Cara Rennie – Page 10 – Paleo Protein Bar Reviews & Deals

Where to Find Quinoa Protein Bars

Quinoa Protein Bars: An Excellent Source of Healthy Protein

If you’ve heard of quinoa, it’s probably been in comparison to other grains. It is usually talked about as a healthier alternative to rice, pasta or wheat, as it contains twice as much fiber, a good amount of protein and a variety of important vitamins and minerals like magnesium, iron, riboflavin and manganese.

Another interesting fact found in the bestselling book Quinoa 365, by Patricia Green and Carolyn Hemming, is that quinoa has been ranked in the top 10 foods for muscle-building due to its protein and amino acid content plus complex carbohydrates. Want to get specific nutrition data? The USDA has a food nutrient database that you can check out online to search for quinoa.

However, only recently have I heard about quinoa protein bars…

Getting the Benefits of Quinoa… in a Bar

Quinoa makes a lot of sense in a protein bar, though. It is one of the most protein-rich foods we can eat, and is a great alternative to protein sources such as eggs, dairy or nuts that are commonly found in protein bars.

Whether you have an allergy to these foods, a food sensitivity, are a vegan eater or you want a high-fiber protein bar, quinoa can be a simple solution.

Oskri makes a Quinoa Bar. It’s vegan, gluten free, lactose free and contains no refined sugar. It’s also organic and soy-free.

Some people compare the taste and texture to sesame sticks. They are crunchy vs chewy, if that matters to you.

The Good News …or the Bad News

These quinoa protein bars only contain 4 ingredients. This can be good news or bad news. The first 2 ingredients are quinoa seeds and sesame seeds – which make up almost 60% of the bar. If you you don’t like either of these seeds, I highly recommend that you don’t get this bar, but you probably already figured that out.

Keen-Wah Protein Bars

Keen-Wah Decadence Protein Bar YogaEarth makes gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO quinoa protein bars called Keen-Wah Decadence Protein Bars. Although they contain healthy, clean ingredients, these bars are more like a desert than a snack. You might have already guessed this from the name on the package.

For example, the organic chocolate chia contains almond butter, coconut nectar, Peruvian cacao powder, chopped almonds, cacao butter, Peruvian cacao nibs, chia seeds, sprouted quinoa flour, quinoa crisps, brown rice protein powder and Himalayan sea salt. It also has a chocolate coating.

Bars are also soy-free, except some flavors contain a very small amount of soy lecithin.

Time for Dessert!

You can’t really complain about the ingredients – just be prepared for something rich and chocolate-ful. Of course, if you are looking for an easy and healthy dessert alternative, this is it.

You can also get coconut almond or cayenne cinnamon (because I know you’re wondering, it’s not super crazy – just a mild spicy flavor).

Another Option – with Less Protein.

Pure Organic makes their Ancient Grains Nut Bar, which contains quinoa, hemp, flax and amaranth. However, with just 5 grams of protein, plus rice and several sweeteners, I would not necessarily consider it paleo.

About the Author: Cara Rennie is a paleo cooking chef, writer and advocate for healthy living. With over a decade of experience in the culinary industry, Cara has established herself as an expert in the paleo lifestyle, emphasizing the use of natural ingredients that promote a balanced and sustainable lifestyle. She firmly believes in the power of food to transform people's lives, while helping others discover the joys of paleo eating. Facebook | Pinterest

2 Awesome Raw Vegan Protein Bars

Raw Vegan Protein Bars: What You Need to Know

In the world of protein bars, there are not many products that are raw and not many that are vegan. For people looking for raw, vegan or both, and that can be a real challenge. Many people forgo the task and just make their own.

However, you can buy raw protein bars that are vegan as well – Raw Revolution Bars made by Alice Benedetto’s company, Raw Indulgence. They come in about 8 different flavors, and you can even try a variety pack – because if you’re anything like me, it’s hard to commit to just one flavor.

Something You Don’t Need Me to Tell You:

Because they include raw ingredients, the nutrient density is higher and they offer a cleaner source of fuel, but you probably didn’t need me to tell you that.

According to the book by Brendan Brazier, Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide to Optimal Performance in Sports and Life, high-quality nutrition will boost the effectiveness of an exercise program significantly, without having to exercise harder or longer.

If you are new to eating raw or vegan – or you are simply trying to eat healthier, you may notice that by eliminating processed foods that certain health issues can start to disappear. Of course, there are no guarantees and I am no doctor – but I have experienced better digestion, clearer skin, increased energy, weight loss and more – and many of my friends have experienced the same.

And More Benefits About Raw Vegan Protein Bars…

Raw food products also offer numerous side benefits due to the fact that they don’t contain processed ingredients. For example, the Raw Revolution Bar is gluten free, (does not contain wheat), corn, soy, trans-fats, cholesterol or refined sugar. It also does not contain added salt or peanuts, for people trying to avoid those ingredients as well.

In fact, even the most selective of eaters will appreciate this raw protein bar because it eliminates pretty much anything that a health-conscious eater is trying to avoid. This is the type of snack people would make themselves because they couldn’t find a healthy snack that included the clean ingredients they wanted.

Behind Door #2:

Other protein bar options include the Go Raw Live Bars. The Live Pumpkin Bar is one of the most popular flavors, maybe because people think there is a live pumpkin in the package.

You can also get Spirulina Energy, Flax Apricot, Granola or Banana Bread Flax.

Note: These are also nut free protein bars and contain all-organic ingredients.

Note #2: Bars that come in 10-packs are usually smaller-sized bars than the bars in the 20-packs or 30-packs (12-14oz VS about 36 oz).

Dairy-Free Protein Bars

Want a Protein Bar that Doesn’t Have Dairy or Whey?

Dairy (or whey) is a popular form of protein when it comes to protein powders protein bars for body builders. The reason for this is that it is considered a high-quality protein that helps build strong muscles.

But I Don’t Want Dairy…

However, if you are allergic, your body can’t tolerate dairy or you simply don’t want to consume it, you will need to find another source of protein. The good news is that there are plenty of options, but sometimes it can be difficult to know what to choose and where to find it.

Even if you can eat dairy products, there are a number of reasons why you might want to avoid it. Carla Sanborn, author of The Dairy-Free Diet, says eating a dairy-free diet can help people gain muscle mass and shed body weight. She also says that dairy foods are the cause of more food allergies than most other foods combined. (You may be having a skin problem or constant congestion and never even realize that it’s from the food you’re eating!)

And What About Soy?

Many protein bars use soy protein isolate as one of their main ingredients. The problem with this, however, is that soy produced in the USA is typically genetically modified, and soy as “soy protein isolate” is highly processed – much different than a fresh organic soybean.

By avoiding both whey and soy, a shopper greatly reduces her options when it comes to protein bars. But all is not lost – there is more good news!

More Good News About Dairy-Free Protein Bars?

With the growing interest in the paleo lifestyle, new snacks and food products have been introduced to the market – including paleo protein bars. These typically don’t contain gluten, grain, sugar, soy or dairy. Therefore, if you look for products labeled “paleo”, you are likely to find protein bars (and all sorts of other items) that are dairy free.

NOTE: Of couse, as with all product packaging, you want to read the product ingredient list to make sure that what the product advertises is actually what is contained.

The AMRAP Bar, for example, contains egg white protein vs the typical whey or soy protein. According to a blog post at Mark’s Daily Apple, egg white protein is a highly bioavailable protein choice for people looking to add more protein to their diet.