Updated! Several years ago, the Simply Bar brand from Wellness Foods carved out its niche as “the most protein with the least calories of any natural food bar.” Yet, even with this big claim to fame, the creator of SimplyProtein Bars has been dedicated to continuous improvement.
After several formula changes, SimplyProtein Bars are now down to just 1 gram of sugar. You heard me right, JUST ONE GRAM. Yet, they are high fiber (7 grams) and high protein (15 grams; dairy-free and plant-based). They also now have a big line up of flavors, which I will thoroughly cover today.
The protein-power in SimplyProtein Bars comes from soy protein crisps that are bound together into a rice crispy-like bar that is far more snack than treat. I’m not anti-soy, but am pro the right kinds of soy, based on the research. For that reason, I don’t love that the main ingredient in SimplyProtein Bars is soy protein isolate.
The isolate is how they are able to get such a high-protein snack, but I’d be fine if they cut the protein down and used a whole protein source. Nonetheless, I am a believer of moderation (and so are the studies). And these fit the bill when I was hungry and really didn’t want to inhale loads of sugar (which is far too easy some days!).
Tasting Notes for SimplyProtein Bars
SimplyProtein Bars tend to get mixed reviews, from passionate raves to less pleased rants. And they hit similar notes in our household. Tony isn’t a big fan of the slightly sticky, crunchy texture. And he’d rather have a classically-sweetened granola bar.
But I tend to enjoy these bars. They fill a protein void, are surprisingly filling without packing in too many calories, and are remarkably sweet for having just 1 gram of sugar. And they aren’t made with sugar alcohols or stevia, so those funny aftertastes are avoided. I do find the latest versions a touch sticky, but do like the crispy, chewy texture overall. I’ve included my tasting notes here, along with ingredients and allergen notes.
Maple Pecan
How does this taste so sweet? This is probably my favorite flavor. It has the perfect spike of maple goodness and an appealing warm flavor, but no sugary aftertaste!
Ingredients – non-GMO soy protein isolate, chicory root fibre, pecans, vegetable glycerin, cashew butter (dry-roasted cashews, sunflower oil), tapioca starch, maple syrup, salt, natural flavour. Contains soy and tree nuts. May contain milk, peanuts and sesame seeds.
Cinnamon Pecan
This flavor is a solid runner-up in my book. It’s intensely cinnamon with a perfectly sweet and flavorful vibe.
Ingredients – non-GMO soy protein isolate, chicory root fibre, cashew butter (dry-roasted cashews, sunflower oil), pecans, vegetable glycerin, tapioca starch, cinnamon, salt. Contains soy and tree nuts. May contain milk, peanuts and sesame seeds.
Lemon Coconut
I found it odd that this is one of their top sellers, just due to the flavor combo. But it does have a unique and intriguing sweet-tart flavor. I think my loyalties still lie with the “warmer” pecan flavors, but this does have a pleasant, lively lemon boost and big soft shards of coconut.
And the Lemon Coconut is Leah’s go-to:
This is the flavor I am always going back to. I love the lightness of it! It’s such a unique flavor combination for a protein bar and I just can’t get enough of it.
Ingredients – non-GMO soy protein isolate, chicory root fibre, cashew butter (dry-roasted cashews, sunflower oil), vegetable glycerin, coconut, tapioca starch, natural flavour, salt. Contains soy and tree nuts. May contain milk, peanuts and sesame seeds.
Peanut Butter Chocolate
This is their top seller! I think they reformulated a little since I last tried it this flavor, and for the better. Previously, I thought it was more peanut-cocoa. But now it is deep, chocolaty and a little salty with an underlying peanut butter vibe. And I think it’s just sweet enough, but it does have a slight bitter aftertaste that peeks through.
Ingredients – non-GMO soy protein isolate, chicory root fibre, vegetable glycerin, natural peanut butter, cocoa powder, tapioca starch, natural flavour, salt. Contains soy and peanuts. May contain milk, tree nuts and sesame seeds.
