nutrition

Aloha Protein Bars: Honest Review From A Busy Health-Conscious Mom

Health & Wellness, Lifestyle

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of this post contains affiliate links for the products I use and LOVE. If you take action on these links (like clicking, buying, etc.), I may receive compensation at no cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own, and I’ll only recommend what I truly like and recommend. For more information about affiliates and your privacy, view our Terms & Conditions page here.

Delicious and nutritious: ALOHA Protein Bars Raspberry White Chocolate flavor

As a busy, on-the-go mama, I’m always looking for convenient ways to add more protein into my diet. Protein helps boost my energy, keeps me fuller longer and supports my fitness goals. But, sometimes, it can be challenging to get enough quality protein into my diet in between carting the kids around to school and their activities and my full work and volunteer schedule. I’m always on the lookout for new, delicious protein options, so I was thrilled when ALOHA sent me their Raspberry White Chocolate Protein Bars, which the brand claims is the most popular flavor on social media, to do a taste-test! To really get to know these bars, I went out and purchased for myself the Peanut Butter Cup and Coconut Chocolate Almond flavors to taste. Below, I share my honest review of ALOHA Protein Bars and answer some common questions about these delightful bars. And, if you want to try ALOHA for yourself, make sure you read through to the end to get 20% your first order!

What are ALOHA Protein Bars?

ALOHA Protein Bars are convenient, individually wrapped, plant-based protein bars that come in indulgent flavors like Raspberry White Chocolate (limited edition), Peanut Butter Cup (best seller), Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Chocolate Mint, Lemon Cashew and other yummy flavor combos. ALOHA Protein Bars are packed with 14g of a nutrient dense protein blend and healthy fats so you can stay energized for hours. Currently, ALOHA sells its protein bars in packs of 12 of the same flavor or two variety pack options. According to the brand’s website, ALOHA’s sustainably sourced plant-based products are high in protein, amazingly low in sugar, USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified and Certified Vegan. That’s a lot of goodness in one bar!

Are ALOHA Protein Bars good for you?

If your goal is to conveniently add more protein into your diet with clean ingredients, then, yes! ALOHA Protein Bars are good for you, because they’re high in protein and low in sugar while being made with sustainably sourced plant-based products that are USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified and Certified Vegan.

It’s important to me to have as much natural foods as possible in my diet, so my favorite thing about these bars’ ingredients is that there’s no artificial or or overly refined sweeteners. I’m not into fake sweeteners at all, and I was pleased to see that ALOHA uses monk fruit or tapioca fiber to sweeten their bars. Their protein source is also natural – brown rice or pumpkin seed – which I like more than some competitors’ ingredients, like whey protein isolate, milk protein isolate and soy protein isolate. Consuming too much whey/milk protein isolate can irritate your stomach, and I’ve personally noticed that it makes me bloated. With soy, there’s lots of conflicting studies about whether too much disrupts your hormones, and since I’ve been trying to balance my hormones the last couple of years, I just avoid it to be safe. I also really like that the bars have a good amount of fiber – around 6g-10g per bar – which is great for overall health, especially when consuming lots of protein!

If you’re on low-cal diet and trying to lose weight, I probably wouldn’t eat this bar as a snack, because it has a lot of calories for one bar (220-250 calories per bar). Some may argue that because of its high protein and healthy fat content, the bar will keep you fuller longer, but I’ve never been one to get “full” from eating one bar, no matter what’s in it. ALOHA’s calories per bar are comparable to competitor protein bars, though, so if you’re going to choose to eat a protein bar, I’d choose this one because of its clean ingredients. ALOHA also offers “Protein Minis” which are smaller bars with less calories and protein if you’re calorie-conscious. Calories in the Protein Minis range from 100-110, but there’s less flavor options.

Dessert idea: Raspberry White Chocolate ALOHA Protein Bar!

Why should I eat ALOHA Protein Bars?

First, if you want to easily add protein to your diet, ALOHA Protein Bars have 14 grams of protein and come in a variety of delicious, dessert-like flavors! Win-win!

Next, as previously stated, this product only has USDA organic, Non-GMO Project Verified and Certified Vegan ingredients. You get the protein and flavor without all the crap that’s put into most “health bars.” They’re also free from gluten, soy and dairy, which is huge for me. If I’m going to eat a packaged product instead of whole foods, I want it to be as clean as possible.

Additionally, ALOHA is a bar you’ll feel good about eating, not only for your personal health, but also because of the company’s commitment to doing good. ALOHA’s brand really cares about its impact on the environment and is committed to the path of becoming climate neutral. It’s also dedicated to supporting its community while partnering with Kupu, Hawaii’s leading nonprofit working to foster the next generation of environmental and cultural stewards, and Conscious Alliance, a leading non-profit that helps families and children experiencing food insecurities. ALOHA is B Corp Certified, which is a prestigious designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials. According to ALOHA’s website, fewer than 4% of all companies that apply to be B Corp Certified make the cut. And those that do, obtain the certification because they meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability as well as balance both profit and purpose.

