Eating Like an Olympian: Trying the PR Bar

Protein bars are a dime a dozen these days. Okay, so more like 240 dimes a dozen (those effers can get pricey!), but you know what  I mean. There are a lot out there. But when PR*Bar pitched their bars to us, they pretty much had us at “working with the U.S. Olympic athletes and teams.” Yeah, we’re suckers for anything to do with the Olympics. Oh, the inspiration! Because, yes, we want to eat just like an Olympian, too.

Thankfully, these bars are worth the hype. And there’s a lot of hype. The PR*Bar site is pretty intense, with info on how and why its bars boost performance and burn fat. If you’re a nutrition geek, you’ll have a heyday. Totally low-glycemic (they’re 40 percent carbs, 30 percent fat, 30 percent protein), these bars do pretty well in that they actually fill you up and fuel you. But—and this is always the question because who cares if something works great if it doesn’t taste great—is it something you actually want to eat?

Pretty much, yes. Although still a protein bar (we always prefer whole food if we can get it, but, you know, there’s that whole having-a-life thing), these tasted pretty darn good. For me, Chocolate Peanut, Chocolate Mint and Apple Pie were the stand-out flavors, although I’d eat any of them (Yogurt Berry, Iced Brownie, Double Chocolate) again based on taste. Two-hundred calories each with 15 grams of protein and one gram of fiber, I do wish they had a bit more fiber, but they make for a decent large snack or quick mini-meal on-the-go. I do wish the ingredient list wasn’t so long and full of quite so many long, complicated words (gotta love the Larabar for its simplicity!), but again, I’d eat again if in a pinch.

When it comes to protein bars, what’s most important to you? Amount of protein? Ingredients? Calories? Spill the protein-bar beans! —Jenn