Quest Bars Review

Lifestyle Tips

Finding a protein bar to fit your nutritional standards is really difficult. How many times have you searched the protein bar section only to walk away disappointed? Too much sugar…excessive sugar alcohols…not enough protein…too many mystery ingredients…way too many calories. Sigh. Given the nutritional profile of a typical bar, you might as well just opt for a Snickers bar with a protein shake.

Like you, I’m a busy lady always on the go. I’ve fantasized about finding a protein bar that I could rely on as a quick and easy meal replacement and still feel on track with my fit life. A bar that doesn’t feel like a cheat but tastes like one. A bar that fills my tummy up without bloating it out. I know, it’s a lot to ask, but a girl has to have standards. We all work too hard to put just anything into our bodies, right?

Until I was introduced to Quest. I had just about given up on ever finding a worthy protein bar. I actually remember the day I had my first Quest experience. I was working an event at a Los Angeles nutrition shop, and I asked the store owner his thoughts on protein bars. He said, “The only one I eat is Quest.” I picked up the bar and quickly scanned the nutrition facts and ingredients. I couldn’t believe it—it actually met my standards.

Skeptical at first, I opened the package for the Peanut Butter Supreme and took a bite. Delicious! The flavor was full of peanut buttery goodness without an ounce of that chemical aftertaste. It wasn’t one of those bars with gooey stuff dripping out of it or candy covering it, but it definitely tasted like a fun treat—a treat that could support my fitness goals and always-on-the-run lifestyle. So, to say the least, my confidence in protein bars was restored. I bought a Quest Bar in every flavor.

If you too have been searching for a worthy protein bar, Quest is definitely worth a try. But don’t just take my word for it. Here are all the facts:

Great macronutrient balance. The bars are about 200 calories with a good balance of protein, carbohydrates and fats. Each bar has about 20 grams of high quality protein, 20 grams of carbohydrates (only 2-7 are active due to high fiber content) and 10 grams of healthy fats from nuts. If I just need a quick snack, I will usually eat a half at a time.

Surprisingly high in fiber. One of the most intriguing things about the Quest Bars is the fiber content. With about 17 grams of fiber, both your hunger and insulin will stay in check, which are both key for weight loss and maintenance. With that much fiber, you might assume that the bar would be difficult to digest, but from my experience it’s not. Quest utilizes IMO (Isomalto-Olgiosaccharides), a 100% natural prebiotic fiber derived from plant sources, which is known to be easy on the digestive system. That said, make sure you drink a lot of water with the bar to help your body process the fiber and nutrients.

Honest, simple and high quality ingredients. Quest utilizes whey protein isolate and milk protein isolate, both of which are complete proteins. The high-fiber carbohydrates come from IMO (described above) and from nuts. There are no added sugars in these bars. The bars also have almonds, sea salt, natural flavors (apples, cinnamon, etc., which are dependant on the bar flavor) and lo han guo (a natural sweetener like stevia). Quest’s Original line includes sucralose (i.e., Splenda) as a sweetener. Quest’s All Natural line has no artificial sweeteners—instead, the bars utilize stevia and erythritol (the sugar alcohol with the least impact on blood sugar). All bars are gluten and GMO free.

A flavor for every craving. Quest Bars come in 13 different flavors that range from Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Chocolate Brownie to Apple Pie and Peanut Butter & Jelly. The Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is the newest and most popular flavor. Everyone I have spoked to raves about it, but I haven’t been able to get my hands on one yet. However, from my experience, my favorite flavors are the Peanut Butter Supreme, Chocolate Brownie and Vanilla Almond Crunch. Also, while I am not an apple pie kinda gal, the Apple Pie Quest Bar is really amazing. I was shocked at how spot on the flavor was—it tasted fresh and bright with just a little hint of spice.

Even better when you heat ‘em up! For what feels like a more indulgent Quest Bar experience, take the bar out of the package and microwave it for about 10 seconds. The bar becomes warm and soft, and the flavor seems to escalate. Besides simply microwaving the bar, many Quest lovers are getting creative with the bars and incorporating them into their healthy recipes for pancakes, oatmeal, desserts, etc.

Sounds pretty good, right? Try them out yourself, and let us know how you like them. If you have a cool recipe utilizing Quest Protein Bars or if Quest has helped you in your fit life, let us know. We’ll feature you and the best recipes and stories on our website and Facebook page!