Finding a good tasting protein bar isn’t too difficult but finding one that offers real nutrition with quality ingredients is. A shocking number of protein bars are loaded with artificial sugars, questionable fillers and faux ingredients that are nothing more than lab-created creations.
NuGo is quickly set apart from the competition by the fact that it focuses on nutrition and taste equally. Fans of NuGo will be quick to agree that these bars are far superior to majority of bars than are nothing more than glorified candy.
NuGo bars come in a variety of different options and flavors, but all remain well-balanced and fairly light on the stomach. Majority of the flavors have real dark chocolate in them, which tastes better, melts in the mouth and is healthier than cheap chocolate-flavored palm oil shells. Despite offering a higher quality product, NuGo bars remain incredibly reasonably priced as well.
If you’re tired of bad tasting bars or bars that are nothing but sugars and fillers, NuGo bars should be at the top of your list to try.
Topic Contents
Nutritional Value and Ingredients in NuGo Bars
There are 8 different types of NuGo bars, which include:
- NuGo Family
- NuGo Slim
- NuGo Stronger
- NuGo Organic
- NuGo Dark
- NuGo Free
- NuGo Fiber
- NuGo Smarte Carb
Majority of these bars are also:
- High protein and low fat
- Contain real chocolate
- Gluten-free and Kosher
- High fiber
- Most are fine for the whole family
Sample Nutritional Profile of NuGo Stronger in Cookies ‘N Cream (per whole bar):
- 290 calories
- 7 grams of fat
- 36 grams of carbs
- 6 grams of fiber
- 13 grams of sugar
- 27 grams of protein
Advantages of NuGo Bars
There are three main advantages to choosing NuGo bars.
Very Appealing for Chocolate Lovers
NuGo makes it obvious right off the bat that they are the only true protein bar company that uses real dark chocolate in their bar recipes. Dark chocolate tastes great and really adds some decadence to these bars, but that isn’t the only reason NuGo went this route.
Real dark chocolate is good for the heart and considered by some health authorities to be a superfood of sorts, as it is naturally high in important antioxidants. Dark chocolate also helps promote healthy cholesterol, reduces blood pressure and can even be useful at increasing stamina prior to a workout.
If you really are all about chocolate but don’t want the guilt of eating a candy bar, NuGo Dark bars are perfect. You’ll also find real dark chocolate in NuGo’s Organic, Slim, Free, and Stronger bars. Just be sure to double-check as not all Stronger bar flavors contain real dark chocolate.
Some Bars Appropriate for High Performance
The phrases “nutritional bar” and “protein bar” are often used interchangeably which makes shopping tricky. A good protein bar should be considered a nutritional bar, but not all nutritional bars should be considered protein bars.
For the average person protein may not be too high of a concern, but when it comes to athletes or those that require high performance nutrition it is. Trying to find a truly high protein bar that is still healthy is much harder than you’d think so it’s incredible that NuGo has two very options – NuGo Stronger and NuGo Smarte Carb.
NuGo Stronger bars have 25 to 27 grams of protein, while the Smarte Carb bars have 16 to 20. NuGo Slim is also a good choice, with 16 to 18 grams of protein. NuGo Stronger is easily one of the best protein bar choices when it comes down to quality of nutrition. These bars use both whey and rice protein.
Selection of Different Bars Means More Variety
With a whopping 8 different NuGo bars choosing one is easy with how each is described by the brand. If you need protein go with the Stronger bar. Need to keep your carbs down without sacrificing nutrition? Go with the Smarte Carb. Have kids but don’t want them eating unhealthy snacks? Stock up on NuGo Family. Do you strive to only eat organic? Then NuGo Organic is right up your alley.
Having the choices between different types of bars really sets NuGo apart because it allows people to remain within one brand even if their needs in a bar differ from day to day. Instead of having to leave a brand you love because your nutritional needs change, you just select a different variety while being able to trust that is has the same high-quality ingredients.
Downsides of NuGo Bars
There are only two downsides when it comes to NuGo bars, and neither are truly bad.
Not All Bars are High Protein
Out of the 8 bars NuGo makes all but one is labeled as high protein, however, upon further investigation, you’ll find that even the high protein choices are moderate to low compared to other brands. For example, the NuGo Dark and NuGo Organic bars have 10 grams of protein, with NuGo family up at 11 grams.
The Stronger, Slim and Smarte Carb bars do have high protein but NuGo does make it seem like all are high protein when viewing their comparison table.
If you really need high protein then you’re really limited to the three actual protein bars. For the average person, this really isn’t a big deal as a bar with 10 grams of whey or 9 grams of rice protein is still enough if you’re eating the bars as a snack.
Can Be Difficult to Find in Stores
The downside to NuGo bars is one that applies to many other smaller brands, and it’s that is can be nearly impossible to find these in average stores. Chances are that unless your local grocery store has an unusually wide selection of bars you probably won’t find these in stores. Health food stores may be more likely to carry them, especially those with a protein-focused section.
You can find a map of stores that carry NuGo on their website.
Alternatives to NuGo Bars
NuGo bars are great but if you’re wanting an alternative you should consider either the Oatmega bars or Good2Go bars. Both of these alternatives are similar to NuGo when it comes to focusing on real ingredients and whole nutrition.
Oatmega Bars
Oatmega bars come in 7 flavors – Lemon Chia, White Chocolate Raspberry, Chocolate Peanut, Chocolate Brownie, Vanilla Almond, Chocolate Coconut and Chocolate Mint. While nutritional value naturally varies a bit between flavors, each bar has 14 grams of protein, 7 grams of fiber, and 5 grams of sugar.
The protein source is grass-fed whey and the nutritional profile means these bars are packed with important omega-3s. Oatmega bars are also non-GMO. One box of 12 Oatmega bars is just under $20 direct from Oatmega (link to website).
Good2Go Bars
Good2Go bars are protein bars that come in 4 flavors – Peanut Butter Fruit Nut, Almond Butter Fruit Nut, Almond Butter Chocolate Chip, and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip. Each bar contains whole food ingredients like freshly ground peanut butter, freshly ground almond butter, raw honey, and flax. There are less than 20 ingredients per bar, with the majority of the ingredients being organic.
Nutritional facts for these bars include 298 calories, 14 grams of healthy fats, 25 grams of carbs, 4 grams of fiber, 15 grams of sugar and 18 grams of protein. Though the sugar is higher in these bars, at least the sugar sources are natural (honey & organic ingredients).
A box of 8 bars retails for $25.99, though it seems G2G often has sales down to $19.99 on their website. Check out the latest prices and discounts here!
Recommended Reads:
- Health Warrior Chia Bars Review – Ingredients, Price, Benefits & More
- How to Find the Best Supplements: The Alt Protein Guide
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Alt Protein Team is a team of professionals and enthusiasts committed to bringing you the most up-to-date information on alternative protein, health and wellness, workouts, and all things health-related. We’ve reviewed a lot of products and services so you don’t have to guess when you spend your hard-earned money on them. Whether you want to shed some pounds, build lean muscle or bulk, we can help you figure out what you need to do and what you need to have to achieve your goals.