Gatorade
Mint Chocolate Crunch
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A dessert-forward mint‑chocolate bar with a legit 20g of whey/milk protein and a crisp texture—no artificial sweeteners, unapologetically candy‑style construction.
When to choose Gatorade Mint Chocolate Crunch
Best right after tough training when you want quick carbs with your protein, or for mint‑chocolate lovers who dislike the aftertaste of zero‑sugar bars.
What's in the Gatorade bar?
Gatorade’s Mint Chocolate Crunch is a dessert-styled recovery bar built from classic confection pieces: a chocolate coating and semisweet chips for the cocoa hit, “natural flavor” to supply the mint, and the crunch from whey‑protein crisps and cookie pieces.
Under the hood, 20g of dairy protein (mainly whey, with some milk protein) puts it near the top of the category, while carbs and sugars land at the very high end thanks to multiple syrups, caramel, and chocolate.
Fats come mostly from palm‑based oils and dairy/cocoa fats to hold those layers together. Big picture: an indulgent, mint‑chocolate bar that delivers fast fuel and a solid protein dose rather than a minimalist, whole‑food style snack.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 12 g
- Carbohydrates
- 42 g
- Sugar
- 27 g
- Calories
- 340
Protein
2015HIGHThe 20g of protein comes primarily from dairy: whey protein isolate and concentrate (in the coating and the crunchy crisps) plus milk protein concentrate and milk powders. Whey is a complete, fast‑digesting protein—great for post‑workout repair—while the milk protein adds a slower‑digesting casein component. The isolate is low in lactose, but note the bar also includes milk powders and whey, so some lactose is present.
Fat
129HIGHFat here comes largely from palm kernel and palm oils in the coating and creme, with help from cocoa butter and dairy fats (milk fat and butter) in the chocolate and caramel, and a bit of soybean oil. That mix tilts toward saturated fat (especially palm and dairy), with cocoa butter contributing mostly stearic and oleic acids. At 12g, the fat is on the higher side for bars and is more confection‑style than olive‑oil‑and‑nuts style.
Carbs
4220HIGHMost of the 42g of carbs are refined: corn syrup, invert sugar, and brown sugar sweeten and bind, while wheat flour in the cookie pieces and cornstarch add more quickly digested starch. This is fast energy that will lift blood sugar quickly; the protein and fat slow things a bit, but expect a short, sharp boost rather than long, even burn. Great right after hard training, less ideal when you want steady, slow-release carbs.
Sugar
274HIGHWith 27g of sugar, sweetness comes mainly from table sugar and syrups (corn and invert), plus caramel and chocolate chips; a smaller portion is milk sugar from the dairy ingredients. The sugars are refined rather than fruit‑based, and there are no artificial sweeteners—just classic candy‑style sweeteners. Expect a pronounced sweet taste and a quick rise in blood sugar.
Calories
340210HIGHAt 340 calories, this is a dense bar. Roughly half the calories come from carbs, about a third from fat, and the rest from protein, so the heft is driven by sugars/starches and confectionary fats more than protein alone. Think of it as an energy‑plus‑protein treat rather than a light snack.
Vitamins & Minerals
Calcium lands at about 15% of daily value, thanks to the dairy proteins (whey/milk powders) and added calcium carbonate in the whey crisps. Small amounts of iron and potassium likely come from cocoa and dairy, but nothing else stands out—this bar’s value is mainly macros, not micronutrients.
Additives
To keep all those layers smooth and stable, the bar uses common confectionary additives: soy lecithin and mono‑ and diglycerides as emulsifiers, glycerin to hold moisture, alkalized cocoa for a darker, mellower chocolate, and mixed tocopherols/citric acid for freshness. They’re widely used and highly refined, contributing texture and shelf life—but they do make the ingredient list longer than a whole‑food‑first bar.
Ingredient List
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Oil palm fruit
Cow's milk whey
Cacao beans treated with alkali
Soybeans
Cow's milk whey
Corn (maize) endosperm
Limestone and chalk
Field corn starch
Wheat grain endosperm
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“gatorade chocolate protein bars are so crispy and covered in a layer of really nice chocolate. does not have that protein bar taste or mouth feel at all.”
“Another great option are the Gatorade bars. All flavors taste great.”
“They’re not the most healthy for some, but I love Gatorade whey protein bars, the peanut butter flavor. They have 20 grams of protein each and taste like a better Whatchamacallit candy bar.”
Main Praise
Taste and texture headline the love notes. Across forums and reviews, people call Gatorade’s bars the rare protein bar that actually eats like a treat—crisp layers, real chocolate, and none of the chalky finish.
More than one fan compares the bite to a Snickers or Whatchamacallit, just with 20g of protein tucked inside. That matters when you’re burnt out on shakes or “cement brick” bars and still want something you’ll actually finish.
The protein is the real deal too: fast‑digesting whey with some slower milk proteins, a combo athletes often reach for post‑workout. And for those who can taste artificial sweeteners from a mile away, the classic sugar‑and‑chocolate route is a plus.
Main Criticism
The flip side is exactly what makes it delicious: sugar and calories land high. At roughly 340 calories with 27g of sugar and 12g of fat, critics argue it’s closer to a candy bar with whey than a daily “health” bar.
Food writers and commenters alike point to the long, confection‑style ingredient list and saturated fat as reasons to treat it as an occasional recovery tool, not a meal replacement. Some call out that it spikes energy quickly—great right after a lift, less ideal for steady fuel.
And practical note: it contains dairy (with some lactose), soy, and wheat.
The Middle Ground
So who’s right: the “best‑tasting protein bar” crowd or the “it’s candy” camp? Both—and context decides.
The nutrition profile makes it clear: 20g of complete, fast‑acting dairy protein plus a pile of quick carbs (42g total, 27g sugar) and confectionery fats. That’s not the blueprint for a minimalist, slow‑burn snack; it’s the blueprint for rapid refuel and a sweet finish after hard work.
The critics aren’t wrong—this is more dessert‑styled than nut‑and‑seed clean. But the fans aren’t imagining things either: taste and texture are standout, and the protein is functional.
If you want a bar to nibble at your desk between Zooms, look elsewhere. If you just emptied your glycogen tank and want carbs with your protein—and you like mint chocolate—this lands exactly where it aims.
What's the bottom line?
Think of Gatorade’s Mint Chocolate Crunch as a recovery dessert with a job to do. It snaps, it cools, it satisfies, and it delivers 20g of whey‑forward protein alongside fast carbs. The price you pay is, well, sugar and saturated fat—340 calories built more like a candy bar than a granola bar.
Use it on purpose. After a hard session, it can be exactly the right tool: quick energy back in the tank, plus high‑quality protein for muscle repair, without the chalky slog.
If your priority is low sugar, short ingredient lists, or slow‑release fuel, skip it. But if you want mint‑chocolate joy that actually supports recovery, this one earns its place in the gym bag.