GoMacro launched in 2004 after mother, Amelia developed the vegan soy-free protein bar on her Wisconsin farm during her cancer battle. A year earlier, Amelia’s daughter, Jola, encouraged Amelia to fight breast cancer with a macrobiotic, plant-based diet as an alternative to cancer treatment. Amelia’s cancer went into remission and the brand has grown from selling bars at local markets to distributing products nationwide. The mother daughter team is passionate about spreading benefits and awareness of plant-based diets.

Not only does the family owned and operated company support plant-based lifestyles, but all ingredients are organic and non-GMO certified growers that follow sustainable farming practices. The products do not have any additives or preservatives. The company’s ultimate goal is to cultivate a healthy body and environment. GoMacro is dedicated to the farmers that source the ingredients to support well-being for all. The company is involved with four organizations and donates a portion of their proceeds to the Farm Sanctuary, Feeding America, Solutions for a Change, and Keep a Breast Foundation.

Over the years, the products have evolved to include macrobar minis and the Thrive bar but the original macrobars remain a consistent staple. The GoMacro macrobars are made with wholesome ingredients and are all vegan, certified organic, gluten-free, kosher, non-GMO, certified R.A.W., and certified C.L.E.A.N. You can find the plant-based macrobar available in 14 flavors: peanut butter chocolate chip, coconut + almond butter + chocolate chips, blueberry cashew butter, dark chocolate + almonds, mocha chocolate chip, sunflower butter + chocolate, peanut butter, cherries + berries, cashew butter, almond butter + carob, banana almond butter, granola + coconut, cashew caramel, and apple + walnuts. You can find all flavors here on Amazon and honestly, you can’t go wrong – they are all delicious.

However, for the sake of a well-rounded review, let’s take a closer look at GoMacro’s best-selling bar, the peanut butter chocolate chip macrobar.

This is what the peanut butter chocolate chip vegan macrobar by GoMacro looks like. Each package is beautifully designed and differs for each flavor.

Taste Experience – 10 out of 10

Immediately after opening the vegan protein macrobar package, I am greeted with the pleasant aroma of fresh peanuts and peanut butter. So yum! The bar appears slightly sticky and glossy – my guess is that this is from organic brown syrup being the first ingredient by weight and the oil from the nuts. The plant-based GoMacro peanut butter chocolate chip protein bar is firmly pressed together but still pliable, soft, and chewy. The bar is a good size and feels bigger than a lot of bars; it weighs 2.4oz (69 grams).

After staring at this gem for a bit, the peanut butter smell is intoxicating and I’m definitely ready to try it out…

My first bite is peanut butter perfection. It tastes like I’m biting into a soft and slightly gooey peanut butter oatmeal cookie with an occasional bite of a chocolate chip. It is sticky, so I held on to it through the packaging but not so sticky that it got caught in my teeth. The GoMacro vegan protein macobar smells and tastes pleasant plus it doesn’t have an aftertaste or taste like added protein powder AT ALL. This is a huge win in my world of plant-based protein bars!

It’s not overly sweet or salty. I also really enjoy the smooth, pliable texture with real peanuts, chocolate chips, and puffed rice swirled into the concoction. Everything about this bar is in perfect balance and I could eat it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert without hesitation.  I can see why this is GoMacro’s best-selling bar. Do yourself a favor and check them out on Amazon now. You might need more than one box!

taking a bit of this delicious GoMacro peanut butter chocolate chip vegan protein macrobar

Nutrition – 9 out of 10

GoMacro Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip plant-based protein bar tastes like a variation of a peanut butter cookie but has the nutrition to sustain and nourish. Each bar contains 290 calories with 100 calories coming from fat because of the peanut and peanut butter base. There are 11 grams of fat with 3 grams of saturated fat (again from the peanuts). For far too long our culture has considered fat to be the enemy, especially in regards to weight loss, but in reality a diet high in nuts and seeds (healthy fat) helps prevent against heart disease, provide fat soluble vitamins, and maintain satisfaction in between meal.

