Kashi GOLEAN Bar, Peanut Butter & Chocolate, 2.75-Ounce Bars (Pack of 12)

My whole family loves the Kashi Chewy Bars (including my 6 year old)! If you're expecting the taste of a candy bar, then yes...you will be disappointed. However, in my humble opinion these are the best tasting meal replacement bars I've ever had! These bars usually hold me over for 3-4 hours. According to my handy calculator, they're only 6 points each for those of us who count Weight Watchers Points.

I tried one of these bars when I was on the run one day and was starving--and after that, I went back to order two 12-pack boxes. It's like a healthy version of a peanut butter cup--it's chewy, peanut-buttery, chocolatey, but the bonus is that they really fill you up unlike a candy bar, especially if you drink a big glass of water with it as there is a lot of fiber in this bar. And it doesn't make you feel shaky or headachey like a candy can, at least for me. I always keep one in my purse just in case I can't stop to eat during the day.

If I am famished from hunger, and a real meal is many hours off, I don't feel bad about eating one of these glorified candy bars as a mini-meal. It is filling and satisfying, and if you put chocolate and peanut butter on a shoe, I'd probably like it. The chocolate coating is formulated for durability and it does that job well, although there is a price to be paid in taste. The filling, however, is the best part. Peanutty and chewy, the grains, chocolate and peanut butter combine brilliantly leaving me wanting another one or three.

The problem with bars like this is that they are neither plain candy bars nor real nutrition, and they have to balance the great taste of candy with the fact that they actually have to have some nutritional value to compensate for the huge premium the makers charge for this bar over a plain old candy bar. Kashi does this better than most of the competition, and their bar is a bit larger and sturdier than most, which makes it the first choice for my gym bag or purse for an emergency meal.

Try not to let these slip from "emergency food" to "substitute for lunch" or "regular snack." These bars, although healthier than candy, are not a real meal, do not have the fiber and nutrients to hold you over to the next real meal, and are a lot more candy bar than piece of fruit. These are good to keep in a bag for a day when you have no alternatives, but if you find that there are too many emergencies to be good for your health or your waistline, try putting an apple in that purse instead.

I really like the size and chewy texture of this bar. The taste is a bit artificial, but this bar really fills you up and provides a good amount of fiber as well as protein. This bar is my favorite for a meal replacement.

280 mgs. of salt is too much for a "health" bar. I love most Kashi products, but this one left a salty taste that lingered all day. If you salt your food you probably will not notice the salty taste. I have always used salt sparingly mostly because I like to taste my food not cover it up with another flavor. So judge for yourself, but health food should have to follow certain guidelines.