Lenny & Larry's Muscle Brownies - Functional Foods

Lenny & Larry’s Muscle Brownies

Lenny & Larry’s began in Venice Beach, circa 1993. According to their web site “a former American Gladiator and friend decided to create and market hi-protein muffins, cookies, brownies and other reduced-fat baked goods.” The company mission is to “create and distribute healthy baked goods as well as to encourage physical fitness and a healthy diet.”

Manufacturer’s Description: We created another perfect snack! Since 1993, Lenny and Larry’s has been pumping protein into cookies, brownies, muffins and other goodies. Grab it, munch it, chomp it or devour it… but most importantly, enjoy it and stay healthy.

Eat Brownies, Get Muscles! Protein can help in muscle development if combined with regular exercise and balanced nutrition.

  • All Natural
  • Fresh Baked
  • No Trans Fat
  • A Low Cholesterol Food
  • 20g Protein

Product Label:

Serving Size 1.41 Oz. (40g)
Servings Per Container 2
Calories 170
Calories From Fat 54
Total Fat 6g
Saturated Fat 2g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 15mg
Sodium 160mg
Total Carbohydrate 19g
Dietary Fiber 1g
Sugars 12g
Protein 10g

Ingredients: Protein Blend (Whey Concentrate, Soy Isolate, Wheat Isolate), Natural Brown Sugar, Non-Hydrogenated Margarine (Palm Oil, Water, Salt, Whey, Vegetable Monoglycerides, Soy Lecithin, Natural Butter Flavor, Citric Acid [Acidulant], Beta Carotene [Color], Vitamin A Palmitate), Corn Syrup, Chocolate Chips (Semisweet Chocolate [Sugar, Chocolate Liquor, Cocoa Butter, Dextrose] with added Lecithin Emulsifier), Vegetable Glycerin, Milk Chocolate Coating (Sugar, Fractionated Palm Kernel Oil, Nonfat Milk Powder, Milk Powder, Cocoa Powder, Sorbitan Tristearate, Soy Lecithin [an Emulsifier], and Vanilla), Cocoa Processed with Alkali, Egg, Natural Flavors, Caparve (Cultured Dextrose, Flour and/or Cornstarch), Baking Soda, Salt, Konjac Flour, Guar Gum

Comments: I picked up two, 80g single bars from Netrition.com for $2.19 each: “Triple Chocolate” and “Peanut Butter.” Despite the names, I could barely tell the two apart: they both tasted pretty much the same.

But that was ok, as “pretty much the same” was also pretty darned good! Dense, moist and chocolatey, the only real flaw was that they were a bit too cloyingly sweet for my taste. But the brownies were sufficiently decadent to make me do a double take at the nutrition label and the fine print: they were just too rich to be only 170 calories. Sure enough, although they weren’t particularly large, each package represents TWO servings. So if you eat the whole thing (and this is a pretty sure bet…), you’ll have 340—NOT 170—calories to account for.

Admittedly, this is still less than the equivalent of—say—a Duncan Hines brownie. According to CalorieKing.com, 1.41 oz. (equivalent to 1 serving of a Muscle Brownie) of the prepared “Chewy Fudge” mix would have 240 calories, 12 g fat, 2.7g protein and 21.4 g sugar. Thus, while not quite a “diet” treat, Muscle Brownies are a definite improvement.

Beyond the extra protein, however, Muscle Brownies aren’t exactly health foods—they’re low in fiber, vitamins and minerals. Sure, “protein can help in muscle development”—but this isn’t the most calorically economical way to consume it. They’re really “value added” desserts, so handle with care!

Here’s how I rate this product (out of 5 stars):

[usrlist “Taste:5.0” “Quality:3.0” “Efficacy:2.5” “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.

2 Comments

  1. I just found this product myself about a week ago and I have fallen in love with them from the first bite. Good review, thanks.

    Post a Reply
  2. Damn Good!! I’ve had alot of the other stuff they sell at the gym etc. (which most are NASTY)…….But these are GOOOOOODDDDDDD Definitely would encourage you to try one. ALso, Level 1 Protein is good. Different manufacturer, but it’s good too.

    Post a Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *