RXBAR Review (Pros/Cons, Pricing, and More)

The protein bar industry is booming as the desire for healthy convenience continues to rise. Many grab-and-go “nutrition” products contain a hodge-podge of strange ingredients – foreign to everyone except a chemist or food scientist. This brings about the question: what’s healthy and what’s not? Enter RXBAR – the protein bar for minimalists. 

Owned by Kellogg, the company shamelessly labels the ingredients on the front of the package, a unique marketing technique. This offers the thought that they have nothing to hide. They’re proud of the product and transparent with customers. 

Intriguing, right? But beyond the clever marketing, does the RXBAR really live up to the health claims? Let’s take a look. 

Shop for RXBAR or RXBAR Kids on Amazon

The ingredients in RXBAR

RXBAR offers a variety of flavors, like mint chocolate, peanut butter, and mixed berry. However, three things remain consistent in every recipe: egg whites, dates, and “No B.S.”

I quickly noticed this because, well, the ingredients are listed right there on the front of the packaging. You really can’t miss it! In my humble opinion, it’s a bold move to put a cursory acronym on the front of the label but I get the point.

The whole food ingredients are quite attractive. For example, let’s look at the mint chocolate bar:

• 3 egg whites
• 4 almonds
• 6 cashews
• 2 dates
• No B.S.

Insert slow clap. I like what I see here. Flip it over to the back of the package and the ingredients are slightly different:

• Dates
• Egg whites
• Cashews
• Almonds
• Chocolate
• Cocoa
• Mint
• Natural flavors
• Sea salt

Not bad. Not bad at all.

It’s also important to mention that RXBARs are labeled as gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, vegetarian, and paleo. However, if you have a true gluten allergy (i.e. celiac disease) please note that RXBARs are not certified gluten-free.

The natural flavors in RXBAR

The only unknown I raise an eyebrow to here is the ingredient “natural flavors.” The FDA explains the definition of “natural flavors” in a detailed overview on their website, but in a quick summary, it means anything added to a product for flavor that is not artificial or synthetic.

Natural flavors can come from the following:

• Spices
• Fruit or fruit juice
• Vegetable or vegetable juice
• Edible yeast
• Herbs
• Bark
• Bud
• Root
• Leaf or similar plant material
• Meat
• Seafood
• Poultry
• Dairy products

So many possibilities! Is this a good thing? Not necessarily. I’ll soon be writing an article on natural flavors, so stay tuned!

Overall, the ingredient label is solid. My dietitian heart always skips a beat when I find a whole food grab-and-go bar I can trust.

RELATED: Orgain Protein Bars Review

The RXBAR nutrition label

RXBAR nutrition profile definitely stands out.

Why? Because it contains real food ingredients, no added sugar, a decent source of protein, a good source of fiber, and zero cholesterol. There’s also a small amount of calcium, iron, and potassium. That’s great!

On the flip side, RXBAR protein content is low compared to other protein bars in the market, mainly because they don’t use a whey protein or a plant-based protein powder as a booster. This isn’t a big deal, as most Americans exceed their daily protein needs.

Overall, RXBAR has a beautiful nutrition label. Well done, RXBAR. I’m impressed.

RXBAR flavors and taste

RXBARs come in a variety of flavors including the following (with the best sellers highlighted in bold):

• Chocolate Sea Salt
• Peanut Butter Chocolate 
• Coconut Chocolate 
• Blueberry
• Mixed Berry
• Peanut Butter
• Mint Chocolate
• Chocolate Hazelnut
• Mango Pineapple
• Chocolate Chip
• Peanut Butter & Berries
• Coffee Chocolate
• Maple Sea Salt
• Apple Cinnamon

I sampled the Mint Chocolate flavor. The texture was a bit chewy. In fact, I highly recommend having a glass of water nearby (and maybe some dental floss) because the dates are very gooey. The overall flavor profile was fabulous. A perfect mix of chocolate and mint. The only thing I didn’t love about the bar was the density. It has a “thick” texture, and I couldn’t eat the whole thing in one sitting.

In summary, the RXBAR comes in a variety of flavors and is absolutely delicious. The only drawback was the chewiness. I wouldn’t recommend for anyone with dentures or a loose tooth!

RELATED: NuGo Slim Protein Bars Review

RXBAR Kids

RXBARs offer a kids version, which is fantastic for all the parents out there!

RXBAR Kids is great for breakfast, snack time, or any on-the-go adventures. Plus, it comes in the following flavors:

• Apple Cinnamon Raisin
• Berry Blast
• Chocolate Chip
• PB+J
• Double Chocolate
• Peanut Butter Chocolate

Shop RXBAR Kids on Amazon

Is RXBAR right for you?

Pros

• Made with whole food ingredients
• Has a great nutrition profile
• Available at many retailers, including Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Whole Foods

Cons

• A bit on the expensive side (compared to other protein bars)
• Not suitable for people with a tree nut or peanut allergy
• Not certified gluten-free

How much does RXBAR cost?

As with any quality product, RXBAR comes with a fairly high price tag (compared to other protein bars).

On Amazon

A box of 12 RXBARs from Amazon (aka the discount retailer of the internet) is between $20 – $24. That comes out to $1.66 – $2.00 per bar. 

On RXBAR’s website (plus subscription option)

On the other hand, a box of 12 RXBARs from the RXBAR website is $25.99 (with free shipping on orders over $30.00). That’s about $2.17 per bar.

They also provide you with the option to “Keep It Coming” where you subscribe to routine shipments of RXBAR. The benefits of this subscription include:

• 5% off orders
• Free shipping
• Flexible scheduling
• Swag
• Free samples
• Early access to new products

Multiple servings save money

Something to consider, though, is that one RXBAR can be divided into multiple servings.

As mentioned above, I couldn’t eat an entire bar at once. I had to break it up into two servings. From a cost perspective, this is obviously a plus.

Shop RXBAR on Amazon

Final thoughts

RXBARs are undoubtedly adding value to the protein bar industry. The company is doing a fantastic job of combining convenient nutrition with whole food ingredients. I mean, c’mon. A protein bar made with real, recognizable ingredients? That was unheard of in previous years.

Beyond the label, the flavor profile is top-notch. The subtle sweetness from the dates mixed with a hint of sea salt makes for a perfect combo. Furthermore, each recipe is uniquely crafted for folks with food sensitivities to gluten, soy, and dairy. That’s increasingly important as more and more people are removing common allergens from their plate (like gluten, soy, and dairy).

Overall, RXBARs are great to keep on hand for a light meal or quick snack. The price tag is a bit steeper than other protein bars, but you’re paying for a higher quality product. They’re ideal for your purse, carry-on luggage, or your child’s backpack. They take up a small amount of space and offer quality nutrition. As a dietitian, I applaud and appreciate RXBARs. They’re setting a new standard in the protein bar industry and redefining “healthy convenience.” Well done, RXBARs. Well done.

Have you tried the RXBAR before? Share your review in the comments below!

Source:

• RXBAR’s website

• CFR – Code of Federal Regulations Title 21