Review: RxBar Paleo Protein Bars

I tend to stay away from protein bars because they usually contain some form of milk-derived protein (e.g. whey), which I believe is unhealthy. Therefore, I was excited to try the new RxBar protein energy bars because they contain natural ingredients and egg white powder as the protein, rather than diary or soy. There's been a lot of hype about these bars at my crossfit box in Chicago so naturally I wanted to try them out. Since I workout early in the morning, I ate the protein bars after working out this week. Both the coconut cacao and blueberry flavors taste good but I think I prefer the cacao because I love chocolate! The bars are chewy and go down easily. They are not pasty and don't make your mouth super dry like other protein bars. Plus, my boyfriend tried a piece and liked it so it is man-approved.

The first thing that really stood out to me about the bars is that the ingredients and (lack of) allergens are clearly listed on the back of the package. There is no guessing and "No BS" as the package says. Have you ever tried to find the ingredient list on a PowerBar? You have to squint to read it. Also, the main ingredient in  both flavors is dates, which are great for providing energy before and after a workout. The almonds are also a nice added plant-based source of protein. The main protein content, however, comes from egg white protein powder. While I have objections to the Paleo diet, I do think it is important to consume some animal-based protein. Egg white powder is probably the best source of animal-based protein when compared to other protein powders, like whey and soy, which are protein isolates. Isolated proteins, unlike whole foods, tend to be much more acid-forming in the body and thus promote inflammation and reduce immune function.

These bars are great pre-workout, because dates are an excellent source of energy, or post-workout, because of the high protein content. I'm definitely going to continue to use them for both!

You can purchase RxBars online or get your local gym or grocery store to buy them wholesale. I know right now that River North CrossFit in Chicago has them for sale! Also, be sure to check out RxBar on Twitter and Facebook.

UPDATE (6/14/2013): I didn't notice this before but the RxBar wrapping is resealable! I only wanted to eat half a bar before working out today and then put the other half back in the package and discovered the zip-loc. I don't know how I didn't notice this before but it's a great perk to an already amazing bar!

Disclaimer: This post was not sponsored by RxBar but I did receive a free sample of bars to review on my blog. All opinions and text are my own.