Genisoy Soy Protein Bars - Functional Foods

Genisoy Soy Protein Bars

Genisoy bills itself as “the #1 soy company in the US.”  Certainly it’s one of the most visible: Genisoy products are mainstreamed into grocery stores throughout the country.  The product line is diverse, and divided between shakes/protein powders, snacks (chips, crisps, soynuts/trail mix) and bars.  The bars come if four varieties: Ultra, Protein Crunch, Organic and Regular.  There six flavors of the latter: Cookies and Cream, Creamy Peanut Yogurt, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Crispy Chocolate Mint, Chunky Peanut Butter Fudge and Cafe Mocha Fudge.

Manufacturer’s Description: Help get your body through your busy day with the complete nutrition of Genisoy Soy Protein Bars. With 20 vitamins and minerals, folic acid and 14 grams of soy protein, you’ll have the complete nutrition that you need to finish the day, deliciously, economically and conveniently. Delight your taste buds with six unique Genisoy flavors dipped in creamy yogurt or rich chocolate. Great taste and good sense come together in Genisoy.

Product Label:

Serving Size 1 Bar (61.5g)
Calories 240
Fat Calories 60
Total Fat 6g
Sat. Fat 3g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0mg
Sodium 200mg
Total Carb 33g
Dietary Fiber 2g
Sugars 19g
Protein 14g
Vitamin A 10%
Vitamin C 10%
Calcium 10%
Iron 15%
Vitamin E 10%
Thiamin 15%
Riboflavin 15%
Niacin 10%
Vitamin B6 10%
Folate 15%
Biotin 10%
Pantothenic Acid 10%
Phosphorus 15%
Iodine 10%
Zinc 15%
Selenium 15%
Copper 30%
Ingredients: Genisoy Blend (Soy Protein Isolate, Soy Crisps [Soy Protein Isolate, Tapioca Starch, Salt], Alkalized Cocoa Powder, Sugar, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Cookie Pieces [Wheat Flour, Sugar, Canola Oil, Cocoa Processed with Alkali, Salt, Baking Soda],Roasted Soy Nuts, Canola Oil, Corn Starch), Corn Syrup, Chocolate-Flavored Coating (Sugar, Palm Kernel Oil, Cocoa Powder, Whey Powder, Skim Milk Powder, Soy Lecithin [an Emulsifier], Natural Vanilla Flavor), Two Percent or Less of the Following: Water, Natural Flavors, Tricalcium Phosphate, Ascorbic Acid [Vitamin C], Almond Butter, Wheat Germ, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin E Acetate, Niacinamide, Zinc Oxide, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Palmitate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride [Vitamin B6], Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Cyanocobalamin [Vitamin B12].

Comments: I picked up the Crispy Chocolate Mint, Chocolate Fudge Brownie and Chunky Peanut Butter Fudge bars at the store for the on-sale price of $0.97 each. Each bar contains 12.5 g soy protein per serving; half of the 25 g/day of soy protein determined to reduce cholesterol and cardiovascular disease risk.

The bars proved to be flat, dense and chewy.  It thought they were pretty good, for the most part.  I liked the Chocolate Fudge Brownie bar; and the Crispy Chocolate Mint tasted just like a chewy, bar version of a York Peppermint Patty.  On the other hand, the Chunky Peanut Butter Fudge tasted sweet, but odd – and not the least bit “peanutty.”

So two out of three…not bad, overall.

Each bar supplies small, but significant amounts of the major vitamins and minerals, as well as 14 – 15 g total protein.  Although not specifically low cal or low sugar, Genisoy bars contain considerably less fat and sugar than most candy bars.  For example, for roughly the same number of cals, a (2.2 oz) Genisoy bar supplies 6 – 7 g fat and 18 – 19 g sugar, whereas a (2.1 oz) Milky Way has 10 g fat and 35 g sugar…quite a difference.

While I wouldn’t make a habit out of eating Genisoy bars (there are better ways to get soy protein, if desired), they could certainly be used on occasion to satisfy a sweet tooth, or as an on-the-go snack.

[usrlist “Taste:3.5” “Quality:3.5” “Efficacy:3.5” “Value:4.0″ avg=”true”]

Author: elissa

Elissa is a former research associate with the University of California at Davis, and the author/co-author of over a dozen articles published in scientific journals. Currently a freelance writer and researcher, Elissa brings her multidisciplinary education and training to her writing on nutrition and supplements.

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