Chocolate Coconut (New!)
I love the coconut shards in this bar, and the more chocolaty flavor, similar to the PB variety. But there is something strange for me in the aftertaste that isn’t really coconut, and a little bitter. I haven’t written this one off, but I am still most loyal to the nuttier flavors.
Ingredients – non-GMO soy protein isolate, chicory root fibre, vegetable glycerin, cashew butter (dry-roasted cashews, sunflower oil), coconut, cocoa powder, tapioca starch, natural flavour, salt. Contains soy and tree nuts. May contain milk, peanuts and sesame seeds.
Double Chocolate
Unlike many “double chocolate” varieties, this one doesn’t contain chocolate chips. But it does have very sweet, rich chocolate flavor. In fact, the sweetness lingered even after my last bite. There were also a few interesting bites of cashew chunks, which I quite enjoyed.
Ingredients – non-GMO soy protein isolate, chicory root fibre, vegetable glycerin, cashew butter (dry-roasted cashews, sunflower oil), unsweetened chocolate, cashew nuts, tapioca starch, natural flavour, salt. Contains soy and tree nuts. May contain milk, peanuts and sesame seeds.
Cocoa Raspberry
A very pleasant raspberry scent emerged when I opened this bar. This is a little more “cocoa” than the chocolate versions, but the subtle flavor goes well with the bright raspberry notes. The only negative, was that I detected a little bit of an alcohol-like vibe in the taste – perhaps from the natural flavors?
Ingredients – non-GMO soy protein isolate, chicory root fibre, cashew butter (dry-roasted cashews, sunflower oil), vegetable glycerin, cocoa powder, tapioca starch, raspberries, natural flavour, salt. Contains soy and tree nuts. May contain milk, peanuts and sesame seeds.
Cocoa Coffee
Coffee is not my thing, and as Tony said, “this is coffee!” Each bar contains coffee beans for a natural jolt. If you are a java fan, then I suggest you try this one It isn’t mocha, but rather coffee with some cocoa underpinnings.
Ingredients – non-GMO soy protein isolate, chicory root fibre, cashew butter (dry-roasted cashews, sunflower oil), vegetable glycerin, cocoa powder, tapioca starch, coffee beans, salt, natural flavour. Contains soy and tree nuts. May contain milk, peanuts and sesame seeds.
Chocolate Caramel
This flavor isn’t quite as chocolaty as some of the “chocolate” varieties, but it still has a deep flavor that is pleasant, and has underpinnings of caramel notes. If you are a bitter super-taster, this flavor isn’t quite as sweet as some of the other flavors and does have a touch of bitterness. But it isn’t overpowering.
Ingredients – non-GMO soy protein isolate, chicory root fibre, vegetable glycerin, roasted peanuts, natural peanut butter, cocoa powder, tapioca starch, natural flavour, salt. Contains soy and tree nuts. May contain milk, peanuts and sesame seeds.
The Facts on SimplyProtein Bars
Price: $1.50 to $2.79 per 1.4-ounce bar.
Availability: SimplyProtein Bars are sold throughout the U.S. and Canada. They are also easy to find online. You can purchase them direct, or order from sites like Amazon.
Certifications: SimplyProtein Bars are Non-GMO Verified and Certified Kosher Dairy due to shared equipment. See our Understanding Kosher page for more information.
Dietary Notes: By ingredients, SimplyProtein Bars are dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, vegan / plant-based, and vegetarian. Nonetheless, check with the company on their manufacturing processes for all varieties if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. Processes, ingredients, and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company / product.
For More Product Information: Visit the Wellness Foods website a www.simplyprotein.com.
2 Comments
I have to say that I’m with Tony on this one. I tried these last summer and they taste like what I imagine bird food to taste like.
Haha, yes, I’ve noticed a big divide on Amazon with this product, too! Thanks for sharing your feedback Katie.