Cara Rennie – Page 20 – Paleo Protein Bar Reviews & Deals

Rise Protein Bars – the Good and the Bad

If you are not afraid of fat or carbs and want a substantial, filling protein bar with minimal ingredients, you may want to check out Rise Protein Bars. However, it’s not for everybody.

The Pros of Rise Protein Bars:

1. This Bar has Only 3 Ingredients

Almonds, Honey and Whey Protein Isolate. Simple, clean fuel.

2. The Rise Bar is a Powerful Source of Protein

Rise Protein Bar Package Label 20 grams of protein for most Paleo bars is a lot. Most don’t contain even half of that amount unless they add a protein powder source such as whey or egg.

Many athletes like whey protein isolate, especially right after a workout. This form of protein is fast-digesting and great for building muscle.

3. The Price is Affordable

A 12-bar pack costs about $25, which ends up being about $2 per protein bar. This is comparable to other paleo bars and low carb options such as Quest Bars.

Keep in mind, though, that Rise Bars have about 1/3 more calories, so you are essentially getting more bar for your money.

4. It’s All Natural

With only 3 ingredients, you probably already figured that they can’t really fit any artificial ingredients in the package, but I thought I’d mention it anyway. And while I’m at it, Rise Bars are also non-GMO, soy-free, gluten-free, kosher, with no preservatives, artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols.

The Cons…

1. It’s Not Officially Paleo

This protein bar contains whey, a milk product. Furthermore it is whey protein isolate, which is a processed food.

2. It has Carbs

This factor may be a con to some while being a pro to others. There are 20 grams of carbs, with 4 of them being from fiber. The majority of the rest are from the honey: pure sugar, although completely natural.

3. Rise Bars are Not Organic

OK. I know I am being nit-picky, but I just had to add another item on the “cons” list for anyone out there who requires organic food products.

Other Notes About Rise Protein Bars:

This protein bar is not like other fruit-and-nut or trail mix bars that whole nuts sticking out of them. The ingredients of this one are thoroughly mixed into a consistent chewy texture, similar to other higher protein bars like Paleo Bars.

PS. Did You Know? Every Rise Bar is mixed and packed in small batches daily in their California Kitchen. Read their story here.

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

Pros & Cons of the Paleo Eats Coconut Cacao Energy Bar

If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll like this Coconut Cacao Energy Bar. It definitely has its share of sweet ingredients.

That said, these are natural or organic sweeteners. These include raw honey, organic cane sugar, organic dates and organic maple sugar.

Sugar Can Be Bad… or Good

They aren’t necessarily bad unless you are trying to avoid sugar or are on a low carb or ketogenic diet.

Some people might even prefer higher-sugar snacks (as long as they are all natural) for after an intense workout or as an after-dinner treat.

These can be great for satiating that sweet craving as well as curbing the hunger, since they also have a high amount of fat.

Hey, if this keeps you from binging on a bag of cookies or pint of ice cream, the Coconut Cacao Energy Bar can be a guilt-free treat!

They Have a Good Amount of Fiber

In addition, there is a good amount of fiber in these paleo bars. The total carb content is 24 but the sugar content is only 15 grams.

There is a whopping 7 grams of fiber, which is 28% of the daily recommended value.

This comes mainly from the ground flax seeds, as well as the coconut and almonds.

If you have a hard time getting enough fiber in your diet, this can be a good excuse to indulge in a sweet treat.

This Paleo Eats Energy Bar has Only 6g of Protein

The protein is low for this bar. It’s only 6 grams. You might expect a low amount of protein for a smaller-portioned lower calorie snack, but this one is 320 calories.

If you are replacing a dessert with this Paleo Eats bar, well, you may be able to cut some calories too. However, if you are using the Coconut Cacao as an afternoon snack, it definitely has more calories than carrot sticks or even celery with peanut butter.

What About the Price?

Paleo Eats charges almost $4 per bar. Yes, get you get more calories/energy per bar, and they cost less than most desserts. On the other hand, they are about double the price of other paleo bars such as Caveman Bars.

These packs come in 2 different sizes. You can choose from the 6-pack or the 12-pack. You’ll save money on the larger option, but they’re still not cheap.

Another way you can feel less guilty about paying more for these bars is to get the Coffee Bean flavor, which does include organic coffee beans. You can get your afternoon or after-workout pick-me-up without having to buy coffee!

And while we’re on the topic of flavors, you can also get Chai Spice.

What it doesn’t have:

GMOs
Gluten
Dairy
Soy
Corn
Grains
Legumes
Wheat
Processed Sugar
Preservatives

Coconut Cacao Ingredients

Organic Coconut, Organic Almonds, Raw Honey, Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Chocolate Chips (70% Chocolate, Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Chocolate Liquor [Non-Alcoholic], Non-Dairy Organic Cocoa Butter & Organic Vanilla), Organic Dates, Organic Sunflower Seeds (Raw, Shelled), Organic Raw Cacao Powder, Milled Organic Flax Seed, Organic Maple Syrup, Organic Vanilla Extract, Pure Almond Extract and Himalayan Pink Sea Salt

Click here >> for more information.

Quest Bar – Is It Paleo?

Quest Nutrition makes protein bars for those of us who don’t want to give our desserts – but don’t want to feel guilty either.

You can tell by just looking at some of the names: “Apple Pie”, “Chocolate Brownie” and “Strawberry Cheesecake”. If they weren’t in the nutrition section of the store, we might mistake them for cookies.

What’s Good About Them:

Good points about the Quest bars is that they contain a significant amount of protein and fiber. If you’ve shopped at all for paleo bars, you’ve noticed that there are lots of all-natural nut-and-seed bars that adhere to the diet, but they don’t contain as much protein. For gym rats, the 5-6 grams of protein per serving may not cut it.

Another advantage to these bars is that they can curb your need for the real desserts. The high amount of fiber combined with about 20 grams of protein can fill you up after dinner so you don’t actually go for the real apple pie a la mode. They are low in carbs (most of the carbs they contain are from the fiber), so you don’t get a spike in your blood sugar level which can cause those cravings.

But are They Paleo?

Some people may call these bars paleo while others would not – due to the fact that some contain sucralose and dairy. That said, if you want to avoid the sucralose, you can simply choose these flavors:

The bottom line is really what you consider paleo. Do you include dairy? Are occasional sweeteners ok?

Who Quest Bars are Not For…

If you want to eat packaged food with only ingredients that have been picked from a tree or the ground, these bars are probably not for you. Although natural, these bars are more processed and may contain some stuff that you may not have heard of.

Quest Bar This variety pack contains 1 bar of each flavor if you want to take these for a test drive – or simply want to stock your pantry with a variety of after-workout snacks that won’t become boring.