Krush Natural Protein Bars, Pack of 12 (Mint Chocolate Chip)

Been a while since I've felt the need to write a review for a product. I used to do it fairly often, but time just has a way of slipping away, I guess. Plus, there haven't been many products out there that got me fired up enough to talk about them. The protein bar category has been a train wreck, in my opinion, dominated by Quest bars until very recently. I'm not knocking Quest, but they have the lion's share of shelf space, and all for what amounts to hardened paste. There are a few I like, and some that with a little nuking turn out okay. What gets me even more is that all three major stores I visit push these things, which makes me think strange things just may be afoot at the Vitamin Shoppe. Or GNC. Anyway, to the point.I ordered Krush bars (formerly Krave Nutrition) a few weeks ago. They came in a white shipping box, with the loose bars inside, which at first seemed off-putting, though I suspect this is a smaller company and/or they want to present themselves as such. The bars themselves come in clear wrappers with sticker labels, so that you can see the bar right away. I rate this on the plus side, as at least it shows they have nothing to hide. A first glance, however, led me to believe this was another hardened paste bar. You know, hard, crumbly, a bit dry. There are times when I fear the loss of my teeth on some bars. I am sure they are, but these bars do not look like they are mass-produced. It's an effective approach.Well, Krush bars are different, I'll tell you that. The bar is moist, almost wet actually, and soft. The ingredient profile (20g protein, over 20g carbs but 90% of those are fiber) would indicate they are just like Quest bars. The flavor is not actually birthday cake, but it is a sweet, cakey vanilla that lingers and doesn't leave a chemical aftertaste like many sweet bars do. Texture-wise, these things are a pleasure to eat, and a great departure from the Quest and Quest copies that flood the shelves. The flavor stays consistent throughout, and there is a little bit of a crunch to them, almost like granulated sugar. It's pleasant. You could warm these up if you want, but I tried it once and it made the bar too soft. I feel full after eating one, but not like I ate fiber that doesn't agree with me or sugar, which some bars make me feel.I know many people will comment on how bars shouldn't be eaten if you want to eat clean or that they are chemical-laden and all that, but if you don't believe in bars, why read a review of them? Seems a bit silly. Many of us use these as a way to eat on the go and keep calories down and protein high. I'm sorry, but as much as I'd like to, I don't have a job that affords me the luxury to microwave lunch from home. I am around people all the time, so shoveling down a can of tuna just doesn't work. So, a bar that can fit the bill is a necessity for me. The Krush bars really work. They taste good, appear to have a good nutrition profile, and unlike some Quest bars, I don't feel like I just ate a ton of sugar. This last bit brings me to a semi-related point:Has anyone else noticed how bars come on the market, taste awesome, then after some time, they either disappear, or they are produced differently? I first noticed this with Detour bars. The caramel oozed out of every bar when I first bought them, then there were questions about the sugar content, and the bar was changed. The same for Ansi Cheesecake bars. The first were soft and fluffy. Now, they are hard and chewy. I sincerely hope this doesn't happen with the Krush bars, or the new Combat Crunch. This whole debate that's going on with saccharide fiber gets me a little concerned. Krush bars use inulin, which from my meager understanding of chemistry, is related to what's in Quest, and many of its competitors.I sound like a Quest hater, but I am not. I've bought many boxes of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. I am just tired of them, and I have my suspicions. The same may apply for Krush, in terms of ingredients. No one really checks these things. But I really hated the step backward we took with protein bars. Everything is like a Powerbar now, and that was a fad over ten years ago. We can do better, and the promise of the Combat Crunch, B-UP and Krush bars gives me hope once again. If you're like me and long for something that you can enjoy, give the Krush bars a try. I will sample some other flavors when I order the variety box, but if they are anything near the birthday cake flavor, you're in for a treat.Rating:Taste: 8/10Texture: 9/10Nutr Profile: 9/10Price: 8/10 ($2.40/bar)Overall: 8.5/10

I ordered these because I was over Quest bars but wanted something similar as far as protein and fiber quantities go... I prefer the texture of the Krush bars over Quest bars hands down. Definitely softer and easier to chew and the flavors are consistent between bars. I started noticing with Quest bars color changes over time (the cookies and creme used to look white then started looking more yellow for example) and they seemed to get harder and more plasticy as I continued to order so I gave up and needed to find something similar.Some people noted they all taste like peanut butter but I couldn't taste peanut butter at all in the mint chocolate chip (favorite flavor so far) and the other flavors it was very minimal.. just a hint in my opinion. And I am not a peanut butter person at all - definitely almond butter all the way. My boyfriend was actually surprised I liked these considering I refuse to eat peanut butter anything usually....I do wish they all tasted less sweet - maybe don't need to use all these sugar substitutes - which is also causing the gas problem... Others complained about it and I noticed it too... I really wish someone would come out with a naturally sweetened bar with some honey or for example, in the apple pie - just have the apple chunks! I wish I could find a bar with no stevia, sucralose or erythritol! Though I do love that there is less sodium and no saturated fat or cholesterol as compared to Quest bars :) though some are higher in calories :( I have not decided if I will order another box - the 20% off coupon I received is some incentive though!

Though they tasted OKAY- I had the worse stomach ache with every single bar I ate. I won't be finishing the box of 12, I ate 5 andCouldn't take it any more. Even when I ate 1/3 of the bar a day, it was still awful stomach aches. Sorry Krush, trashing the rest and can't re-order*updated: my personal experience won't apply to all as everyones body reacts differently. As I said before, some were great (cookie dough, bday cake-wow) and some were okay. But my stomach (I eat clean/organic) couldn't handle it. A1 customer service. Thanks Krush

As for texture and nutrition, these bars get 5 stars hands down. The soft texture is great, and a welcome reprieve from the jaw-breaking textures found in other protein bars (ahem, Quest double chocolate chunk....). The macros are excellent for those who are looking for something low-carb, and moderate-fat. Also, I love that you get chunks of recognizable ingredients in the bar (e.g. actual chunks of dried apple in the Apple Pie flavor and pecans in the French Toast flavor).As for flavor, I would only give these bars 3 stars. While the flavors are good, they all taste similar. I'm going to blame this on that fact that every bar contains peanut butter. If you are a peanut butter fanatic, then this is great for you since they all taste a little like peanut butter. If you like a little more variety in your life (like me who bought the, um, variety pack), then you might be better off sticking with Quest.Also, these bars aren't quite as shelf-stable as others; I imagine this is related to the uniquely soft texture. That being said, I think it is worthy trade-off for something chewable. If you don't think you'll finish them within a few weeks, put them in the fridge or freezer.

I am not a bad review person but i tried to contact this company a few times and no response. These bars make me horribly sick to my stomach, to the point that I am scared to death to eat them. They taste good.. but yikes I don't know what they put in them to make your stomach hurt that bad for days after one. I even tried multiple times weeks apart to eat them and every time I regretted it badly. Love the protein peanut butters this company makes though.