1st Phorm
S'mores
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A convincingly s’mores‑like, doughy texture with 20g of complete protein and only 6g of sugar, achieved with a blend of fibers and low‑calorie sweeteners. Gluten‑free, indulgent, and very much a “treat‑style” protein bar.
When to choose 1st Phorm S'mores
Post‑workout or travel when you want dessert vibes with real protein. Skip it if you avoid milk, soy, peanuts/almonds, or if sugar alcohols bother your stomach.
What's in the 1st Phorm bar?
Meet 1st Phorm’s S’mores Protein Bar: a dairy‑first protein blend (whey isolate/concentrate with soy isolate and a touch of caseinate) wrapped in s’mores cues from cocoa (processed with alkali), vanilla, natural flavors, and graham‑like starches.
It lands in the upper tier for protein (20g, near the 90th percentile) and calories, and pairs that muscle‑supporting hit with higher‑than‑average carbs built from refined starches and syrups, then sweetened mostly by sugar alcohols rather than sugar.
Fats come from a mix of palm‑based saturated oils for structure and nut/seed sources for softness, with almond butter and peanuts adding a bit of nutrition. If you like a chewy, dessert‑leaning bar and don’t mind a more processed ingredient list to get that marshmallow‑meets‑graham texture, this one will feel familiar.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Carbohydrates
- 25 g
- Sugar
- 6 g
- Calories
- 250
Protein
2015HIGHThe protein here is driven by a dairy‑first blend: whey protein isolate and concentrate, with support from soy protein isolate and a little sodium caseinate. Whey brings top‑tier, fast‑digesting amino acids with typically low lactose; soy helps with texture and still delivers a complete profile, just a notch below whey’s quality. The result is a robust, dairy‑leaning 20g of protein—great for recovery, but not suitable if you avoid milk or soy.
Fat
99MIDFat has a split personality: palm and palm kernel oils give structure (more saturated), while sunflower oil, almond butter, and peanuts contribute softer, unsaturated fats and a touch of vitamin E. At 9g it’s a moderate amount, though palm‑heavy formulas trend higher in saturated fat than bars built mostly on nuts or olive oil. If you’re watching saturated fat, treat this as an occasional, not an every‑meal, choice.
Carbs
2520HIGHMost carbs come from refined sources—tapioca starch, rice flour, and glucose syrup—layered with small amounts of sugar and molasses to build that chewy s’mores bite. Added fibers (chicory root fiber and soluble corn fiber) help tame the glycemic punch and add bulk, while sugar alcohols and glycerin supply sweetness and moisture. Expect quicker energy than you’d get from whole‑food carbs, with the bar’s protein and fiber helping to soften, not eliminate, the spike.
Sugar
64MIDOnly 6g of the carbs register as sugar (from sugar, glucose syrup, and a little molasses); most sweetness instead comes from sugar alcohols (like maltitol), glycerin, and a tiny dose of an artificial sweetener (sucralose). That keeps the sugar number modest while relying on more processed sweeteners—friendlier to teeth and calories, though polyols can bother sensitive stomachs at higher intakes. If you prefer fruit‑sweetened bars, this isn’t that style.
Calories
250210HIGHRoughly a third of the 250 calories come from protein, with the balance split between refined carbs/syrups and a moderate fat blend. The higher calorie count is mainly the result of dense starches/syrups plus semi‑solid oils that keep the bar structured and chewy. It works well as a tide‑you‑over mini‑meal; for a light snack, it’s on the richer side.
Vitamins & Minerals
No standout vitamins or minerals are listed over 10% DV. Small contributions likely come from calcium carbonate (calcium) and vitamin E from sunflower oil/almond butter and added tocopherols, but these play supporting roles rather than headlining the label.
Additives
This is an additive‑heavy build: emulsifiers (soy/sunflower lecithin, mono‑ and diglycerides, acetylated monoglycerides, PGMS), a thickener (xanthan gum), colors (caramel color, annatto, and titanium dioxide as a whitener), a preservative (potassium sorbate), and sweetness/texture aids (glycerin, maltitol, sorbitol, sucralose). They create chew, moisture retention, a clean white/chocolate look, and shelf stability—but also signal a highly processed bar. If you’re minimizing refined additives, this ingredient list will feel busy.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk whey
Cow's milk whey
Cassava root
Limestone and chalk
Sunflower seeds
Defatted soybean flakes
Oil palm fruit
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Rice grain (Oryza sativa)
Sugarcane or sugar beet juice
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 top the praise list.
Multiple Redditors describe Level‑1 bars as having a soft, dough‑like center that’s “very satisfying,” and fans consistently rank them among the rare protein bars that actually feel like dessert rather than dense taffy.
The S’mores flavor slots right into that reputation: graham, cocoa, vanilla, and chew. Third‑party write‑ups echo the appeal—convenient, on‑the‑go protein with macros that outclass typical snack bars, and a broad flavor lineup if you like to rotate.
For many, 20g of protein in a bar that doesn’t taste like homework is the whole point, and on that front Level‑1 delivers.
Main Criticism
There are tradeoffs. Critics on Reddit call out a “chemical” aftertaste in some 1st Phorm products, and a recent formula shift toward maltitol—a sugar alcohol used for sweetness—lost at least one longtime buyer.
Publications like Garage Gym Reviews and Stack3d flag the macros as heftier than leaner bars, and the ingredient list leans processed: palm oils for structure, multiple emulsifiers, and even titanium dioxide as a whitening agent.
All flavors contain peanuts, which is a hard stop for some, and sugar alcohols can unsettle sensitive stomachs. Taste can be hit‑or‑miss for a minority of folks, and a few note the price can feel steep for a daily habit.
The Middle Ground
So is it “basically candy,” as one commenter on r/GyMOMsnark put it? Relative to whole‑food bars, the ingredient list is far busier—that part’s fair.
But it’s also candy that lifts: 20g of high‑quality, whey‑led protein with only 6g of sugar is not your average confection.
The sweetness sleight of hand comes from maltitol (a sugar alcohol), glycerin (a plant‑derived syrup), and a pinch of sucralose—approaches that lower sugar but can introduce an aftertaste or GI rumble for some.
S’mores specifically lands a bit lighter on fat than some Level‑1 flavors (9g here versus the 12–13g you’ll see elsewhere), though it still uses palm oils to keep that soft‑chewy bite.
If your benchmark is “short‑list, minimally processed,” you won’t be swayed. If your benchmark is “something that feels like a treat but brings real protein,” this one hits the brief—assuming your stomach and palate are on board.
What's the bottom line?
1st Phorm’s Level‑1 S’mores is a treat‑style protein bar with substance: 20g of complete, dairy‑first protein in a convincingly dessert‑like package. It’s more processed to achieve that texture and flavor—think palm oils, emulsifiers, and sugar alcohols—so it won’t court the label minimalists. But for a mini‑meal or post‑workout tide‑over, the balance of protein, modest sugar, and a satisfying chew is exactly what fans love.
Buy it if you want a s’mores fix that actually supports recovery and you tolerate sugar alcohols well. Skip it if you’re chasing ultra‑simple ingredients or need to avoid milk, soy, peanuts, or almonds.