1st Phorm
Chocolate Crunch
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
It’s unusually dessert-like for a 20g protein bar—think layered, doughy center with chocolate that actually tastes like chocolate—while keeping sugars to 4g by leaning on sugar alcohols and modern bar tech. It’s indulgent in build and flavor, not a minimalist, whole-food bar.
When to choose 1st Phorm Chocolate Crunch
Best for people who want a candy-bar experience with real protein—post-workout, on busy afternoons, or as a compact mini meal. Not ideal if you avoid sugar alcohols or need peanut-, soy-, or dairy-free options.
What's in the 1st Phorm bar?
1st Phorm’s Chocolate Crunch leans on a whey‑forward blend (whey protein concentrate and isolate) backed by soy protein isolate and a little casein to deliver 20g of complete protein. The chocolate comes from alkalized cocoa plus real chocolate liquor and cocoa butter for that familiar ‘snap and melt.
’ Under the hood, the carbs favor modern bar tech—refined syrups and starches for structure with sugar alcohols and glycerin for sweetness—while 13g of fats from palm and cocoa butter (plus some seed oils) keep the texture soft and shelf‑stable.
It’s a denser bar at 260 calories, so think small meal or post‑workout hold‑over rather than a featherweight snack. Here’s how those ingredients add up in real‑world terms.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Carbohydrates
- 19 g
- Sugar
- 4 g
- Calories
- 260
Protein
2015HIGHMost of the 20g protein comes from whey protein concentrate and isolate—filtered milk proteins with excellent amino acid quality—supported by soy protein isolate and a bit of sodium caseinate (a milk protein that also stabilizes texture). This dairy‑plus‑soy mix is complete and highly digestible, with whey driving quick uptake and soy/casein adding some staying power. Milk and soy allergens are both present.
Fat
139HIGHThe 13g fat is primarily from palm and palm‑kernel oils and cocoa butter, with sunflower/soybean oils in supporting roles. That yields a mix of saturated fats (palmitic and stearic from palm/cocoa) and omega‑6‑rich seed oils—great for structure and shelf life, but not the same profile you’d get from olive oil or nut butters. If you’re moderating saturated fat or balancing omega‑3s and omega‑6s, keep this in mind.
Carbs
1920MIDThese 19g of carbs are mostly engineered rather than from whole grains or fruit: a little table sugar and corn syrup for binding, refined starches like maltodextrin/tapioca for body, then sugar alcohols (maltitol, sorbitol) and glycerin to keep it sweet and soft with fewer sugar grams. Expect quicker energy from the syrups/starches, tempered by the bar’s protein and fat and the lower‑glycemic polyols. Sensitive stomachs sometimes react to multiple polyols—start with one bar and see how you feel.
Sugar
44MIDOnly 4g of sugar appear on the label because most sweetness is supplied by sugar alcohols (maltitol, sorbitol), glycerin, and a touch of sucralose—highly processed sweeteners that add sweetness and moisture while keeping sugar grams low. The small amount of sugar likely comes from added sugar/corn syrup and a bit of lactose from dairy ingredients. If you’re polyol‑sensitive, keep portions modest.
Calories
260210HIGHAt 260 calories (on the higher side for protein bars), most energy comes from the 13g fat and 20g protein, with the remainder from a mix of sugars, starches, and sugar alcohols. In practice, it eats more like a compact meal or workout bridge than a light nibble. Plan the rest of your day’s calories accordingly.
Vitamins & Minerals
No standout micronutrients here (nothing over about 10% DV on most labels). You’ll get small amounts of calcium and iron from the dairy proteins and cocoa; vitamin A palmitate/beta‑carotene appear on the ingredient list primarily for color and minor fortification. Consider this bar for protein and convenience rather than vitamins.
Additives
This is a highly engineered bar: emulsifiers (soy/sunflower lecithin, mono‑ and diglycerides, acetylated monoglycerides, sorbitan tristearate) keep fats and water together; glycerin and preservatives (potassium sorbate) hold moisture and shelf life; alkalized cocoa smooths flavor and darkens color. These additives are widely permitted and used in small amounts, but they signal a more processed build versus a nut‑and‑oat style bar. If you’re trimming ultra‑processed ingredients, place this closer to the treat‑like end of the spectrum.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk whey
Cow's milk whey
Oil palm fruit
Soybeans
Defatted soybean flakes
Vegetable oils (palm, soy)
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Animal collagen
Corn or wheat
apples and pears
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“1st Phorm level-1 bar -PB Pretzel Flavor 🤌”
“Blueberry muffin and peanut butter lover are probably my favorite, they have almost a dough like interior.. very satisfying”
“I like 1st Phorm bars. I don’t like the strange chewy nougat texture of most of them or they taste off. Over several weeks I tried many that people recommended and I never found one I like better.”
Main Praise
Taste and texture lead the praise parade. Multiple reviewers highlight a dough-like interior that feels bakery-adjacent rather than chalky, with one Redditor saying they tried several popular options and never found one they liked better.
The broad flavor lineup draws loyalists—peanut butter variants get shout-outs, and while we’re focused on Chocolate Crunch, the overall profile (soft center, candy-bar finish) carries across the range. Convenience is another win: 20g of complete protein in a bar that actually satisfies feels like an easy meal stand-in when life gets messy.
And despite the decadent vibe, sugars stay low on the label, which some appreciate for steady energy alongside the protein. Finally, it’s gluten-free, which widens the audience for folks who need to avoid wheat.
Main Criticism
The most consistent pushback centers on processing and sweetness: a few users describe a “chemical” taste or an aftertaste, which likely comes from the combo of sugar alcohols and sucralose. There’s also chatter about a formula update adding maltitol; for some, that’s a deal-breaker.
Sugar alcohols (like maltitol and sorbitol) can be rough on sensitive stomachs, and this bar uses more than one. Macros are heftier than typical protein bars—260 calories with 13g fat—so it won’t fit every cutting phase.
Lastly, allergens are unavoidable here: this flavor contains milk, soy, almonds, and peanuts, and an external review notes peanuts show up across the line, which limits who can enjoy it.
The Middle Ground
So, where does the truth land between “best on the market” and “basically candy”? Probably right in the middle.
If you’re chasing a lean, ultra-simple bar, the Level-1 isn’t pretending to be that; it’s intentionally indulgent, with fats from palm and cocoa butter and sweetness driven by sugar alcohols and sucralose to keep sugar grams low.
That’s why it’s satisfying—and why some tastebuds and stomachs object. One Redditor swooned over the doughy interior, while another said it tasted like chemicals; both reactions make sense given the sweetener blend.
Nutrition-wise, 20g of whey-forward protein is legit, but at 260 calories and 13g fat, it eats more like a compact meal than a light snack. If you tolerate polyols well and want dessert-with-benefits, you’ll likely love it.
If you want short ingredients lists and fruit-sweetened simplicity, this isn’t your bar—and that’s okay.
What's the bottom line?
1st Phorm’s Level-1 Bar in Chocolate Crunch nails the candy-bar illusion while delivering 20g of complete protein. It’s a smart pick when you want something that truly tides you over—post-workout, on the road, or between meetings—without the sugar rush you’d get from an actual candy bar. But the magic trick comes with trade-offs: a processed ingredient build, sugar alcohols that can bother sensitive stomachs, and a higher calorie and fat count than many protein bars.
It also contains milk, soy, almonds, and peanuts. If your priorities are taste, satisfaction, and convenience, it’s a strong contender—start with one bar to see how you handle the sweeteners. If you’re shopping for minimalist ingredients or strict allergen avoidance, look elsewhere; if you want dessert energy with real protein, this one earns its spot in the rotation.