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Great news for folks who like to snack on plant-based protein: Beloved brand RxBar just dropped their first plant-based protein bar.
The new RxBar Plant bars are vegan-friendly and available in two flavors: chocolate chip and peanut butter. The new product line is a two-years-in-the-making innovation that customers have long requested from the cult-favorite protein bar company, whose original bars are praised by dietitians for their filling balance of macronutrients, short and simple ingredients list, and compact convenience.
Like the original RxBar, these new protein bars are made from a nutrient-rich, energy-dense base of dates and nuts. What’s different here is the main protein source: While regular RxBars are made with egg whites, these vegan bars are made using a combination of pea protein and almond protein. (According to the label, however, the bars may contain traces of egg because they are made in a facility that also processes eggs.) The other major update to the ingredients list is the addition of oats.
Nutritionwise, these offer a rich balance of nutrients similar to the original. The new plant-based RxBars are full of naturally occurring sugar (from the dates) for quick energy, along with fiber (from the dates, nuts, and oats) and fat (from the nuts) for longer-lasting fuel. The most notable difference is the slightly lower protein count: Both flavors contain 10 grams of protein, as opposed to 12 grams in the original RxBar.
When compared side by side with their egg-white-containing counterparts, both flavors provide most other key nutrients in similar or the same amounts. The plant-based peanut butter flavor, for instance, contains 210 calories (the same as the original peanut butter version), 9 g fat (compared with 7 g); 25 g carbohydrates (the same); 4 g fiber (compared with 5g), and 17 g sugar (compared with 15g).
What do they taste like? Flavorwise, both the chocolate chip and the peanut butter come very close to the original. But the mouthfeel is a departure from the sticky, chewy, firm texture RxBars are known for. These are softer, more cakey and crumbly, and less chewy. They’re also easier to bite off and chew than the notably hearty original, which might be a plus or a minus depending on whether you found that texture supremely satisfying or a little tiring on your jaw.
You can find the new plant-based RxBars as they roll out nationwide at select retailers, such as Target and Kroger. Or you can have them shipped to you in bulk straight from the RxBar online store. Like the standard RxBar, they’re $26 for a box of 12.
RxBar Plant Chocolate Chip Protein Bars (12-Pack)
RxBar Plant Peanut Butter Protein Bars (12-Pack)
Related:
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