Protein Crunch is one of Optimum Nutrition’s protein snacks exclusively available down under in Australia and New Zealand. It is a Rice Krispie style protein bar that we definitely had to get our hands on for review, after enjoying the brand’s other exclusive product, Protein Stix.
The nutrition profile for Optimum Nutrition’s Protein Crunch is about the same as most other protein bars starting with a healthy 20g of protein. Its other major macros are 12g of carbohydrates with only 2g of that sugar, 5g of fiber, 7g of fat (5g saturated), for a total of 220 calories.
Review
While Rice Krispie style protein bars aren’t all that common, there are a lot of them out there. Some are not too bad and some are actually quite amazing. Optimum’s Protein Crunch sits more on the positive end of the scale as just like Protein Stix, this is yet another impressive Optimum protein snack.
The exclusive Protein Crunch isn’t the softest Rice Krispie protein bar we’ve had, but it’s not far behind. The product is relatively easy to bite into and even easier to chew, with its crispy build making for an enjoyable, crunchy consistency that makes you want to keep eating away at it until it’s all gone.
As good as the consistency of Optimum’s Protein Crunch is, that’s far from the best part about it. The flavor of the bar is also on point, as both of its options, Peanut Butter and Milk Chocolate, more than deliver on their title tastes.
The Peanut Butter Protein Crunch is the lighter of the two flavors, providing an obvious peanut butter taste that’s not overly sweet, but very noticeable. As for the Milk Chocolate Protein Crunch, it is truly a chocolate lover’s protein bar. The product packs a rich chocolate flavor that develops as soon as you start chewing, and eventually turns into an unforgettable sweet chocolate experience.
Summary
Much like how we said Protein Stix is one of the better, if not the best protein snacks we’ve seen from Optimum Nutrition, the same can be said about Protein Crunch. It is really one enjoyable protein bar that doesn’t just give you something different with its Rice Krispie style consistency; it also squeezes in a hefty amount of flavor.
Of all the Rice Krispie type protein bars out there, our favorites are BSN’s Protein Crisp and the Oh Snap Bar. The Optimum Protein Crunch doesn’t quite top either of those, but it comes surprisingly close as its flavor makes up for the fact that it’s not quite as soft as its competitors.
