R.E.D.D. Radiant Energy Deliciously Delivered Protein Bars Make You Feel as Good as They Taste

Whether you're working or schooling from home or constantly on the go, consistently fueling your body with nutrient-filled foods isn't always easy. Often, good-for-you meals get sidelined for something tastier or more convenient, which doesn't always leave us feeling great.

While I try to eat something healthy-ish for breakfast, whether that's a banana or a low-carb,  high protein cereal, that's not so easy when I'm rushing in the morning. For those days, protein bars usually get the job done—though I can be bit picky about flavors and ingredients, and I don't want to break the bank on protein bars.

That's what attracted me so much to R.E.D.D. (Radiant Energy Deliciously Delivered) bars. The brand makes plant-based, probiotic and adaptogen-packed protein bars designed to be the best way to get an easy and healthy dose of protein, and when the folks behind the brand reached out to me and asked if I'd like to try them myself, I had to say yes. After diving into the brand and trying their flavors, I think I've discovered a new favorite protein bar.

The Brand

R.E.D.D. protein bars are made with ingredients designed to help muscles recover after workouts, give you a boost of energy during the day and help you destress. Each bar contains 10 grams of plant-based protein made by blending pea, hemp and pumpkin sea proteins. They also include superfoods such as chia seeds, goji berry powder, acai powder, turmeric and quinoa, as well as adaptogens including maca root, cordyceps mushroom powder, reishi mushroom powder and chaga mushroom powder, which are said to help you deal with stress.

(via R.E.D.D.)

The bars are lightly sweetened with dates and monk fruit extract, so they have only two to four grams of sugar per bar, depending on the flavor. They also include prebiotics and probiotics for gut health, are vegan, non-GMO, soy-free and gluten-free. Each bar contains between  210 to 230 calories, and 10 to 13 grams of fiber.

R.E.D.D. bars are 1.8 oz. each and are available in Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Oatmeal and Mint Chocolate flavors (which I tried) in addition to a Salted Caramel flavor (which I did not). Boxes of 12 bars are available for $35.88 on their website, or $32.29 with a subscription. You can also find them in stores near you with help from their Store Locator.

(via R.E.D.D.)

 

The Bars

Chocolate

Chocolate protein bars can be very hit or miss for me, but when I opened this one up and saw that it wasn't just chocolate-flavored, but also coated in a layer of chocolate, I saw that as a very good sign. When I took my first bite, I found that while it wasn't the most chocolatey and delicious thing I'd ever tasted, it was pretty good for a chocolate protein bar, and that's honestly all I could ask for. The bar had a nice texture, with a bit of occasional chia seed crunch, and I didn't have to force it down like I sometimes have to do with protein bars. Once the first bar was finished, my tummy felt full and satisfied, but mostly I was impressed with the way I felt overall.

When it comes to adaptogens, I can never quite tell if it's all in my head or if they're really working their magic, but eating this bar left me feeling good. After scarfing it down, my energy was higher, it was easier for me to concentrate on my work with distractions and I was just in a good mood overall. I am a huge fan of ingredients like reishi and cordyceps mushroom, and I love how they're incorporated here.

(via R.E.D.D.)

 

Peanut Butter

I tried the Peanut Butter flavor next, which is usually my go-to with protein bars, and this one is seriously tasty—and it's even embedded with surprise chocolate chips! If you like Cliff peanut butter bars, you're going to love this one for its rich, peanutty flavor. I found it even easier to eat the whole thing than the pure chocolate flavor, and yet again, eating it made me feel like an adaptogen-powered superhero. In fact, all of them did.

(via R.E.D.D.)

 

Oatmeal

I didn't have super high expectations for this Oatmeal-flavored R.E.D.D. bar, but surprisingly, it might actually be my favorite of the flavors I tried. There's something about the oat-filled texture that's so tasty, and the addition of chocolate chips makes it a bit like an oatmeal cookie. If you're usually not a fan of the texture of too-smooth protein bars, I have to recommend this one.

(via R.E.D.D.)

 

Mint Chocolate

Last was the Mint Chocolate flavor. Now, I've had mint and chocolate-flavored protein bars in the past and been very disappointed by the outcome, so I wasn't hoping for anything special from this bar, and I was pleasantly surprised by it. Again, it's not the best version of the mint and chocolate flavor combination that exists, but for a protein bar, it's pretty darn good, and that's even before you consider all of the good stuff that's packed inside. It's basically the chocolate flavor with some mint mixed in, and that's good enough for me.

(via R.E.D.D.)

 

Bottom Line

There's a lot to love about R.E.D.D. They're plant-based, contain plenty of protein and fiber, as well as good-for-you adaptogens that'll leave you feeling incredible every time you eat them—and they taste great for protein bars, too. But at nearly $3 a bar, they're not necessarily the go-to bar for those on a budget. I think the price is well-earned, thanks to the high-quality ingredients, but it might make some customers think twice before stocking up.

 

Curious about adaptogens? Click HERE to read about Goodmylk and their plant-based, adaptogen-packed coffee creamers.