FTC Disclosure: Bariatric Foodie, and its representative, were provided free samples of this product for the purpose of this product review. Although samples were provided, all Bariatric Foodie reviews are done in an unbiased manner and reflect the true and honest opinion of the reviewers. Any links contained within this post will direct readers to a different site where the products reviewed are available for purchase. A portion of any sales that proceed from those web links will be paid back to Bariatric Foodie.
So Quest has recently put out TWO new flavors: White Chocolate Raspberry during the summer and, more recently, Double Chocolate Chunk.
So Quest has recently put out TWO new flavors: White Chocolate Raspberry during the summer and, more recently, Double Chocolate Chunk.
Let’s first discuss White Chocolate Raspberry. I’ll post more about the Double Chocolate Chunk early next week.
A few months back it occurred to me that I get all this great stuff to review but usually I get way too much of it. Don’t get me wrong free stuff is great. But when free stuff takes up nearly an entire room in your house, with more stuff coming in, and little hope for consuming what you’ve already got, free stuff becomes stressful!
So I decided to overhaul the way I do reviews a bit. Because, sure, my opinion means something to you guys. But I think your other fellow Foodies’ voices are equally important. That’s why I started a small group of folks who are, like you, readers of this blog and will review products along with me. I put out a call some time ago for volunteers and, due to overwhelming response, I don’t need any more volunteers right now, but I do plan on rotating folks so that more people get a chance to review products in the future!
But that’s why you have a review by both me and Liz. So here goes! I’ve organized this into a handy Q&A format with both Liz and my answers. (My apologies for the lack of Liz pics. I wasn't being a ham I just forgot to ask her to take pics!)
So what’d you think about…
…the packaging?
Liz: The packaging is colorful and informative. The front tells buyers that these bars contain 1 gram of sugar, are high fiber and are made from non-gluten containing ingredients.
This is the packaging Nik got - back when the bar was still a prototype!
…the nutritional value?
(Stats: 190 cals, 8g fat, 23g carbs, 17g fiber, 1g sugar, 1g erythritol [so 5 net grams of carbs], 20g protein)
Liz: The nutritional content on the back is pretty standard, and based on Nik’s protein rules; these suckers pack a lot of bang for your buck. With 20g of protein and 190 calories, these bars offer a little over one gram of protein for every 10 calories.
Nik: I think the nutrition on Quest bars in general is great. They use all-natural ingredients, there’s way less net carbs than protein, there’s not a lot of sugar OR sugar alcohols (as compared to other protein bars) and the sugar alcohol they use, erythritol, is actually shown to be the mildest and often elicits little or no reaction in most humans. I also appreciate the fact that they list the erythritol count instead of leaving it off or simply saying “sugar alcohols.” I’m not completely sure but I don’t think they have to list it that way but I appreciate their forthrightness.
…Aesthetics? (feel, look, smell)
Did Quest pass the "sniff test?"
they look sort of like a shiny block of baked cookie dough. Not really appealing by looks alone, but really, do any protein bars actually look like something that you’d want to eat??
The smell isn’t anything to write home about either. While you can definitely make out a raspberry like scent, that same “protein bar scent” is still present. It’s not offensive, but if you’re like me, most of the time that smell ends up being the dominant one over the actual flavor of the bar. Where did Quest score though?? When it comes to the raspberries and white chocolate, you can’t miss their abundance when looking at these bars!!
Nik: Unlike Liz I think I’ve just been in this world too long to pick up on the “protein” smell although I remember it from my bariatric youth! Another good reason to get an opinion other than mine in the hat! I smelled the faint whiff of raspberry and the sugary smell white chocolate seems to have.
As you can see there's lots of stuff in Quest bars! Good, natural stuff!
Liz: Quest did a nice job with the taste on this bar. The white chocolate and raspberry flavors shine through and give these bars an almost cheesecake like flavor. In fact, they would probably work in a pinch if you were craving a cheesecake type snack or dessert, without the guilt!
My only complaint would be that you still get that proteiney flavor on the back end. I wish there was some way to mask that!!
Nik: All around I’m just not the biggest white chocolate fan. I’m just not. It tasted fine. There was nothing wrong with it. But it always seems a tad sweet to me, no matter where it shows up. I did like that there were REAL raspberries in there. That’s been my experience with Quest. You get real food when you eat Quest!
…Overall Value?
Liz: After searching the web it appears that these bars cost approximately $25 for a box of 12 or around $2 when purchased separately. In my opinion, that’s sort of a median price for me. A little more than I’d like to spend per bar, but not so outrageous that I would avoid them like the plague.
Nik: I think it’s a good value in that you get a good protein “bang for your buck.” I am, of course, poor and thus rarely buy things that are so immediately finite as protein bars (I tend toward protein powders) but it is noteworthy that I do keep an emergency stash of Quest bars at the office and at home for when I “need a little something.” (You guys know what I’m talking about…)
What’s the final verdict?
Liz: The Quest White Chocolate Raspberry Protein Bars are a decent source of portable protein at a pretty reasonable price. I wouldn’t recommend running out to grab one right at this very moment, but I wouldn’t shy away from them either. If you’re a fan of other Quest Protein Bars, you may absolutely LOVE these, but I prefer some of their other flavors over this one. HOWEVER, my husband LOVED these bars and pretty much inhaled what was left in my box after to two or three that I ate.
Nik: Being that I’m not really a White Chocolate person I’d probably opt for my old stand-by’s BUT if you love White Chocolate this does, in fact, taste like White Chocolate. It’s got real raspberries too! So if that’s your “thang” I’d say go for it. It’s a good investment in quality protein at a not-bad-at-all price!
So there you have it! Quest White Chocolate Raspberry! If you'd like to order them, you can do so here or here, and both of those sales help keep Bariatric Foodie going!
FTC Disclosure: Bariatric Foodie, and its representative, were provided free samples of this product for the purpose of this product review. Although samples were provided, all Bariatric Foodie reviews are done in an unbiased manner and reflect the true and honest opinion of the reviewers. Any links contained within this post will direct readers to a different site where the products reviewed are available for purchase. A portion of any sales that proceed from those web links will be paid back to Bariatric Foodie.
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