“Any food that requires enhancing by the use of chemical substances should in no way be considered a food.”
– John H. Tobe
Anyone that has ever traveled and tried to eat healthy has inevitably encountered the, “what’s a healthy snack to take on the plane,” conundrum. So many things are labeled, “healthy,” “low-calorie” or “skinny” snacking options.
Over the last couple years, I can honestly say I’ve tried around 80% of them. Some of the popular options are Clif Bars, Special K Protein Snack Bars, Larabars, KIND Bars and Quest Bars.
By far, my two favorites are Quest Bars and KIND Bars. KIND Bars tend to be more sweet than filling, so Quest Bars provide a better all-around option. They have ~20g. of protein and only ~5g. active carbs and range from 160 – 210 calories per bar.
Ask Men published the article, “Energy & Protein Bar,” that dives into what to look for in a protein bar, and also listed the top 10 protein bars. Quest bars were listed as #1.
Quest has also expanded their product line to low-calorie pasta and high-protein peanut butter cups.
Another reason that I love Quest is because of their brand. Being a social media and digital marketing strategist, I thoroughly appreciate when a company can effectively engage their customers and develop brand dedication. This is abundantly clear on Quest’s social channels including their Facebook, Twitter and Blog.
Since falling in love with Quest Bars, I’ve tried almost all the flavors and products. One of my favorite treats that I’ve created are Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Balls (pictured left).
Here’s the recipe: Take 1 Chocolate Peanut Butter Quest Bar and break it into 6 pieces. Place 1 chocolate chip on each piece and roll it into a ball. Place the six balls separately on a coconut-oil sprayed plate. Microwave for 15 seconds. Afterwards, top each ball with a drop of almond butter (I used ~1/2 a tablespoon of almond butter total). Dash a little cinnamon on top and then enjoy! For all 6 balls it was ~250 calories.
Another delicious meal I created was a homemade red sauce with veggies and Quest Pasta (pictured right). The sauce was made with onions, mushrooms and zucchini and topped with feta. It was my first time making a tomato sauce from scratch, and I must say, it was delicious!
So, moral of the story: If you haven’t tried Quest Bars yet, you’re missing out. They are absolutely delicious and I promise you’ll find a flavor that you’ll love.
What delicious Quest recipes have you found or created? I’m always looking for more culinary inspiration, so feel free to share!