Vieve is a brand that occupies a significant amount of space in my cupboard. I am a subscriber to their protein water, which offers one of the best protein-to-calorie ratios on the market. It is a staple that helps me reach macro goals recommended by health professionals, which otherwise seem impossible.
Naturally, I have long wondered why Vieve did not produce a protein bar. When they announced the launch of a food range this month, I was excited and ordered a box immediately.
The delivery arrived quickly, but does the solid food hold up to the high standards set by their drinks?
Cracking the macros
I opted for the Strawberry Blondie flavour. These are tiny bars, weighing in at only 44g.
They provide 157 calories for 15 grams of protein. That sits at roughly the one-to-ten ratio that I usually look for in a supplement. It is a fraction under, but nothing to complain about.
The hidden strength here might be the 11.4 grams of fibre. Fibre is back in fashion for a host of important health reasons and Vieve has packed a significant amount into a small package.
Edinburgh Reviews maintains a large spreadsheet of commercially available protein bars. The Strawberry Blondies sit at row 82 in my calculations. They offer 34.1 grams of protein per 100g of bar. For a high-profile comparison, that is just under what a typical Grenade bar achieves, but is significantly better than a Nakd ba,r which trails at around 16 grams of protein per 100g.
While it is high protein, it does not quite reach the heights of current market heavyweights like the David Bar, which boasts over 45 grams of protein. Nevertheless, Vieve offers a respectable nutritional profile that makes it a good lighter snack.
Taste and texture
The taste of the Strawberry Blondie is a highlight. It tastes of strawberries. Crucially, it tastes of nice strawberries rather than the artificial chemical flavouring that often plagues this sector.
The surprise came when I tried to chew it.
The bar is covered in a yoghurt coating that is surprisingly hard to chomp through. It feels almost armour-plated. Once you get through the shell, the high-fibre middle is quite dry.
These protein bars are small, but they do not want to be eaten easily. This stands in stark contrast to some of the chewy protein bars available that you can wash down like chocolate. You will likely want a drink to hand. I usually pair my snacks with water filtered through a ZeroWater jug or simply a bottle of Vieve’s own protein water.
There is an upside to this dryness. They are not moreish. I am unlikely to wolf through a box of these in one sitting, which is a risk with softer, sweeter alternatives.
Overall
I cannot see myself adjusting my subscription to swap the protein water for these bars. However, they serve a purpose. If you have come in a bit too high on your daily fat count and need to boost your protein or fibre to balance your macros, this is a sensible top-up.
I remain a loyal customer and am interested to see what Vieve does next, but this particular experiment feels like a slight disappointment compared to their beverages.
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Review: Vieve Protein Bar
Vieve’s Strawberry Blondie is a high-fibre, 157-calorie protein bar that nails the strawberry flavour but struggles with a tough, dry texture.
Summary
Vieve’s new Strawberry Blondie protein bar has great macros (15g protein, 11g fibre) and authentic fruit flavour. However, the texture is tough and the filling dry. Good for strict macro-counting, but not a replacement for their excellent water.
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