One Bar: A Dietitian's Comprehensive Review

A dietitian’s full review of One Bars—covering taste, ingredients, nutrition, and whether these popular protein bars are actually a healthy choice.

This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you click and buy, I may make a commission at no cost to you. Please see my full disclosure policy for more details.

What is a One Bar?

Prior to being known as One Bar they were previously called Oh Yeah! Nutrition. Formed in 1999 by Ron McAfee.

One Bar is a protein bar brand with 18-20g of protein and only 1-3g of sugar per bar. These bars come in sweet flavors, have a chewy texture, and are a convenient way to quickly have protein.

One Bar Nutrition

If you are consuming a protein bar you are likely curious about its nutrition content! A classic birthday cake flavored One Bar has:

Birthday Cake One Bar	Nutrition
Calories	220
Protein	20g
Carbohydrates	25g
Dietary Fat	6g
Sugar Alcohols	4g
Fiber	7g

To break this down a bit, 20g of protein can be about 40% of someone’s recommended daily intake! That’s a pretty simple way to reach your goals.

In addition, fiber intake is recommended to be around 25-38g (depending on the person!). 7g of fiber in a bar is a great addition to your normal intake.

One Bar Ingredients

We are going to take a look at the ingredients of a birthday cake One Bar because it is one of my personal favorite flavors!

The ingredients on a label are listed by greatest weight to least greatest. That means, the first five items listed are the items the bar is most greatly made of.

So, let’s go over these top five ingredients:

Milk Protein Isolate- Added for protein and shelf-life!

Soluble Corn Fiber- This is source of fiber but also improves the texture of the bar.

Isomalto-Oligosacchrides- Added for its fiber and ability to improve texture and flavor.

Whey Protein Isolate- This is an additional source of protein in the bar.

Glycerin- This pulls in moisture, aiding in prevention of the bar drying out.

Tastes of One Bar

One Bars are generally sweet. Of course, they aren’t exactly the same as a candy bar but they do mimic their flavors in a more nutritious way.

There is dense and chewy texture to these bars. Although firm, there is a nought-like consistency. Then, the outside is coated in a sweet chocolate-like coating.

Some bars will have different toppings. The birthday cake flavor has sprinkles and the Reese’s has peanut butter bits!

One Bar Flavors

One Bar currently offers 14 protein bar flavors including: Reese’s, Hershey’s Cookies ‘N’ Creme, S’mores, cinnamon roll, and birthday cake!

In addition to their classic flavors and varieties collaborated with candy brands, there is also their coffeeshop line. This line includes caffeine in the bars. Their caramel macchiato flavor totes 20g of protein, 1g of sugar, and 65mg of caffeine. That is about the same amount of caffeine as a shot of espresso!

Positives of One Bars

Some of the greatest benefits of these bars are the protein content. Having about 20g of protein with just over 200 calories and a single gram of sugar is a incredible ratio!

Another positive attribute is the convince! Being able to throw this bar in a bag knowing you’ll have it there until it’s needed is awesome- no refrigeration or preparation necessary.

Negatives of One Bars

In order to maintain the low sugar content, sugar alcohols are utilized. This isn’t a problem for some but for others this may lead to an upset stomach.

For some, another con may be their taste. As will all foods some people will enjoy them, some will tolerate, and some with despise them. Just because the taste may be a negative for you doesn’t mean it is for everyone!

Where to Buy a One Bar

One Bars can be purchased at many major retailers such as Target, Walmart, and Meijer. In addition you can snag a box from Amazon.

Now, you can even start seeing them as a quick grab-and-go option at gas stations! That means there is no reason to not be hitting your protein goals while traveling!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

If your question hasn’t been answered yet so far, you may find it here! If not, leave it in a comment down below and I will get you an answer as I am able to!

Are One Bars healthy?

Like all foods, healthy is a subjective term! Sure, this isn’t a whole food item but it has a great amount of protein and is conveniently packaged!

How much protein is in a One Bar?

The protein content depends on the flavor you choose. There are 18-20g of protein in all of their bars.

Are One Bar’s a meal replacement?

No, a One Bar is not a meal replacement. Protein bars are considered a supplement. This means is it a resource to utilize beyond your meals. Consider having one as a snack, a part of a balanced breakfast, dessert, etc.

Key Takeaways of One Bar: A Dietitian’s Comprehensive Review

Not in the mood to read the full article but still want the main points? Here’s the TL;DR:

There are about: 18-20g of protein, 1-3g of sugar, and 220 calories in a bar.
These bars come in 14 different sweet flavors.
Multiple protein sources allow for the high protein content.
Some love the convince of a protein bar and other may not enjoy the taste.
You can get a box at most major retailers and even single bars at gas stations and convenient stores.

Give a One Bar a taste and let me know your thoughts in the comments down below!