See, Shop, Love!: Soy Protein Review

I am by no means a fitness guru, but I do consider myself to be fitness-aware. While I don't always make the best choices as far as food, I know that protein is an important part of a balanced diet because it provides satiety, promotes a healthy immune system, and helps with muscle building. Soy is a great source of protein and it's not only for those with meatless diets!

An on-the-go lifestyle may not always lead itself to having time to prepare protein-based meals, but the four soy bars that I am reviewing today are a great option for anyone to throw in their bag and take with them. Soy protein is plant-based and boasts many health benefits. I already mentioned promoting muscle growth, and it can also help preserve lean body mass during weight loss. A blend of soy, whey, and casein may also prolong muscle building after exercise and increase recovery time, compared to whey alone.

The first two options are from Nogii, gluten-free bars by Elisabeth Hasselback. I tried the "Nuts About Berries" and "Chocolate Coconut," both of which were very good. The Nuts About Berries was a paleo bar and my favorite of the four I sampled. It reminded me of eating a natural fruit snack and was packed with flavor (I could pick out strawberry the most). The Chocolate Coconut bar had a high-protein formula and tasted just like a chocolate candy bar. I would love to take both of these flavors with me to work to eat as quick breakfasts.

I also tried the iSatori Eat Smart bar in "Chocolate Peanut Caramel Crunch" and the Now Energy Bar in "White Chocolate, Fruit, and Nut." Sometimes with soy-based bars I find that they have a grainy texture, but that was definitely not the case with these. The Eat Smart bar was coated in chocolate and was really delicious. It didn't have that "health food" taste at all. The Now Energy Bar most resembled a granola bar of the four, and the white chocolate flavor was light but very good.

I also received this "Powered by Soy Protein" exercise kit, complete with a pedometer, jump rope, and hand grip. The pedometer will be put to good use, as will the jump rope. The hand grip is new to me, but I'm willing to give it a try!

Bottom Line: These bars have me convinced that soy is a viable and delicious form of protein. Each had a distinctive flavor that I really enjoyed, and I would encourage everyone who is looking to power their lifestyle in a healthy way to give any of these four bars a try!

*Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Coyne PR.

See more photos of the bars after the "read more."