No Cow Vegan Protein Bars, Upgraded Brand Sampler Pack | 20g Plant Based Protein, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free, Keto Friendly, Low Sugar, High Fiber Snack Bars | Pack of 12

I LOVE these protein bars. They contain a lot of complete protein with all essential amino acids, they're lower in calories than most bars this size with this much protein and they contain a great amount of fiber.Note: The fiber is soluble fiber and I DO wish these contained insoluble fiber.No Cow has a wide variety of flavors and I've never had one that I didn't like but I'll just write about the three that are in this pack.One of the bars is covered in a thin layer of chocolate and this bar is more firm than the other two. The inside is similar to a peanut butter candy bar. It's not as soft as peanut butter but it taste like a candy bar which a hint of liquor-like flavor after taste due to the sugar alcohol included in the ingredients but that didn't bother me much because it was similar to how marzipan tastes but with peanut flavor instead of almonds as marzipan has.The next bar is similar to a peanut butter cookie dough with chocolate chips. This is my favorite of all three. It's very moist and extremely soft. The consistency is truly like chocolate chip peanut butter cookie dough in the shape of the bar with a ton of protein. I try to eat this one slowly in order to savor it but it's difficult because it tastes like a naughty dessert. I usually want another one after I finish this one but I make myself wait the 20 minutes it takes for the message that I'm full to reach my brain so that I don't eat more of them. Your body can only use 20 grams of protein at once sitting so eating more than one would be a waste, in my opinion.Lastly, is similar to the cookie dough texture in the bar above but it's a chunky peanut butter bar. It has chopped pieces of real peanuts throughout the peanut butter bar. Keep in mind that this bar and the cookie dough bar are NOT covered in chocolate as many assume when buying protein bars. Though very good, I'd say this was my least favorite of the three only because I would have liked some form of chocolate inside or outside of it rather than being peanut throughout. Please note that I still really like and would buy this bar again but if I have to rate all three bars, this one would be last.

No Cow protein bars are my favorite for various reasons: They are gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and they contain sufficient protein and carbohydrates for exercise recovery. The chocolate-coated ones are delicious, but the regular ones are the best for carrying around, because they won't melt or crumble.

I see a lot of really negative reviews on here so I want to add a few thoughts in case there are other people like me looking for something very specific out of these protein bars! I think whether you like these bars or not may depend on your expectations.Long story short, if you are someone looking for a plant-based protein bar that delivers 15+ grams of protein without a ton of fat or sugar - this is a pretty dang good option. If you are looking for more of a dessert-type tasting bar and you are ok with less protein (less than 14 grams) and a little more fat (8+ grams) or sugar, then there are definitely alternatives that may be better from a palatability perspective. Here are more of my thoughts for those that are interested:VARIETY - 10/10Yes, I did receive a variety pack with all 12 flavors as advertised. I liked most of them! The fruit ones are less appealing to me, but you can't really go wrong with any combo of chocolate and peanut butter. Plus, it made it fun to try a new one every day.FLAVOR - 6/10Are these the tastiest things I've ever eaten? No. Is there a bit of a playdough vibe? Yes. They don't taste like a candy bar like some other brands do. But, I think this is due to the ingredients. With 20-22g protein with less than 4g fat in most flavors and only 1g sugar, that's the kind of experience you're going to get. So, to me, they are pretty neutral in terms of flavor.SATIETY - 10/10Again, with around 16g of fiber and 20-22g these will definitely keep you full.INGREDIENT LIST - 7/10Pretty simple list of ingredients that will get the job done! Plant based protein blend from brown rice and peas- check! Sweeteners are a mix of sugar alcohol (glycerine & erythritol), stevia, and monk fruit. This is what keeps the sugar and calories low while providing sweetness. They also use soluble corn fiber, which will sweeten and thicken the bar. (Do be mindful if you plan to eat more than one of these in a day - it can be a lot of fiber if you aren't used to it.) Fat is palm oil, which is not the greatest but is quite common in processed foods and bars. They list it as "sustainable palm oil' which can be a contentious claim, but it is not an uncommon ingredient.Overall - looking for satiety and protein in a grab-and-go package? Try these guys. Looking for a snack that satisfies a sweet tooth craving while bringing some other nutrients? Maybe look elsewhere.

Here's the deal. 20g of vegan protein in such a small bar seems like quite a feat. Many of the 1 star reviews echo that this has a significant sugar alcohol flavor and it does. Most all of them are chalky, and I have to eat something else with it (banana for example) and drink something else to be able to wash this down. I have a high tolerance for things that don't taste great in order to get the nutrients I am trying to get. These are pretty rough tasting, and again, very chalky. For myself, I eat about one protein bar a day so I tried these. Choke it down with coffee and a banana with each bite to tolerate it. I remain hydrated and have been lucky to have a pretty hearty and consistent quick metabolism. Regular healthy poops. This was the first time in my life I've EVER had constipation that took me weeks to recover from. I've NEVER had to resort to laxitive until I ate this bar. I wouldn't recommend this, if my iron stomach and metabolism became THIS blocked, I'm worried about any other stomachs that may be more sensitive or are already prone to constipation.