Bobo’s Vegan Oat Bar Review – Maple Pecan

Bobo’s started from a heartwarming beginning when Beryl, a struggling mother trying to get her catering business going, spent a rainy Colorado afternoon baking in the kitchen with her daughter, Bobo. They created a warm home baked oat bar that soon was the talk of the school and neighborhood. Beryl and her daughter decided to keep the baking going by offering their vegan and gluten-free oat bar to local coffee shops. Before they knew it and after a lot of hard work, Bobo’s is now enjoyed nation-wide.

The company continues to use simple, wholesome ingredients and their own pans, no machine pressed bars that may increase production but would take away from the homemade feel many families are craving. Aside from the vegan and gluten-free oat bars, Bobo’s has created a line of Bobo’s Oat Stuffed Bars and Bobo’s Bites. You can find any of these products here. If you want to see what I, a plant-based dietitian, and my omnivore eating husband have to say about the Bobo’s bars, keep reading. …before we get there though, you should know the Bobo’s Oat Bars comes in fifteen amazing vegan and gluten free flavors including, Original, Coconut, Cranberry Orange, Banana Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chip, Cinnamon Raisin, Peanut Butter, Almond Butter, Peach, Maple Pecan, Coconut Almond Chocolate Chip, Lemon Poppyseed, Apple Pie, PB + J, and Gingerbread. Crazy, right? We’ve tried a few of them before (see the Bobo’s Banana Chocolate Chip Review here), but this time going with the Maple Pecan because it sounds decadent, nutty, and dreamy.

Taste Experience – 8.5 out of 10

Long story short: If you love oats, you will love this bar. It’s chewy and although it’s not as moist as some of the Bobo’s Oat Bars, the slight sweetness from the maple syrup followed by the buttery pecan flavor is a combination made in the vegan nutrition bar heavens.

The vegan nutrition bar uses old fashioned whole grain gluten-free oats and real pecans to create a homemade baked treat. These main ingredients create a hearty texture filled with wholesome ingredients you can see. If you’re like me and you’re sick of vegan protein and energy bars that are chalky, powdery, or brown rice syrup press patties, you will likely find this whole grain goodness refreshing and insanely satisfying because…well, the Maple Pecan Bobo’s Oat Bar tastes like real food.

I am an extreme lover of nuts and so while I know pecans are pricey, I would like to have larger pecan chunks in the bread but I was surprised there were so many nut morsels sprinkled throughout the vegan bread.

I will be adding the Maple Pecan Bobo’s Oat Bar to my on-the-go vegan breakfast and snack options with some definitely stocked in my own pantry. This vegan bar is great because even if it’s a convenience product in an individual package, the homemade baked goodness feels like a real pleasure while nourishing my body on the go. The nutty treat is exactly what I’m craving most mornings when I’m running out the door. If you’re interested in keeping Bobo’s Oat Bars in your pantry for those vegan or gluten-free on-the-go moments, stock up over here on Amazon.

Nutrition – 9 out of 10

Because Bobo’s Oat Bars are made with straightforward wholesome ingredients, the nutrition is pretty solid except I do think the serving size is misleading. The vegan nutrition bar is conveniently wrapped in what appears to be a single serving package but after further review of the nutrition label, there are supposedly two servings per package. I find this to be a bit ludicrous as I find it hard to believe that many people would open and only eat half of the seemingly small bar.

So in a half a bar you’ll find 170 calories (or 340 calories in the whole oat bar that you would likely consume) with only 70 of those calories coming from fat. This is an appropriate calorie amount for a mini-meal or add in a piece of fruit, slather some nut butter on top, or chow down on some nuts and you have a more well-rounded vegan breakfast or meal.

There are eight total grams of fat with only two grams of saturated fat from the buttery spread used likely. Since the gluten-free vegan oat bar is 100% plant-based, there is no cholesterol. Bobo’s Oat Bars have minimal sodium (120 milligrams per entire vegan bar) and can be great alternatives to traditional high-sodium breakfasts like instant oatmeal, some cold cereals, and the usual American breakfast culprits of bacon and sausage.

There are 23 grams of total carbohydrate in half the Maple Pecan Bobo’s Oat Bar and 46 grams of carbohydrate in the entire bar. This is important to keep in mind depending on how you are eating the bar. If you’re eating an entire Bobo’s Oat Bar for breakfast, this is an appropriate amount of carbohydrates and calories but if you’re eating the bar as a snack or as a part of a meal, this may be more than you actually need. If you are an active individual who regularly completes longer intensity/duration workouts, the amount of carbohydrates is less of a concern. This doesn’t mean that the Bobo’s Oat Bar is “good” or “bad” but rather know that the gluten-free bar has a significant amount of total carbohydrates. However, because oats are the primary carbohydrate in Bobo’s Oat Bars, each bar has four grams of fiber to help manage satiety and blood sugar levels.

Each Maple Pecan Bobo’s Oat Bar has four grams plant-based protein, which I suspect is mostly from the oats. If the bar had additional nuts or a nut butter, that would certainly add to the amount of protein and I can appreciate Bobo’s attempt to keep the oat bar straightforward and simple, similar to how cooking in the home may be.

In Bobo’s Vegan Oat Bars, you will find 2% of your calcium needs for the day and 6% of your iron needs. As per other vegan sources of iron, the iron in oats is non-heme and better absorbed with a source of Vitamin C consumed at the same time. Consider adding kiwi, mango, papaya, or strawberries with your Bobo’s Oat Vegan Nutrition Bar to help round out the mini-meal and boost your iron absorption.

The Non-Vegan Review – 9.33 out of 10

Wait a second? This is not a bar. Someone stole all of the muffin tops and pressed them into a rectangle. That’s exactly what Bobo’s Maple Pecan Oat bars taste like. Like a delicious maple, pecan, oat muffin, just in bar form. And, my plant-killing wife says they’re good for you. Okay, so the muffin at Panera is not good for me, but Bobo’s squared-off muffin tops are good for me? How’s that possible? They both feel like they’re adding to my muffin top. These are delicious, XL-sized bars, that make a perfect breakfast bar or, if you’re adding to your muffin top, put one of these in a bowl and dump two scoops of your favorite ice cream on it and you have a delicious little Bobo’s a la mode. What’s that big river in South America called? That’s right, get u some Bobo’s on Amazon. Non-vegan husband out.

Parting Thoughts

If you love oats and oatmeal but you need a change from overnight oats, oatmeal, oat based granola, or overly sweet things this Maple Pecan Bobo’s Oat Bar could be your alternative. It’s wholesome whole grain gluten-free goodness in a convenient package ready for you to tackle the world. The nutty, slightly sweet hearty bar is perfect for breakfast or a snack and is such a refreshing twist from other chalky, powdery, or fake tasting vegan bars. If you’re looking for a change in your vegan nutrition bars, I suggest considering Bobo’s Oat Bars in the Maple Pecan Flavor. If you want something sweeter, choose the Banana Chocolate Chip.