Like many vegan protein bars, GoMacro macrobars are cholesterol free (cholesterol only comes from animals) and trans-fat free (with no added oils). Salt is not added but there is 40mg of naturally occurring sodium which is fantastic for many of us as most packaged foods provide an excessive amount of salt to make it more shelf stable or to make the product taste better. The chocolate chip peanut butter vegan macrobar tastes delicious on its own while providing a substantial amount of nutrition.

Most notably, each bar contains 11 grams of protein from organic sprouted brown rice protein and organic pea protein. The plant-based protein blend with the peanut butter and sprinkle of peanuts offers micronutrients as well including iron and calcium. Each bar has 6% of your daily value for calcium and 10% of your daily value for iron to help maintain electrolyte balance, bone strength, and oxygenate the body to prevent fatigue. GoMacro does not add vitamins and minerals to their vegan protein bars, but they do offer wholesome clean ingredients.

The only downside (if you even want to call it that) is the small amount of fiber per bar (2 grams per bar). As a registered dietitian focused on whole plant-based living, I can appreciate that fiber is not added in an isolated form (like chicory root extract), but I would like to see most of my clients and Americans consuming more fiber. One must keep in mind that GoMacro proudly supports a vegan lifestyle which tends to lend itself to consuming more fiber. So, if you are consuming fruits and vegetables multiple times per day every day of the week, then don’t worry about the two grams of fiber. However, if fruits and vegetables are not a part of your daily eating habit in multiple servings, choosing convenience plant-based protein bars with more protein may be beneficial.

The GoMacro macrobars cater to many dietary restrictions and lifestyles. The macrobars, including the peanut butter chocolate chip flavor are certified gluten-free, soy-free, certified organic, kosher, certified vegan, certified non-GMO, certified R.A.W. and certified C.L.E.A.N. To be certified R.A.W., the guidelines state the foods must be Real (non-GMO, safe, and majorly organic), Alive (refers to how many bioavailable enzymes your body can absorb from the ingredients – for example cooked vegetables lose some nutrients in the cooking process and would be less “alive”), Whole (minimally processed from the original source). C.L.E.A.N. foods are a subset within R.A.W. food certifications and are Conscious, Live, Ethical, Active, and Nourishing. It can give the consumer an idea that the foods are not only non-GMO and organic but the process was intentional with the consumer in mind. These extra designations GoMacro has opted into provide consumers with more information and less doubt or concern in regards the nutrition and quality of the products. So no matter what diet you follow (or don’t follow!), check out these bars on Amazon. You will thank yourself. 

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Macrobar nutrition label

The Non-Vegan Review – 13 out of 10

I agree with the lettuce murderer. These are f’ing amazing protein bars. I felt a supercharged surge of protein pleasure in all the right places. What a gorgeous ride! Left me wanting a cigarette. Great peanut butter flavor and not too sweet like many of the other vegan protein bars. GoMacro did a great job with eliminating the chalky flavor that pea and rice protein can add to a protein bar. Vegan protein bars have come a long way and I think these GoMacro bars are the pinnacle of protein pleasure! Get you some now on Amazon (and help my wife pay for all these freaking bars). Non-vegan husband out.

Parting Thoughts

The GoMacro peanut butter chocolate chip plant-based protein bar is by far one of the most delicious nutrition, energy, or protein bars out there. It’s vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, kosher, and organic but the taste is wholesome and indulgent. It’s a great reminder that eating healthy can be delicious. The high quality simple ingredients speak for themselves. GoMacro is more than a protein bar company. They are a family owned and operated company that is equally passionate about plant-based living, sustainable farming, and giving back to community. Choosing to buy these bars on Amazon is not only an investment in your health (and taste buds!), but it’s an investment in a family business focused on the bigger picture.

GoMacro Vegan Macrobar Review – Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip

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