thinkThin Chocolate Fudge a protein-packed rich chocolate treat

Product: thinkThin Chocolate Fudge Protein Bar – $1.99+

I’m a vegetarian and gluten-free athlete.  This means I run.  I run often.  I run hard.  I run far.  And this means that despite my diet, sometimes meeting specific diet requirements, like the right amount of protein, can be a challenge.

Well, be that as it may, thankfully there are options out there.  One such option are the protein bars offered by thinkThin.

This past weekend, I went on my final training run before the Hershey Half Marathon, which I am running on Sunday.  That means I needed to clock 10 miles.  And I did it…in record time.  However, running long often depletes the body of important nutrients.  For me, replenishing my protein stores is of highest importance.  Chocolate milk is ideal, but I’m also lactose intolerant, and the chocolate soy/almond/rice/coconut milk options don’t have enough protein per serving to help with muscle repair.

So, after my run, I drank down one of my vegan chocolate protein shakes and then tore into one of the thinkThin bars I had in my drawer of fuel for before/after my runs.  On that particular Saturday…it was the thinkThin Chocolate Fudge Protein Bar.

thinkThin describes this particular protein bar as a smooth, rich, classic fudge flavor.  Well, after tearing into the bar and taking a bite, it definitely is rich and smooth.  The classic fudge flavor, however, might be a little bit of an exaggeration.  Let’s face it…protein shakes and protein bars have that strange protein-ish flavor to them.  And even this bar, as decadent as it is, tastes like protein.

But…this is a protein bar…so of course it’s going to have that bit of an aftertaste.  With all that being said, what the bar is is a creamy, chocolatey, rich middle coated in (my personal favorite part) chocolate.  Mmmm…chocolate.  I am a chocoholic and this…this bar was truly satisfying in that aspect.  Overlook the aftertaste and what you have is a chocolate bar with nutritional value.  It’s like candy…but good for your body (and soul, let’s face it!).

The thinkThin Chocolate Fudge Protein Bar is packed with 20 grams of protein and 0 grams of sugar.  You know what?  That’s my favorite part of the thinkThin bars.  Lots of protein…no sugar.  I love it.  I am a sugar addict and as an athlete, I try to cut out as much of it as possible…but I love ice cream and chocolate too much sometimes.  So this is a nice change of pace when it comes to a protein bar.  This particular bar will set you back 240 calories and 8 grams of fat.  These bars are naturally gluten-free and with it’s lack of sugar…pretty much guilt-free too.

The important thing to remember here is that this is a meal replacement bar.  I ate mine for breakfast post-run.  And it did the job just fine.  I was satisfied and full until my lunch that afternoon.  So, the flavor is a bit…off.  You know what?  I can deal with the strange aftertaste.  The creamy, rich texture was reminiscent of fudge and the chocolate coating helped provide that illusion.  Would I buy this one again?  Sure.  But only after I exhaust the peanut butter varieties.

If you are an athlete, a diabetic, gluten-free, or just looking for a meal supplement bar, thinkThin is one of my favorite varieties to go with.  They are packed with flavor, good with texture, and don’t bulk up their products with added sugar.  Gotta love that.  Go ahead…indulge.  It’s not every day chocolate fudge comes with such benefits to the body!