One of my goals for the month was to try a new food every week. While I meant try a new, whole food like, you know, a vegetable, grain or fruit, this month has ended up being so hectic that it’s been the perfect month for trying a new product every week instead.
Disclaimer: Protein drinks and bars are not real food replacements. I try to use whole ingredients as often as possible, but I like having options for post-workout supplements, slightly-better-for-you treats and on-the-go desperation.
Disclaimer #2: Nope, no company has ever contacted me/given me stuff (and some of them never will after this post…) I got these items, ate these items, and will tell you my opinion about ‘em.
New Product #1
Strawberry Cheesecake Quest Bar
I…didn’t like it. Really didn’t like it. You’ve probably seen everyone raving about these bars (and they do have pretty good stats/ingredients). But…it smelled like chemicals, tasted like bland nothing with a vague hint of fake strawberry and was textured like tough and chewy dirt (yeah, I don’t know how they managed that, either). I hear Quest Bars are delicious warmed up, but honestly, I’m not willing to spend $2 or less to buy another and try.
New Food #2
Chocolate CorePower
Lindsay was kind enough to share this product with me. It tastes like rich, real dark chocolate milk. The sugar content (although 11g is certainly not bad–and is arguably better than fake sugars) will keep this from being a regular post-workout (or early morning with my coffee) treat, but I thoroughly enjoyed this bottle and will keep an eye out for more.
New Food #3
Strawberries & Cream GNC Lean Shake
Laura sent me home from Atlanta with this bottle. Remember Strawberry Nesquik? That’s exactly what it tastes like. So if you have a craving for fake-strawberry-flavored-sweet-milk, this will hit the spot (and I don’t mean that in a bad way, there is room for strawberry-milky-childhood-goodness in every life), but it’s not something you could drink regularly without getting kinda sick of.
New Food #4
Cookies n’ Cream BodyBuilding.com Whey Power
This was a free sample included in my box after I bought some protein powder from bodybuilding.com. It definitely tastes like cookies n’ cream, but I’m not sure how I feel about chugging sickeningly sweet melted vanilla ice cream with weird crispy “cookie” bits after my workout. It’s not exactly the flavor/texture I’m craving…
New Food #5
Vanilla Creme Muscle Milk Lite
This product rocks when used as coffee creamer (for bad office coffee–I’ll drink my good coffee black, please) and tastes excellent on it’s own as well. It’s not sickeningly sweet or tongue-cloyingly “creamy” like some products, and it has a good vanilla flavor without being VANILLA. It’s my favorite on this list in terms of taste and texture, but it’s also the lowest in protein (and close to the priciest).
What’s your favorite protein-to-go?
What real whole food should I add to my “try it” list for next month?
I actually like hemp protein – it’s got a little bit of an earthy flavor, but I like that it’s only one ingredient (as long as you just get unflavored).
I do love my plain hemp protein powder! I’ll have to do another post on basic powders rather than premade/premixed single-serving stuff.
I feel the SAME way about Quest bars. The only one I liked was the chocolate brownie. I’d be willing to try their new organic line. Glad you liked the GNC shake! I can’t wait to try it!
SO glad it’s not just me, phew. I wondered if I was missing something, it wasn’t even “okay,” it was bad!
And the shake made me happy–My “treat” during roadtrips as a kid used to be a strawberry or banana Nesquik from the gas station. And there I was, roadtrippin’, with my strawberry Nesquik
my stomach just does not like protein powder or drinks but i have wanted to try muscle milk because i heard it was the tastiest as well. thanks for letting us know about all of these
you say everyone is “raving”, but actually you are like, the fourth or fifth to say they did not like the Quest bar… when I first saw the flavor I wanted to try, but…
I love that muscle milk for the same reason – Not Too Sweet!
I wish I’d seen those other reviews before I shelled out the $$! Okay, it was only $2, but still…
I haven’t even heard of the Quest bar, but I think it’s one I’ll stay away from. I’m honestly not one who eats a lot of bars, so it better be good if I’m going to buy it! I’m a Vega protein girl – just waiting on my refill. I forgot to change my address to CO when I reordered, so our property manager has to forward it to us from ATL.
I do love Vega protein! I just wish it was a little cheaper
I had been using their Performance Protein and loved it for post-workouts…but I ran out. The sadness of an empty tub of good protein powder…
Have you tried any of the Vega bars? I haven’t yet.
They aren’t my favorite ever, but I like them enough and use them for long bike ride nutrition.
i love quest, i love muscle milk light vanilla, and core power of course! i use it as the same, post workout and i sometimes i mix it with almond milk to get bang for my buck. It’s all good! man, we eat alike.
So, this is kind of gross. But I hated strawberries for like, 20 years because I overdosed on Nesquick strawberry milk as a 5 year old and got really bad diarrhea for a week. I mean, I probably was just sick and that had nothing to do with it, but I was SO grossed out that I never drank strawberry milk again and have only just learned to like strawberries.
Haha, yup, kinda gross, but you know I love a good TMI.
Quest bars have taken over IG it seems, everyone has been trying them! I haven’t tried one yet but not so sure I will… I’m a big fan of Cliff Mojo and Luna bars
I def do wanna try Core Power though!
Oo, I do love Cliff Mojo–I’m a sucker for salty and sweet!
Me too, it’s my favorite combo
Just looking at these products kind me thinking of eating chalk. I very rarely found anything good that came from protein supplements. On a much more important note, I was hanging out in the coffee aisle of Whole Foods on Friday night (naturally), saw that coffee, and thought of you.
There are definitely some good ones out there…but a lot of bad ones. And those bad ones seem to be the most prevalent. Of course. And mm, that coffee is good! And to think I only bought it because it was the cheapest…
I was thinking, “wow strawberry cheesecake bars” in an envious way – till I read the next bit. It’s so disappointing when things that promise so much deliver so little…
I don’t really eat or drink any specific protein products, although I do add egg white to porridge for a boost in the mornings as it keeps me full much longer…
I know, right? Just means I’ll have to have some REAL strawberry cheesecake before too long, you know, to make up for it ;D
Thank you for being honest! I hate when people review products and say they like everything. Then I try it and hate it and think I have weird taste buds. Fun stuff haha.
I love the quest bars! I like them even more warmed up with some greek yogurt on top though! I don’t eat them that often, like you said we should use them in emergency and stick to real foods! I haven’t tried any of the other things you reviewed but I am glad you did! I have seen a lot about the protein drinks and I am not one for super sweet things (shocker!)…so THANK YOU for just saving me some money!
Not a problem! I’ve spend so much money on things that aren’t that good in the past that I like to help others avoid such things…although obviously everyone has different tastes.
QUEST BARS GROSS?! You know me and my obsession with them haha! We can still be friends though
I’ve never tried that core power stuff, but I keep seeing it at my grocery so maybe I’ll give it a spin!
My favorite protein to-go is either quest bars, power crunch protein bars, or just plain hard boiled eggs…even though they kinda stink everyone out
I have a feeling you’d really like core power! And haha, I’d love to bring hardboiled eggs to the office to snack on, but yeah, coworkers would definitely complain–they couldn’t even handle my cabbage last week!
Haha… well we already discussed our love for Clif Builder Bars
I know what you mean about those fake tastes especially when there’s artificial sweetener. I remember trying a bunch of protein powder smoothies at a running expo and man they were loaded with Stevia. Worst taste eva! My go to protein is usually Nordica cottage cheese (110 calories and 15g of proteins- pretty much equivalent of protein powder) or plain hard boiled eggs 
I’ve been rekindling my love in cottage cheese, but I can’t find a good low-sodium version near me! As soon as I do, I’m stocking up.
Great options for protein!
I love the honesty in this post. You don’t see that often, instead you hear people “oh these were amazing, oh these were the best thing i’ve ever eaten”. I know it’s bad, but sometimes I don’t fully believe everyones review :-X Does that make me a terrible person? Oh I hope not!!
I tend to not entirely believe reviews too–especially when bloggers get the product for free. So I hope that doesn’t make you a bad person, or else I’m right there with you ;D There definitely are great products out there…but there are a lot of bummers, too.
Omg, I’ve just finished up a review of the Quest bars and plan on posting it soon….the first like 3 or 4 that I tried out of my box of 11 samples were HORRID! I was starting to get a little worried…and confused since it seems like EVERYBODY plasters them all over IG! You DEF have to heat them up! Actually, I’m surprised you didn’t break a tooth without nuking it first. I think they could seriously start advertising to parents of children with loose tooth issues. Maybe go in business with the tooth fairy?
The strawberry and the cinnamon roll were the worst, but believe it or not, there are some pretty rocking flavors…like the chocolate…or the vanilla almond (omg, I didn’t want that one to end! It was like cake batter!)
I haven’t tried the Core Power Light in chocolate, but I did have the strawberry banana one at Blend and LOVED it! But I’d only ever go with the light versions. I tried the regular in honey flavor and it was so sickeningly sweet that it made my stomach turn! :-/
Good to know/surprised to hear about the Total Lean shake! I used to work at GNC so I know (from experience) that a lot of the store brand products taste like…well, ass! There…I said it! Lol
My favorite on-the-go protein option are Power Crunch bars! The peanut butter chocolate tastes JUST LIKE a Reese’s!
Have you tried Kuri squash? I just bought one in St. Louis because I keep hearing how good it is (possibly even better than kabocha!). I can’t wait to try it this week!
I can’t imagine what the regular corepower would be like–the “light” is delicious, but already so sweet/rich, I can’t imagine what they do to the regular…And all those IG pics were what had me so confused! What did I miss with this bar?? Guess other flavors and heating ‘em up really is key…but yeah, still not sure I’ll try again. Unless Quest wants to send me some for free in an attempt to change my mind ;D I’ll always accept free…
And I was rockin’ my strawberry Nesquick, err, Lean Shake, on the drive home from ATL. I’ve been hearing amazing things about Kuri too–I think that means it’s time for me to try one of my own!
I love to hear when a product is awful…keeps me from spending the money. So many bars and the like are very expensive…cross this one off my list of ones to try. Thanks, Allie!
Right? I’d be willing to try more products if they weren’t so hit or miss AND expensive
This is why I love your blog, Allie…you always keep it real! That strawberry milk sounds great…everyone raves about choc milk after a run but I’m more of strawberry girl
! As cliche as it sounds, eggs are my go-to protein. If ever I feel like my meal needs a protein boost, egg whites are a fail-proof addition! I need to take a cue from your insta and try ‘em with cinnamon!
In the winter I tend to find any new winter squash variety I haven’t tried to test out. [I do this with melons in the summer.] Unfortunately, I think I have now tried them all. (Or at least all of the ones available to me.) I’ve been on an apple kick lately, trying all the local varieties…except now the Gold Rush are here, and I don’t want to eat anything else!
Thank you for now making me crave strawberry milk.
I want to try new squash (like the Kuri mentioned somewhere above). What are some funky ones you recommend? My grocery store keeps stocking banana squash and I want one so badly, but they are larger than the average human child and I have no idea how I’d use that much squash that fast.
And you’re welcome
I’ve been hearing so much about those Quest bars. They ARE expensive.
Lately, I’ve been enjoying Balance’s BARE bar. It has 10 grams of sugar, but tastes way sweeter (which I enjoy because I’m a 5 year old) and has 15 grams of protein. It fits the 40:30:30 thing, too.