Why 95% of Protein Bars Fail & This One Doesn't
Perfect texture. Great taste. Dialed in macros.
The typical protein bar search cycle:
When the macros are solid - texture is on par with biting into a chalky hockey puck.
When the taste & flavor profile are great - macros are junk.
When the ingredients are clean - protein-to-calorie ratio falls short.
Like most in the fitness space, I'm constantly on the hunt for a clean protein bar. Ask those who've been around here long enough and they'll describe what seems like timeless issues at this point throughout the protein bar market.
We're back with another product review this week.
When Mike
announced the launch of his CleanForm Nutrition brand earlier this year with his first product, I saw the clean ingredients paired with high protein content and thought I’d try what’s now my ~20th different type in the last decade. You name it - I’ve tried them all since 2010. PowerBar. Clif Bar. Think! Pure Protein. Barebells. RXBAR. Quest. List goes on.It looked like an opportunity to support a bro biz in this space & try out a new version of something I'm otherwise purchasing to have on-the-go.
Ingredient Breakdown
If I’m working diligently to have my nutrition & training dialed in 90%+, last thing I want to do is punt it with a seed oil slop, low protein ratio bar. (If I want a cheat meal, it’s sushi/sashimi - not a protein bar.) Especially in the peri-training window and during dieting periods.
Let’s break down the contents of the Nulla:
Milk Protein Isolate → High-quality casein - whey complex = 80:20 ratio.
Fibersol → Soluble prebiotic fiber that makes a noticeable difference in digestion. What a majority of other protein bars lack & why they can be so harsh on the gut.
Allulose Syrup → Low-calorie natural sweetener. Becoming one of the more popular choices for clean nutrition bars & protein snacks. And for good reason. What would typically be sucralose or another form of artificial sweetener.
Natural Peanut Butter → Providing the fat macros without the use of a hyperpalatable, hydrogenated oil peanut butter.
Cocoa Butter & Powder → Some chocolate flavor to synergize with the peanut butter flavor & provide the bar its smooth mouthfeel.
Monk Fruit Concentrate → Another low-calorie natural sweetener that pairs well with allulose to balance the subtle sweetness without being overly powerful.
Natural Flavors → No artificial flavors used. And the natural flavors taste subtle without any noticeable aftertaste or chalkiness like other the typical protein bar.
Salt → Provides the salty balance to the sweet & salty experience. Also supports the necessary electrolyte replenishment around training periods.
One of the cleanest protein bar ingredient profiles I've seen to date. This doesn't shock me given X is the platform of choice for the brand’s launch. And the CleanForm team has willingly entered the waters of the knowledgeable Health X turbo autist domain - where many are willing to provide their honest (& often worthwhile critiques).
Taste & Flavor Profile
The Sweet & Salty flavor nails the PayDay vibe. Will preface my bias here: I'm a peanut butter respector to the core. The sweetness profile from the allulose & monkfruit combination delivers first followed by the natural peanut butter flavor with a subtle saltiness. The synergy with the natural peanut butter & cocoa flavor also gives it a nutty taste with a smooth creaminess.
Texture is one of my favorite aspects of this one. No hockey puck feel - the perfect type of dense & chewy.
Overall, the flavor is rich. Texture is soft & chewy. And the sweet & salty balance dishes out candy bar level satisfaction.
Pro-tip for an even better taste experience: stash them in the fridge.
My Experiences
Any time I’m using a new product or compound in the health space, my goal is simple: test out its efficacy across a variety of different use cases & environments.
Pre-Workout
As always, you’re getting full transparency here on the Stack. I don't love the macro breakdown for the pre-workout use case. Simply a matter of personal preference. While they're fine and it doesn't feel like a brick in your stomach if you're taking one down inside of 30 min window of training - I prefer a higher carb & protein pairing. To make a more complete pre-workout meal with this, I’ve added a “shot “ or two of raw, local honey to get some fast-digesting carbs. Then we’re in business. Something else to note here: the synergy of the bar with a cup of hazelnut coffee is outstanding.
Post-Workout
I'm on the go constantly and rarely have the opportunity to return home and make the perfect post-workout shake. Or cook “real” protein. Fortunately, this is where Nulla shines.
The milk protein isolate crushes the post-workout protein requirement: whey provides the fast-digesting component for quick muscle repair, while the casein piece supports the more sustained, long-term recovery. With a great protein-to-calorie ratio, the 20g of highly bioavailable isolate hits the post-resistance training anabolic need until the next meal.
Creami Crumbles
First, if you don't have a Creami in your kitchen by now - you're unnecessarily living life on expert mode. Lady Phys & I are hounds for a good ice cream and since snagging one last summer, I can count on one hand how many actual ice cream cheats we’ve had. That alone has made the king of kitchen dessert tools worth it.
Alright now that we addressed that. The other aspect you're missing out on with not having a Creami is topping one off with Nulla crumbles (*chef’s kiss*). This is its best use case by far and it's been a saving grace for my sweet tooth deep into my diet phase this year.
✔️ Clean, natural ingredients
✔️ High protein-to-calorie ratio
✔️ Phenomenal taste
I've now ordered the Sweet & Salty twice in the past few months for the Phys household - they’ve quickly become a favorite here. And once you try them yourself, you'll understand why these are replacing the Quest & Kirkland rotation we’ve been on for the last couple years.
If you like the sounds of Nulla & want to see what the buzz is all about, use the link here & make sure to enjoy 10% off at checkout with code PHYS10.
Stay nourished,
BTP
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