1st Phorm
Peanut Butter Lover
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A doughy, candy‑bar build with real peanut flavor and 20g of whey‑first protein, held to 4g of labeled sugar by sugar alcohols and glycerin—gluten‑free, but not vegetarian.
When to choose 1st Phorm Peanut Butter Lover
Choose this if you want an indulgent, filling protein snack or post‑workout treat that actually tastes like dessert and you tolerate sugar alcohols well.
What's in the 1st Phorm bar?
Peanut Butter Lover from 1st Phorm leans hard on a whey-first blend (whey isolate and concentrate) with soy protein isolate and casein rounding it out—delivering 20 grams of protein, around the 90th percentile for bars.
The peanut flavor is the real deal (peanuts are high on the list), with a little cocoa in the background. Carbs sit mid-pack at 19 grams but skew refined—corn-starch–derived syrups and starches—while sugar alcohols do most of the sweetening, so only 4 grams show up as sugar.
Fat is comparatively high at 13 grams, coming from peanuts plus added palm/palm-kernel, soybean, and sunflower oils, which helps explain the hearty 260 calories. Big picture: it’s a candy-bar–style protein bar—soft, sweet, and filling—gluten-free, but not dairy- or soy-free.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Carbohydrates
- 19 g
- Sugar
- 4 g
- Calories
- 260
Protein
2015HIGHMost of the 20 grams of protein come from whey (isolate and concentrate), backed by soy protein isolate and a bit of milk casein. Whey is a high‑quality, low‑lactose dairy protein; soy helps with texture and still offers a complete amino acid profile. The blend lands near the top of the category for protein while clearly signaling milk and soy allergens.
Fat
139HIGHThirteen grams of fat come from peanuts and added oils: palm and palm kernel (more saturated) alongside soybean and sunflower (mostly unsaturated). Peanut fat skews heart‑friendly, while palm fats add structure and that creamy bite. Net‑net, it’s a mix of unsaturated and saturated fats—worth noting if you’re keeping an eye on saturated fat.
Carbs
1920MIDAt 19 grams, carbs tilt refined: quick‑burning glucose sources (corn syrup and dextrose) and starch‑derived maltodextrin make up the bulk, with a small whole‑grain lift from brown rice flour. To keep sugars lower, the bar leans on glycerin and sugar alcohols, which sweeten and keep it soft while being gentler on blood sugar than straight sugar. Expect more of a quick bump than slow‑burn energy from oats or sweet potato, tempered somewhat by the bar’s protein and fat.
Sugar
44MIDOnly 4 grams of sugar register because sweetness is driven mainly by sugar alcohols (such as maltitol and sorbitol), glycerin, and a tiny dose of sucralose. The sugars that are present come from table sugar, corn syrup, dextrose, and a bit of milk sugar from whey—refined sources rather than fruit. Many people tolerate polyols fine, but sensitive guts may notice gas or urgency when portions are large.
Calories
260210HIGHAt 260 calories (on the higher end for bars), most energy comes from fat (~117 calories), then protein (~80), then carbs. That split makes it filling—better as a snack‑meal or post‑workout bridge than a light nibble. The soft, candy‑bar texture and moisture‑holding sweeteners also contribute to the higher calorie count.
Vitamins & Minerals
There aren’t standout vitamins here—no nutrients top 10% DV—though sodium lands around 16% DV from added salt and sodium caseinate. Small amounts of calcium and iron (about 6% DV each) likely come from dairy proteins and a pinch of tricalcium phosphate. The label lists beta‑carotene and vitamin A palmitate, but not at levels that register as a notable vitamin A contribution.
Additives
To achieve a candy‑bar texture with low labeled sugar, this formula uses a suite of additives: humectants and sugar alcohols to keep it soft and sweet, emulsifiers for structure, and potassium sorbate for freshness. These are common, highly refined ingredients in shelf‑stable bars. If you prefer shorter, minimally processed lists, this one reads more engineered than kitchen‑made.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk whey
Cow's milk whey
Groundnut plant seeds
Oil palm fruit
Soybeans
Defatted soybean flakes
Vegetable oils (palm, soy)
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Animal collagen
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 love. Across forums, Peanut Butter Lover gets called out for a dough‑like interior that’s satisfying rather than chalky, with several users naming it among their favorite flavors.
That candy‑bar style isn’t just looks—it’s soft, layered, and peanutty, which makes it easy to reach for when a “healthy” snack usually feels like homework.
On the nutrition side, you still get a legitimate 20g of high‑quality whey‑based protein and only 4g of labeled sugar, which many appreciate for curbing afternoon hunger or covering a post‑lift window.
Reviewers and outlets also note the convenience factor and broad flavor lineup; even if Peanut Butter Lover is your go‑to, variety keeps the routine from going stale. Net effect: it’s one of those rare bars people finish because they want to, not because they should.
Main Criticism
The tradeoffs are real.
This is a higher‑calorie, higher‑fat bar for its category, and some folks say it eats like candy because it’s formulated like candy—multiple vegetable oils, refined carbs, and sugar alcohols (plus a touch of sucralose) shape the taste and texture.
A few users describe a “chemical” aftertaste, which tracks with how some palates read polyols and artificial sweeteners. There’s also the allergy landscape: milk, soy, peanuts, and even almond are in play, and outside reviews have noted the line often includes peanuts across flavors.
One Redditor claimed newer boxes include maltitol when older ones did not—if you monitor sugar alcohols, you’ll want to double‑check the current label. Lastly, it isn’t vegetarian due to gelatin, which surprises people who see “whey” and assume otherwise.
The Middle Ground
So which take is right—the “basically candy” jab or the “favorite bar” praise? Oddly, both.
If your mental model of a protein bar is a lean, 180‑calorie brick with oats and a short ingredient list, Peanut Butter Lover will feel indulgent and engineered. But if your goal is to replace an actual candy bar with something that delivers 20g of complete protein, steadier sugar, and a truly dessert‑like bite, this hits the brief.
One Redditor raved about the doughy interior; another swore the flavor tasted artificial. That split makes sense: sugar alcohols and sucralose are polarizing, and they’re doing heavy lifting here to keep labeled sugar low while keeping texture soft.
Nutrition‑wise, you’re getting real satiety from the protein and fats—with roughly 16% DV of sodium, it also lands on the savory‑sweet side—just know the carbs skew refined. In practice, the truth sits in the middle: it’s a candy‑bar‑style protein bar, on purpose, and a good one if that’s the experience you want.
What's the bottom line?
1st Phorm’s Level‑1 Bar in Peanut Butter Lover is a pleasure‑first protein bar that doesn’t pretend to be a minimalist, whole‑food square. It delivers: 20g of whey‑led protein, a soft, peanut‑forward chew, and enough calories and fat to feel like a snack‑meal rather than a nibble. The flip side is the long, engineered ingredient list—sugar alcohols, refined carbs, and multiple oils—and a full slate of allergens.
Some tasters will call it decadent; others will pick up an artificial edge. Both reactions are fair. save‑me‑from‑the‑vending‑machine move.
If you’re chasing ultra‑lean macros, a short ingredient list, or you avoid dairy/soy/peanuts (or need vegetarian), look elsewhere. Tip: start with one bar and see how your stomach feels; with polyols, personal tolerance rules the day. Gluten‑free, indulgent, and unmistakably peanutty—treat it like a smarter candy bar and it does its best work.