Flavors Tried: Donuts, PB & Jelly, Cookie Dough
Price: $29 for box of 16 on Amazon ($1.80 per bar)
Nutrition Facts: 190 Calories, 8g Fat, 24g Carbs (12g Fiber & 7g Sugar), 12g Protein
I’ve walked past TRUBAR protein bars in stores countless times without giving them a second glance. As a plant-based bar with lower protein content than other options, they never quite made it to the top of my must-try list.
Plant-based bars can be hit or miss, so I don’t usually seek them out. But this time, the eye-catching flavors and package designs reeled me in.
TRUBAR, created by the women-led company TRUWOMAN, offers some pretty unique flavors. I picked up “daydreaming about donuts”, “get in my belly, pb & jelly”, and “oh oh cookie dough”.
Their branding game is certainly strong, and as someone with a background in graphic design, I have to give them props for that.
Each bar packs 190 calories, 12g of protein, and 11-12g of fiber. For a plant-based bar with minimal ingredients, that’s actually pretty impressive. Sure, 12g of protein isn’t breaking any records, but considering the calorie count and minimal ingredient list, it’s solid.
These bars all have a nice chocolate or white chocolate coating, but fair warning – the high fiber content makes them a bit tacky. Don’t expect a clean break if you try to snap one in half… I made that mistake.
They’re clearly chewy, but thankfully not to the point where you feel like you’re battling your snack. I thought the photo was pretty hilarious, but don’t worry, they’re not nearly as chewy as they look.
Flavor Review: Daydreaming About Donuts
This was the first one I tried, and it surprised me by not being earthy at all, which is always my fear with plant-based bars.
It’s chewy but soft, and since the bar is thin, you don’t feel like you’re chewing for eternity. There’s a nice vanilla flavor with a hint of butteriness, but it doesn’t scream “donut” right off the bat.
There’s a slight grittiness, but overall, it has good sweetness and flavor for a plant-based protein bar. If you’re looking for an exact donut replica, I suppose you might be disappointed, but it’s a darn good bar in its own right.
Adjust your expectations a bit for a plant-based vanilla bar rather than donut, and you’ll enjoy this one even more.
Flavor Review: Oh Oh Cookie Dough
The cookie dough flavor is solid. It definitely resembles cookie dough and comes with generous chocolate chips inside.
My main gripe is with the chocolate coating – it has that typical “chocolate protein powder” flavor that many protein bars suffer from. It’s not earthy, but it’s also not the delicious chocolate coating you’d get from a candy bar or some top-tier protein bars.
While the texture and flavor nail the cookie dough vibe (although admittedly it’s still a bit too chewy for my preferences), it’s not my favorite of the bunch.
Flavor Review: Get in My Belly, PB & J
Now we’re talking! This one’s a winner in my book.
The smell alone transported me back to my school days when PB&J was my daily lunch staple, and it smells exactly like what you’d hope for.
Unlike some other bars out there, this actually tastes like real peanut butter (probably because it’s the main ingredient). The jelly flavor comes through nicely too.
It’s pretty chewy, but that’s par for the course when you’re dealing with peanut butter and fiber. As a PB&J lover, I’m all in on this flavor.
TRUBAR Protein Bars: Final Thoughts
For a plant-based bar with minimal ingredients, TRUBAR has knocked it out of the park. They’ve managed to create unique, out-of-the-box flavors where others (like Misfits bars) have stumbled.
While ALOHA bars still reign supreme in my book for plant-based options due to their superior texture and overall flavor, I can definitely see myself working these TRUBARs into my rotation, especially as a lower-calorie option.
If you’re following a plant-based diet or just looking to switch things up, I absolutely recommend giving TRUBAR a shot. At under $2 per bar, they’re reasonably priced for what you’re getting.
While these might not replace your favorite high-protein bar, they’re a solid option for when you want something a little different that won’t break the calorie bank.
