GoMacro MacroBars Review
Are They Worth Buying?

Last Updated: November 21, 2020

Snacking doesn’t have to be a guilty pleasure, especially if you are opting for clean vegan and gluten-free ingredients.

GoMacro bars might be just what you are looking for. These high protein bars seem to be as nutritious as they are delicious – a favorite down at the gym.

But do these GoMacro protein bars bring good value for money? Are they really good in terms of nutrition or are they just a tasty treat that do very little? And considering that there’s a truckload of other protein bar brands out there, would we recommend them?

Stick around because in this review we’ll answer these burning questions and more.

What Are GoMacro Bars?

GoMacro is a company founded in the United States and believes in a fundamental vegan, macrobiotic diet. This means they only use unrefined, natural, whole ingredients.

There are no white flours, unrefined sugars, or preservatives in their signature line of protein bars.

The founders believe in giving back, and every month 10% of the profits for a selected flavor are donated to a non-profit organization.

As well as the designated “give back bar,” they also donate profits from their Everlasting Joy bars to help feed the homeless.

Taste

GoMacro has a fairly large selection of delicious flavors to try, such as:

Sweet Awakening (Mocha Chocolate Chip)
Protein Decadence (Dark Chocolate and Almonds)
Blissful Daybreak (Blueberry and Cashew Butter)

Protein Pleasure (Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip)
Everlasting Joy (Coconut, Almond Butter and Chocolate Chips)
Sunny Uplift (Cherries and Berries)

All of these energy bars are sweetened naturally using organic brown rice syrup, and I have to admit, all of the flavors I’ve tried are quite nutrient dense and tasty. They have a lovely sticky texture that melts in the mouth, and the organic puffed brown rice gives them an incredible amount of crunch.

GoMacro Bars Ingredients

Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients list for what I consider to be their signature flavor, the Protein Pleasure Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip bar. After that, we’ll examine a couple more for the sake of comparison.

1. Protein Pleasure (Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip)

Organic brown rice syrup, organic peanut butter, organic protein blend (organic sprouted brown rice protein, organic pea protein), organic puffed brown rice, organic fair trade chocolate chips (organic coconut sugar, organic cocoa, organic cocoa butter), organic peanuts.

For those wondering if cocoa butter is vegan, the answer is – yes.

All of their energy bars are manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts and other nuts, and they may contain pit or nutshell fragments.

By law, you have to list your ingredients by weight, and so organic brown rice syrup being listed first is more due to how much each component weighs rather than the amount used. If you break down the nutrition provided by the Protein Pleasure energy bar, you receive only 10 grams of protein from the peanut butter and the sprouted brown rice protein, from the total 290 calories, which is a bit lower than I would ideally want.

That being said the peanut butter and chocolate taste is delicious and definitely passes the taste test

That said, a lot of research says protein can help you feel fuller for longer and help with weight loss, which could offset the calories for those looking to lose weight [1].

2. Sunny Uplift (Cherries and Berries)

Organic brown rice syrup, organic gluten-free rolled oats, organic cherries, organic almond butter, organic dates, organic cranberries (organic cranberries, organic apple juice concentrate, organic sunflower oil), organic puffed brown rice, organic raisins, organic natural cherry flavor.

They still warn that the plant based energy bar is manufactured in a facility that processes peanuts and so the bar may contain nuts. The most noticeable difference in the ingredients is a sharp decline in the GoMacro bar protein blend per bar with only 4g of protein in this flavor.

If you’re looking for a protein top up with your snacks, this is a little low, but it comes from multiple sources, which means it’s richer in its amino acid profile [2].

3. Everlasting Joy (Coconut, Almond Butter, and Chocolate Chips)

Organic Brown Rice Syrup, Organic Almond Butter, Organic Protein Blend (Organic Sprouted Brown Rice Protein, Organic Pea Protein), Organic Puffed Brown Rice, Organic Fair-Trade Chocolate Chips (Organic Coconut Sugar, Organic Cocoa, Organic Cocoa Butter), Organic Unsweetened Coconut, Organic Almonds.

Taking a backseat to the peanut butter and chocolate flavor this one is nevertheless still pretty tasty. However, it still only comes in at 11g of protein for 280 calories.

Cost

The average cost of a GoMacro bar is a little high when you consider only getting roughly 10g of protein per bar. If you buy them in a variety pack, you can expect to pay twice as much than a regular chocolate bar, which is very expensive for a snack.

You will have to make a value judgment for yourself to decide if this is worth it, but there are cheaper options out there that serve up more protein per bar. Though, few can offer such genuinely organic and natural ingredients that come from healthy sources.

PROS

High in plant based protein
Made with organic plant based ingredients
Gluten free and vegan friendly

CONS

Uses a lot of nuts and not suitable for those with an allergy
Very calorie dense and not ideal for those looking to cut

Where To Buy GoMacro Bars?

You can pick up a GoMacro bar from most whole food or health shops.

They are also available online if you don’t have a store locally or access to other trusted online retailers.

Buying them directly from the company’s website provides quality assurance and the option to seek a refund if you’re not satisfied.

For starters, I would recommend the variety pack, until you find your favorite flavor, that is. Buying them in bulk can offer some savings.

I always have at least one packed in my gym bag for a post-workout power snack.

User Reviews

The reviews for the GoMarco bar are incredibly positive across the board. They focus on praising the fantastic range of flavors and the organic whole food ingredients.

“After being given a variety pack from a friend who didn’t like the flavor I have been hooked ever since.” – SandyBuhr9

As mentioned in the review above, though, not everyone likes the flavor.

“They taste like cardboard and old cabinets. Really disappointed I wasted my money on these and now can’t return them.” – LanaS92

There are also those that love the healthy chewy bars but can’t handle the “gaseous” quality of the pea protein.

“Not a bad bar, love the flavors, especially the peanut butter and chocolate ones. But who can seriously handle the pea proteins gaseous liability yo? And what a liability it is too, whew!” – Jerry_Mander89

Would We Recommend GoMacro Protein Bar?

Going with GoMacro Protein Bars is not a bad option for those wanting a vegan and organic protein bar product.

I prefer Orgain Organic Protein Bar over GoMacro Protein Bar because of the ingredients and nutritional value Organic Protein Bar gives.

The Organic Protein Bars are low in sugar while providing a fair amount of protein and carbs. I always need protein and carbohydrates after a workout to replenish my energy, which is my top pick for protein bars.

Give it a try, and let us know how you like it compared to GoMacro Protein Bars!

out of 10

Best For	Price	Annual Discount	Promotion
Overall Builder	$20 / mo.	3 Months Free	Up to 30% off

Organic Protein Bar

Staying energized all day long just got easier with our delicious plant-based, Organic Protein Bars. With 10g of organic plant-based protein and only 150 calories per bar, these organic bars serve up clean, delicious nourishment whenever and wherever you need it. Try these vegan protein bars as a nutritious, mid-day snack, a pre-workout boost, or even in your kids’ lunch boxes.

The S’mores and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough flavors are not made with peanuts. Please be advised they are made with almonds (tree nuts).

The Peanut Butter and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk flavors are not made with almonds (tree nut). Please be advised they are made with peanuts.

About the author

Jason Hughes

"Hey there, I'm Jason, and you've just landed on the most exhilarating spot on the web - my VL universe! Here's the deal: I'm wildly obsessed (in the best way possible!) with all things diet, strength training, fitness, health, and wellness. It's not just a passion; it's a lifestyle!

View All Posts