What do ALOHA Protein Bars Taste Like?

I tried three ALOHA Protein Bars flavors: Raspberry White Chocolate, Peanut Butter Cup and Coconut Chocolate Almond. I was elated when ALOHA sent me the Raspberry White Chocolate flavor, because that’s typically my favorite flavor combo for desserts (hello, Cheesecake Factory’s Raspberry White Chocolate Truffle Cheesecake!). I chose the other flavors, because Reese’s and Almond Joys were my favorite candies to get in my Halloween trick-or-treating bag growing up. I love that ALOHA’s flavors are decadent, so your mind is tricked into thinking you’re getting a dessert when you’re really eating good-for-you protein! Here’s my thoughts on these three flavors:

Raspberry White Chocolate – This chewy bar has a very delicate raspberry taste with a creamy white chocolate coating. I like that there’s little bits of dried raspberry in the bar to add some interesting consistency. It’s a little dry, but wasn’t grainy. My 3-year-old daughter is always interested in what I’m eating, so she took a bite and thought it was dessert!

ALOHA Protein Bar Raspberry White Chocolate Flavor

Peanut Butter Cup – This flavor doesn’t taste just like a Reese’s, but it is like eating an indulgent candy bar! The savory peanut butter covered in decadent chocolate is the perfect flavor combo. It’s harder to chew than a Reese’s but it’s not too sticky. It’s simple but delicious!

Coconut Chocolate Almond – If you’re a coconut lover like me, this bar is for you! I really love that this bar has bits of coconut shavings and almonds, but it’s not overpowering. I’m a big Almond Joy fan, so this bar is a good replacement for me.

I love that the Raspberry White Chocolate flavor is coated in creamy white chocolate and has small bits of raspberry in the middle

When and how do I eat ALOHA Protein Bars?

My favorite way to eat ALOHA Protein Bars is on-the-go, since they’re individually wrapped and I can easily take them with me everywhere. It’s a great way to eat protein when you can’t have a fresh protein source like meat, dairy or a plant-based protein source that’s a bit harder to travel with like quinoa. Speaking of travel, I love taking convenient health food like these bars with me on long airplane rides when I don’t want to eat airplane food but also don’t want to go through the hassle of packing a full meal with me. I could also see health-conscious people potentially eating these as a convenient dessert, because of the tempting treat-like flavor options. An ALOHA Raspberry White Chocolate Protein Bar is definitely a better choice than cheesecake!

ALOHA’s Raspberry White Chocolate is the most popular flavor on social media!

Where can I buy ALOHA Protein Bars?

I live in Southern California where I’ve seen ALOHA Protein Bars sold in Whole Foods, Erewhon, Sprouts Farmers Market, Ralphs, Gelson’s and Albertson’s. You also can purchase ALOHA Protein Bars on Amazon here and save money by subscribing to a recurring order. I personally prefer to purchase ALOHA Protein Bars direct from the brand’s website where you can build a variety pack of different flavors and get big discounts when purchasing 1-3 packs on auto-ship subscription. Currently, ALOHA’s website offers 1 item for 10% off, 2 items for 15% off and 3 items for 25% off if you select to auto-ship at checkout. So, for example, if you’re buying three 12-packs of the Peanut Butter Cup, that $98.97; But if you choose auto-ship subscription, you save 25% and the cost is $74.23. A great deal! The best part is that you can choose your subscription timing, so you can select whether you want to receive the bars everyone one, two, or three months. You also can get 20% your order with my code: MAGGIEJACKSON

ALOHA Protein Bars Pros

Here’s what I love about ALOHA Protein Bars:

  • Large variety of decadent flavors to choose from, including variety packs and limited edition flavors
  • High in protein
  • Low in sugar
  • Clean ingredients – Free from dairy, soy and gluten; plus, USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified and Certified Vegan
  • Brand cares about social and environmental responsibility
  • Chewy taste for when you’re craving a treat
  • Conveniently packaged for on-the-go-snacking

ALOHA Protein Bars Cons

I love ALOHA Protein Bars, but they’re not perfect. Here’s what’s not so great about the bars:

  • Not low-carb
  • High in calories
  • Pricey – At the time of writing this, a 12-pack is $23.99 so that comes out to almost $2.75 per bar. A variety pack of 12 bars with three flavors is $36.99. Considering the bars’ high-quality ingredients, though, I think this pricing makes sense.
  • The consistency is a little on the drier side for what I expected for dessert-like flavors
A delicious snack or dessert: ALOHA Protein Bar Raspberry White Chocolate

The Bottom Line: Do I Recommend Aloha Protein Bars? Yes!

ALOHA Protein Bars are going to be my go-to protein bar from now on, because it is a bar I can feel good about eating. ALOHA Protein Bars align with my wellness values with no weird unidentified ingredients, and the bars help meet my health goals with 14g of plant-based protein. Plus, they came in so many yummy flavors! I will definitely be carrying these bars with me in my tote bag for the times I need a protein rich snack on-the-go!

Indulge with me! Get 15% off your order here!

Get 20% off you order!

I love ALOHA Protein Bars and highly recommend trying them for yourself! Use my code MAGGIEJACKSON to get 20% off your first order at Aloha.com. I’d love to know what you think of ALOHA Protein Bars and which flavors are your favorite.

Get 15% off your ALOHA order here!

Let me know if you have any questions about ALOHA Protein Bars in the comments below, and be sure to follow me on Instagram and TikTok for more healthy lifestyle recommendations.

XO Maggie

Homemade Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars: Nut-Free and Gluten-Free!

Cooking, Kitchen, Lifestyle

Chewy chocolate chip granola bars were one of my favorite snacks growing up, and now it’s one of my children’s favorite foods!

The current back-to-school season brings me so much nostalgia for these nourishing granola bars, as I vividly remember reaching for these bars in between school and sports practice or being excited when I found one in my lunchbox packed by my mother.

Homemade Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars taste better than the packaged name-brand bars!

As I got older, I phased out on snacking on them and eating most pre-packaged snacks in general for the health benefits of eating more whole foods.

When I became a mom, my kids starting requesting for me to buy more granola bars at the grocery store. I was happy to see them delight in the same snack that I loved when I was a kid, but I couldn’t help but be curious about the ingredients in them. I was shocked to see that our favorite chocolate chip granola bars have around 26 ingredients listed on the wrapper, including tons of processed ingredients like sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, corn syrup solids, sorbitol, soybean oil and “natural flavor” (whatever that is!).

Determined to create my own homemade version of our favorite chewy chocolate chip granola bars, I found this recipe from Love and Lemons that uses only seven simple ingredients! I took it a step further and made this recipe with nut-free ingredients, so my kids can easily take them to school!

Not only do my kids love these granola bars, my husband and I enjoy snacking on them, too! I actually think they taste better than the brand-name packaged bars! They’re so chewy and naturally sweet! These bars have become our easy go-to for after-school snacks and quick breakfasts when we’re short on time!

Homemade Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Scroll to the bottom of the page for this easy Homemade Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars recipe!

What You Need to Make Homemade Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

Tools & Equipment:

  • One 8×8 baking pan or pyrex dish – You’ll use this baking pan or dish to set and cool the granola bars in the fridge. A baking pan is preferred, but I’ve used pyrex dishes, too. If you use a pyrex dish, the granola bar mix may not all lay flat and the edges may turn up.
  • One large mixing bowl – I used my largest glass mixing bowl to stir all the ingredients together.
  • Measuring cups – Specifically, you’ll need 1 cup (250 ml), 1/2 cup (125 ml), 1/3 cup (80 ml), 1 Tbsp (15 ml) and 1 Tsp (5 ml).
  • Parchment Paper – I cut 2 pieces of parchment paper to fit the size of my 8×8 baking pan for setting and cooling the granola bars.
  • Cling wrap – Cover the granola bars as they cool with Glad Press’N Seal Wrap. You can also use the cling wrap to cover the granola bars to keep them fresh for the week. I’m obsessed with Glad Press’N Seal and use it in my kitchen all the time.
Homemade Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars are made with only 7 simple ingredients!

Ingredients:

  • Natural Sunflower Seed Butter – I didn’t discover sunflower seed butter until I had to find an alternative for peanut butter for my son’s PB&J sandwiches for school. Most schools these days are nut-free. My son is such a picky eater and basically only eat PB&J sandwiches, so I was very nervous about whether he’d like the new seed butter. I’m happy to report that this SunButter sunflower seed butter is a hit! He’s never mentioned it tasting any different compared to regular peanut butter. In fact, I think he likes it more than peanut butter! For this recipe, make sure you use the natural sunflower seed butter because it’s more runny. The runnier the seed butter, the easier it will be to mix!
  • Honey – Almost any honey will do, but I prefer organic, raw and unfiltered for health benefits. Target’s Good & Gather Honey is good.
  • Vanilla Extract – This is a staple in my kitchen, as I use it for so many recipes! Rodelle Pure Vanilla Extract is a great, sustainable brand with only 3 ingredients and no sugar.
  • Sea Salt – Another easy staple in my kitchen! Can’t go wrong with classic Morton’s Sea Salt.
  • Rolled Oats – I discovered Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Organic Rolled Oats after I had children and started making more oatmeal, muffins and cookies from scratch. There’s no better brand! I’ve even started mixing them in smoothies to add more nutrients to my kids’ diet!
  • Mini Chocolate Chips – Enjoy Life Mini Chocolate Chips are the best to use if you’re concerned about nut and gluten allergies. My kids love them, so I’ll sneak a couple plain ones in their lunchboxes for a sweet treat.
  • Pepitas or Pumpkin Seeds – Pepitas are a type of pumpkin seed that I love tossing in salads, smoothies and granola. These Target brand pumpkin seeds are delicious and nut-free, so they’re school-friendly! I also like to buy the raw pepitas in bulk at Whole Foods, which would work perfectly for this recipe.

