice protein, organic pea protein), organic puffed brown rice, organic almonds, organic fair trade chocolate chips (organic coconut sugar, organic cocoa, organic cocoa butter), organic sunflower seed butter, organic cacao powder, organic coconut sugar, organic vanilla flavor, sea salt. Manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts and other nuts. May contain pit or nutshell fragments.
Nutrition (per 2.3-ounce bar): 280 calories, 11g fat, 37g carbs, 3g fiber, 14g sugars (includes 13g added sugars), 10g protein.*
Blissful Daybreak (Blueberry + Cashew Butter) – NEW
At first I thought “blueberry pancakes,” but after a couple more bites it reminded me of a blueberry muffin! I instantly knew this would be my youngest daughter’s new favorite. The texture in this bar is great, with big pieces of cashews and dried blueberries. I didn’t expect to love this flavor quite so much, but the “blissful” name says it all.
Ingredients: organic brown rice syrup, organic cashew butter, organic protein blend (organic sprouted brown rice protein, organic pea protein), organic cashews, organic puffed brown rice, organic sunflower seed butter, organic blueberries (organic blueberries, organic apple juice concentrate, organic sunflower oil), organic blueberry flavor. Manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts and other nuts. May contain pit or nutshell fragments.
Nutrition (per 2.3-ounce bar): 280 calories, 11g fat, 36g carbs, 2g fiber, 12g sugars (includes 11g added sugars), 10g protein.*
Protein Pleasure (Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip)
Peanut butter and chocolate – need I say more? This is still one of my favorite flavors of the GoMacro MacroBars. It reminds me of a spoon dipped in peanut butter and sprinkled with chocolate chips, like a treat I enjoyed as a child. And the texture is almost like a chocolate chip peanut butter fudge.
Ingredients: organic brown rice syrup, organic peanut butter, organic protein blend (organic sprouted brown rice protein, organic pea protein), organic puffed brown rice, organic fair trade chocolate chips (organic coconut sugar, organic cocoa, organic cocoa butter), organic peanuts. Manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts and other nuts. May contain pit or nutshell fragments.
Nutrition (per 2.3-ounce bar): 290 calories, 11g fat, 39g carbs, 2g fiber, 14g sugars (includes 12g added sugars), 11g protein.*
Everlasting Joy (Coconut + Almond Butter + Chocolate Chips)
True to its name, this bar is pure joy. The almond butter and coconut come together to create a balanced and simple flavor. But the chocolate chips sprinkled through out add a little surprise. I thought I would get to keep this flavor to myself, but it ended up being a family favorite.
Ingredients: organic brown rice syrup, organic almond butter, organic protein blend (organic sprouted brown rice protein, organic pea protein), organic puffed brown rice, organic fair trade chocolate chips (organic coconut sugar, organic cocoa, organic cocoa butter), organic unsweetened coconut, organic almonds. Manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts and other nuts. May contain pit or nutshell fragments.
Nutrition (per 2.3-ounce bar): 280 calories, 10g fat, 36g carbs, 3g fiber, 12g sugars (includes 11g added sugars), 11g protein.*
Sunny Uplift (Cherries + Berries)
Unlike their other bars, Sunny Uplift is more like a chewy granola bar. Instead of a firm fudge-like texture, it’s a soft packed oat bar that is filled with dried berries. And I mean filled. There isn’t a single bite in this sweet-tart bar that doesn’t contain berries. It was definitely a sweet and shining flavor surprise the first time I tried it.
Ingredients: organic brown rice syrup, organic gluten-free rolled oats, organic cherries, organic almond butter, organic dates, organic cranberries (organic cranberries, organic apple juice concentrate, organic sunflower oil), organic puffed brown rice, organic raisins, organic natural cherry flavor. Manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts and other nuts. May contain pit or nutshell fragments.
Nutrition (per 2-ounce bar): 200 calories, 4g fat, 39g carbs, 3g fiber, 15g sugars (includes 10g added sugars), 4g protein.*
The Facts on GoMacro MacroBars
Price: $2.89 per 1.9- to 2.4-ounce bar; they also have MacroBar Minis available for $1.29 per bar.
Availability: GoMacro Bars are currently sold throughout the United States and Canada at natural food stores and some conventional grocers. You can also order them online from Amazon.
Certifications: GoMacro MacroBars are Certified Organic, Certified Kosher Pareve, Certified Gluten Free, Certified Vegan, Certified R.A.W., Certified C.L.E.A.N., and Non-GMO Verified.
Dietary Notes: By ingredients, GoMacro MacroBars are dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, soy-free, vegan, and vegetarian. Some varieties are made without peanuts and/or tree nuts*
For More Product Information: Visit the GoMacro website at gomacro.com.
*Always read the ingredient and nutrition statement prior to consumption. Ingredients, processes, and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company or product. Contact the company to discuss their manufacturing processes if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. No food product can be guaranteed “safe” for every individual’s needs. You should never rely on ingredient and allergen statements alone if dealing with a severe food allergy.
Great bars
Dark chocolate and almonds is just terrific. The fat in the almond butter keeps hunger away and my tongue loves the cocoa.
Great Taste and Healthy
I was given a bunch of these by someone who did not like them. I have been seeking them out, I love them.
Go macro bars peanut butter chocolate chip
This is by far one of my favorite go to healthy snacks. I saw a lady purchase it at the store and i thought it looked good so i bought one and i have been hooked since! This bar keeps you full and as someone mentioned energized as well. Definitely recommend it!
20 Comments
I love Macro Bars! Sweet Awakening sounds amazing I need to try this new flavor!
Me too! The new flavors are not in stores but are on their site with 30% off and free shipping right now.
That’s really interesting to note that ingredients are listed by weight. I always assumed it was by volume. I will be looking at ingredients with a new set of eyes now.
It really changed the way I look at things when I found out.
we love these bars. these are a must have for road trips, before tennis fuel…
Yes road trip and traveling staple for us.
I checked them out online. I think a variety pack sounds like a good idea!
Great way to try them all out.
They sound good. I like that they are dense and filling. These sound perfect for dropping into a purse, backpack, or diaper bag for an easy, nutritious snack.
Yes and they travel great, no crumbing so no mess when you open it up which is nice.
Thanks for explaining about the rice syrup. I didn’t realize that listing was by weight. The Everlasting Joy would be my pick!
It was eye opening when learned about it too. A good one and I think the one with the best name!
I don’t eat many bars, but I’ve been starting to try them because they are so convenient. I had never heard of this company before; however, Everlasting Joy sounds delicious.
Bars are convenient and great to have for the unexpected. If you like coconut and chocolate it’s a good one.
Love all the different flavors they have. They have a great selection!
Yes, it’s nice to have variety.
That’s so interesting about the weight causing brown rice syrup to be at the top of the list of ingredients. I always knew it was the largest quantity but never thought about weight being a factor.
Yes it’s interesting and after learning this gave me a new perspective.
I love these too. I did a demo for them in Whole Foods a few years ago and had the opportunity to hear their story on a training session and it’s really something else.
Sounds like a great opportunity to learn more which always interests me.