On a recent trip to the local grocery store, on the energy bar/protein bar isle, I came across some flavors of FitJoy. In this post, I will review the FitJoy Cookies and Cream Protein Bar.

They claim to be naturally flavored, GMO free, gluten free, and has no artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners. The list of ingredients in this protein bar is quite long, and in my opinion, the longer the ingredients list, the more suspect I get as to the healthfulness of the product.

Plenty of protein bars that I have eaten over the years have a list of ingredients a mile long, however, many of these bars are also extra delicious. So it all depends on how you look at it.

I, for one, am really into a protein bar tasting good, as opposed to tasting a dry, gritty, chalky product that tastes that way because of the “healthy” ingredients. So let’s take a look at what’s in this protein bar.

List Of Ingredients

Dairy Protein Blend [Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Crisps (Whey Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Tapioca Starch, Cocoa (Processes With Alkali) Calcium Carbonate, Sunflower Lecithin)], Chocolate Flavored Coating [Sugar, Whey Protein Concentrate, Fractionated Palm Kernal Oil, Cocoa, Natural Flavor, Soy Lecithin, Butterfat], VitaFiber Isomalto-Oligosaccharides, Vegetable Glycerin, Water, High Oleic Sunflower Oil (With Citric Acid To Protect Flavor), Ground Almonds, Chicory Root Fiber, Natural Flavor, Dark Chocolate Flavored Coating [Inulin, Sugar, Fractionated Palm Kernal Oil, Cocoa (processed with alkali), Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor, Milk, Salt], Sugar, Cocoa (Processed With Alkali), Yogurt Flavored Coating [Milk Protein Concentrate, Palm Kernel Oil, Erythritol, Yogurt powder (Whey Protein Concentrate, Nonfat Dry Milk, Yogurt Cultures), Sugar, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavor], Maltodextrin, Sunflower Lecithin, Rice Flour, Cocoa Butter, Salt, Unsweetened Chocolate, Potato Starch, Sunflower Oil, Stevia.

As you can see, the list is long, but has many of the same ingredients as a lot of other protein bars on the market. So no major surprises. It does contain Stevia, and you can read more about it here.

Important Nutrition Facts

Serving Size – 1 Bar, Calories 230, Total Fat 9g, Saturated Fat 3.5g, Trans Fat 0g, Cholesterol 10mg, Sodium 140mg, Potassium 160mg, Total Carbohydrate 25g, Dietary Fiber 10g, Sugars 5g, Protein 20g.

As you can see, this protein bar does have cholesterol, whereas many of the bars that I have tasted have none. There is some dietary fiber, which is a good thing. It is also relatively low in sugar as compared with other bars.

My Honest Review

As soon as I opened the wrapper, I got an immediate whiff of delicious chocolate. The bar is moist and smooth, but also has a nice crunch to it. There is no dryness after taking a bite.

As I chew, the crunchiness gives way to a smooth, moist, creamy chocolate flavor. There is a dark chocolate top to the bar, with chocolate crisps in it. The layer underneath is a chocolate cookie flavor filling with the consistency of nougat. There is a thin layer of lighter chocolate on the bottom of the bar, which gives it a nice three layer texture.

The flavor of the bar is sweet, but not overly sweet, and I can taste the sugar substitute as I chew. It has a mild aftertaste, but it is not off-putting. The bar is very tasty and satisfying, and with 230 calories and 20g of protein, it makes for a perfect between meal snack.

This protein bar to me is comparable to some Pure Protein bars that I eat on a regular basis.

I would not consider this a meal replacement bar, but with its semi sweet, creamy texture, it eats like a candy bar with just a bit of protein taste, which does not bother me at all. This is a protein bar that I would recommend trying. It will give you extra protein in your diet, without making you feel like you are eating a dry, chalky protein bar. This is a good tasting product.