How to Make Nut-Free, Gluten Free Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

With the appropriate kitchen tools and ingredients on-hand, any novice chef can make these simple homemade Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars! Here’s what to do:

  1. Prep your pan: Line your baking pan with parchment paper.
  2. Stir wet ingredients: Combine the seed butter, vanilla extract, honey and salt in a large mixing bowl. Stir very well!
  3. Mix dry ingredients: Fold in the rolled oats, mini chocolate chips and pepitas. The mixture will appear very dry, but keep stirring until it’s well combined.
  4. Make the bars: Scoop the mix into the parchment-lined dish and firmly press to the sides of the pan. Add another piece of parchment paper on top of the mixture and use the back of a large measuring cup to continue to flatten the top of the bars.
  5. Chill the bars: Cover the bars with cling wrap or foil, and transfer to the refrigerator to chill for one hour. It’s very important to let the bars fully chill for at least one hour; otherwise, they won’t stick together!
  6. Enjoy: Remove bars from the refrigerator, slice into bars, and enjoy! Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator or freezer to snack on these bars all week!
This is what the granola bar mixture will look like before adding to the pan!

Tips and Suggestions for Better Homemade Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

These homemade Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars are already so easy to make, but here’s some tips to make whipping up a batch of these bars even easier:

  1. Use natural sunflower seed butter – The natural butters are usually the runniest, which will make stirring so much easier!
  2. Don’t cut the chill time short – I know you’re eager to taste these yummy treats, but please keep them in the refrigerator at least for one hour so you’re able to properly slice the bars without crumbling apart.
  3. Store in fridge or freezer – Because these bars are made with simple, natural ingredients, they need to be kept in the fridge or freezer to keep them fresh and from crumbling. I like to store them in an airtight container separated by parchment paper so they don’t stick together. You can eat them right out of the fridge. If you’re packing them for school, it’s best to add a cool pack in the lunchbox. If you’re storing them in the freezer, allow them to thaw for about 20-30 minutes before eating. The bars will keep for one week in the fridge and two months in the freezer.
  4. Only use mini chips – Regular sized chocolate chips are too large for the mixture to stick together. If you can’t find mini chocolate chips at the store, cut the regular sized chips into smaller pieces.
  5. Try other nut butters – If you’re concerned with allergies or prefer nut butters, you don’t have to use sunflower seed butter! This original recipe from Love & Lemons is made with natural peanut butter, and it’s very delicious!
  6. Switch up your mix-ins – We keep it simple with mini chocolate chips and pepitas, but feel free to swap in your favorite ingredients! Raisins, dried currants, dried cranberries, crushed peanuts or crushed almonds are really great options! For a sweet swap, trade the mini chocolate chips for mini white chocolate or dark chocolate chips, or try peanut butter chips! Yum!

Below is the simplest recipe for Homemade Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars! Don’t forget to save this recipe to Pinterest!

Recipe: Homemade Chewy Chocolate Chip Granola Bars (Nut-Free and Gluten-Free)

Ingredients:

Instructions:

  1. Line 8×8 baking pan or pyrex dish with parchment paper.
  2. In a large bowl, stir together peanut butter, honey, vanilla extract and salt.
  3. Mix in the rolled oats, mini chocolate chips and pepitas. Stir until well combined.
  4. Press mixture into baking pan. Place a second piece of parchment paper on top of mixture and use a large measuring cup to press the mixture firmly to the pan and flatten. Cover pan with foil or cling wrap and chill in refrigerator for at least one hour.
  5. Remove from fridge, slice into bars and enjoy! Store bars in refrigerator for one week or freezer for two months.

Did you try this recipe? I’d love to hear what you think! Let me know if you tried other mix-ins, like crushed peanuts, raisins or white chocolate, too!

For more easy recipes and lifestyle tips, be sure to follow me on Instagram and TikTok!

XO Maggie

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Some of this post contains affiliate links for the products I use and LOVE. If you take action on these links (like clicking, buying, etc.), I may receive compensation at no cost to you. As always, all opinions are my own, and I’ll only recommend what I truly love. For more information about affiliates and your privacy, view our Terms & Conditions page here.