Well, I’m glad you asked. Β I’m sure you’ll find this shocking but I actually tend to scrutinize any label of anything I eat, especially if it claimsΒ to help me power through a workout, or recover like a boss. Β I don’t fall for a lot of hype and I know what works and doesn’t for my body. Β When it comes to adding “unnatural” (powder) protein, I usually stay away from it. Β I also don’t take multi vitamins because I truly believe I can get all the nutrients I need from eating healthy, whole foods.

VEGAProteinBars

However, when it comes to extreme training, like what I’m doing now, I know that I can use a little extra boostΒ andΒ something that is in bar or liquid form is preferable since I’m probably late for whatever I’m supposed to be doing next, and need to grab and go! Β You can’t relate to that, can you?

When Vega SportΒ offered the opportunity through Sweat PinkΒ to test out their Protein Recovery bars – I couldn’t type my request fast enough. Β Partly because I’m a huge skeptic, and you know I will not endorse a product unless I really like it and it works. Β Period.

A big box of bars showed up in my mailbox a few weeks later, just as I was headed out to do a 10 miler. Β Good timing. Β I put a few bars in the fridge (because I like ’em cold) and went out forΒ myΒ long, sweaty run. Β Afterward, they did not disappoint! Β I love the peanut butter chocolate combo without it being too sweet. Β I have a low tolerance for sweetness – I think most desserts are too sweet and I don’t eat the icing on a cake – yes, I’m that jerk. Β So they passed my sweet test.

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I was so happy they were good tastingΒ andΒ kept me full for about an hour and half (which isΒ a long time, trust me!) that I just took one with me for every workout and ate one promptly after completing each.

Then a funny thing happened – someone asked me what was in them. Β I’m sure she could almost see the hamster in my head come to a complete stop. Β I never even checked the label! Β What?? Β How could I have so massively dropped the ball on this? Β I mean, I checked the protein, fat and calories but for all I knew, I was fueling with dopamine and 17 other ingredients that are made in a power plant and are known carcinogens. Β Ok, so maybe notΒ thatΒ bad since it was endorsed by Sweat Pink, but still!

So, I decided I needed to go hyper-active on this one and really scrutinize each ingredient, since I so massively screwed up. Β You get to be the beneficiaries of what I uncovered:

Vega Sport Protein Chocolate Peanut Butter Bar

1. Complete Protein Blend – organic sprouted whole grain brown rice, pea protein

Pretty straight forward here and “pea protein” is dairy,Β gluten and soy free! Β These bars pack 15 grams of protein each.Β So far, so good.

2. Dark Chocolate Coating – organic cane sugar, chocolate liquor, cooca butter, sunflower lecithin

Chocolate liquor? Bonus!Β 

3. Organic Tapioca Syrup

Don’t you just love how putting “organic” in front of something like tapioca syrup makes it almost sound healthy. Β That’s on purpose.

4. Organic Brown Rice Syrup

Ditto!

5. Organic Peanut Butter

6. Organic Peanuts

7. Β Vega Saviseed oil

Confused? Β I was too! Β Apparently this is a protein and they’re now using just the oil (not the complete protein) for better digestion. Plus, plus, plus! Β No one wants to make unwanted stops on the run, and to me, any stop is unwanted.

8. Β Inulin – from Chicory Root

Inulins are a group of naturallyΒ occurringΒ polysaccharides (carbs) produced by many types of plants. Β Don’t you think it would beΒ infinitelyΒ better to put “plant-based carbs”Β instead of inulins? Β Speak English people!

9. Β Brown Rice Crisps

More sugar? Β Really? Β This is where I check the sugar content – 16g. Not bad, considering this is a recovery bar.

10. Β Organic Peanut Flour

11. Β Organic Agave Syrup

Ok now I’m checking the Vega Sport site for why all this sugar and, it’s a popular question. Β What’s the answer? “During product reformulation, the goal was to choose sweeteners that were organic, gluten-free, vegan, minimally-refined, with a low-glycemic index.”Β Goal achieved! Β Next.

12. Β Sea Salt

13. Β Organic Peanut Extract

14. Β Sunflower Lecithin

According to one site I visited, sunflower lecithin is best source of vegetable lecithin for the food market! Β Um, yes I would like the best one to be in my protein bars please.

So there you have it.Β And, yes, I know there’s some unwritten rule about anything you eat should have no more then 3 ingredients but, when you put all this goodness into aΒ recoveryΒ bar – remember that it has a lot of work to do. Β Trust me, if you saw me after my run/bike/run/bike/run/bike (that is not a typo – I did each one three times!) this past Sunday you would have thrown four of these at me with a gallon of water!

[Tweet “How do youΒ #fuelyourbetter? I do it withΒ @vegateam #proteinbars and I know exactly what’s in them. Β Wanna find out? #sweatpink #vegasport”]

What’s your favorite protein bar?

Do you have a go-to snack?

Have you ever eaten something without checking the ingredient list (gasp!)?

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