There’s something that I really can’t stand and it’s America’s addiction with protein bars. As far back as I can remember, I’ve seen people crabbing Clif and Luna bars for meals and have never really understood why. I, myself, used to be in a love affair with Clif’s Builder Bars when I was a small tween. That cookies and cream flavor… HELLOOOO delicious! I remember we had a drawer in my kitchen growing up that was packed with 10-20 of ’em. Little did I know, they really don’t contain any nutritional value at all. In fact, you might as well have a Hershey’s Cookies ‘n Cream bar (only the best). The problem with these is the first few ingredients are processed sugars and not only that but the very first ingredient? Soy protein isolate. Now I’m no expert but I do know that processed soy was not meant for our bods.
Aside from these problems, what I really noticed about Clif bars and others like it are that every time I snack on one, I’m never satisfied. I could probably eat 2-3 of them and still want a real meal afterwards. That is why to me, protein bars are just like candy.
Once I started transitioning into looking at ingredients in my food rather than “low-cal” and all of that nonsense, I drifted away from these protein bars and started eating LARA and Thunderbird Energetica. Two of my favorite bars on this planet. When I buy bars, I’m super duper picky and with these bad boys, the ingredient list consists of nuts, spices, fruit and dates for a sweetener. They’re more like snacks to me filled with nutritional value to hold me over on the train or during a class break.
I thought I had lost hope on finding a (third) new bar until Squarebar Organics came to town. And by town I mean Whole Foods in Chicago.
These individually wrapped, literally square bars are down right decadent and chocolate coated magic. While they come in five different chocolate coated flavors (Crunch, Cherry, Coconut, Mint and Almond Spice), they are held together by 10 ingredients or less. Coconut oil, coconut nectar, dark chocolate… yeah it’s pretty much a health foodie’s take on a Mounds bar and I am SO on board with it. They have NO soy, dairy or gluten so they are fit for those with dietary preferences or allergies.
With less sugar than a LARA bar, Squarebars are pretty much my new fix. Since they are chocolate coated, they are rather rich so you might need to wash it down with a side of milk if you’re taking one on the go. With more than 10g of protein per bar, there’s no doubt in my mind they are ideal for after a workout. After coming home from a Bar Move class today, I thought I’d slice a Chocolate Covered Coconut bar and toss it on a smoothie inspired by my girl, Hummusapien.
- ½ cup frozen blueberries
- ½ cup mix of frozen kale/spinach
- 1 tbsp hemp seeds
- ¾ cup almond milk
- ½ scoop of Vega Protein and Greens Vanilla Flavor
- ¼-1/2 cup ice
- Topping: ½ Chocolate Coated Coconut Squarebar, ¼ cup blueberries, ⅓ cup One Degree Organic Brown Rice Crisp Cereal
- Combine all ingredients aside from toppings in a high powered blender.
- Blend until thick.
- Slice half of a Squarebar up and toss on top of smoothie, followed by blueberries and brown rice crisp cereal or cereal/granola of your preference!
- Enjoy!
After I poured my smoothie in the glass and topped it with little chunks of chocolatey goodness, everything was overflowing. Yes, it might make for a pretty photo but in no way is it easy to eat. Most likely, you’ll want to handle this mountain of blueberries and chocolate in a bowl. Top with added granola or this brown rice crisp cereal like I did. Don’t forget the fresh blueberries, too!
Now time to indulge.
Is it too late to go back for seconds?!
–Addie
*All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a box of Squarebars for my thoughts and opinions but did not complete this for compensation or affiliated links. Anything linked or mentioned are products/people/etc I truly love and care about. Thank you.*
Maddie says
This looks AMAZING Addie! I used to be into questbars until I learned that the processed whey protein and artificial sugars did absolutely nothing good for my body. Square bars sound like a terrific replacement! I think I would rather have a cherry square bar than a snickers bar! 😉
Kristin says
I tried to get on board with the protein bar craze but I just can’t. I prefer it all in smoothie form!
Addie Martanovic says
I definitely understand! Smoothies are more fun to eat anyways 🙂