As a dietitian with type 1 diabetes and busy mom of 2, I am always on the hunt for the best diabetes-friendly protein bars.
When I saw TruBar protein bars at Costco earlier this year, I knew I had to try them. From the eye catching packaging to the various out-of-the-box flavors, TruBar impressed me at first glance.
What were my thoughts after looking deeper at the nutritional facts and the ingredients? In this TruBar review, we will explore my thoughts on the taste, texture, ingredients, and nutritionals of TruBar Protein Bars.
This post is not sponsored and all opinions are my own, however some of the links below contain affiliate links. This means that if you click on a link and purchase a product, I may get a small commission at no cost to you.
TruBar Protein Bars Overview
A few key pros of TruBar protein bars I noticed immediately include the relatively high protein content, low sugar content, and that they contain no sugar alcohols. They are also gluten-free, soy-free, and GMO-free.
At the time of this writing, they are available in 8 dessert-inspired flavors: Whole Lotta Macchiato, Day Dreaming About Donuts, Oh oh Cookie Dough, Smother Fudger Peanut Butter, Whipped for Key Lime, Get in My Belly PB & Jelly, It’s Mint to be Chip, and Saltylicious Almond Love.
TruBar is committed to Indulgent Nutrition™, which means eating great-tasting foods made with simple ingredients you can actually pronounce.
As a female company owner, I appreciate the fact that TruBar is also a women-owned company that hires women in most leadership positions and commits to pay equity across the board.
Nutritional Analysis
Let’s take a deeper dive into the nutritional profile of TruBar Protein Bars, focusing on aspects specifically relevant to diabetes management, using the Oh Oh Cookie Dough flavor as an example:
- Carbs and fiber: TruBar Protein bars have 23 grams of carbohydrates and 12 grams of fiber, which is equal to 17 grams of total net carbohydrates when you adjust for subtracting half of the fiber grams.
- Sugar: The Oh Oh Cookie Dough TruBar has 8 grams of sugar, which comes from a small amount of organic cane sugar. No artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols are used, which makes these bars a great option for those with sensitive tummies.
- Protein: Each bar contains 12 grams of protein, which is helpful for satiety. While I wish there were a few more grams of protein like some of TruBar’s competitors to make it even more satisfying, 12 grams is still a decent amount, especially for a snack.
- Fat: Each bar has 9 grams of fat, 4 grams of saturated fat, and no trans fat.
Ingredients
The Oh Oh Cookie Dough Bars are made of tapioca fiber and cassava blend, plant fueled protein blend made with whole grain brown rice protein and organic pea protein, cashews, organic cane sugar, RSPO palm oil, cocoa powder, unsweetened chocolate, and cocoa butter.
Beware for those with allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, sesame, or fish as some of the bars contain these ingredients or are manufactured in a facility that processes these ingredients.
Taste and Texture
I personally enjoy the taste and texture of all of the TruBars flavors that I have had the chance to try. They are soft and slightly chewy without the dense, chalky protein bar texture that some bars have.
You can also eat your TruBars chilled or warm. I have heard from others that they enjoy TruBars stored in the fridge. I accidentally left one of the bars in my car on a hot day and was pleasantly surprised at how delicious it tasted when it was warm and melted as well!
My top flavor pick right now is the Get in My Belly, PB & Jelly with Day Dreaming About Donuts as a very close second. I am excited to continue to try out new flavors.
Diabetes-Friendliness
TruBars are a fantastic option for people with diabetes. They have a relatively low carb count, won’t cause a major blood sugar spike, and are also a great way to satisfy a sweet tooth. TruBars have quickly become one of my favorite on-the-go snacks.
In Summary
TruBar Protein Bars are one of my top three protein bars available on the market today. They taste great, have clean ingredients, contain more fiber than most other protein bars, and are blood sugar-friendly! Most protein bars contain hardly any fiber, or if they do, they don’t have much protein. I love that these bars have a decent amount of both fiber and protein!
TruBar is perfect as a pre-or post-workout snack, an on-the-go meal replacement, a healthy dessert alternative, or for managing afternoon slumps. You could also pair a TruBar with some fruit for a quick breakfast meal.
I wish TruBars contained slightly more protein, ideally around 15-20 grams, but that won’t stop me from keeping them stocked in my pantry and enjoying them regularly.
Make sure to get your free copy of the Mama-Betes guide on the Best Protein Bars for Diabetes!