GNC Total Lean
Chocolate Mint
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A convincing thin‑mint‑style flavor with a true candy‑bar texture, paired with a whey/soy protein blend that delivers 16g of protein at 190 calories.
When to choose GNC Total Lean Chocolate Mint
Chocolate‑mint lovers who want a crave‑taming snack or post‑workout bite that tastes like dessert, provided they’re fine with sugar alcohols and a longer ingredient list.
What's in the GNC Total Lean bar?
Chocolate Mint gets its personality here from alkalized cocoa, real peppermint oil, and a vanilla backdrop—and its structure from a decidedly engineered recipe. The protein story leans dairy-first: whey concentrate and isolate lead, with soy isolate and a touch of casein and collagen in support.
Carbs skew manufactured rather than whole-food—think sugar alcohols and glycerin for softness, with small amounts of sugar, corn syrup, and starch for structure—which helps keep labeled sugars modest. Fat runs a bit higher than average thanks to palm and palm kernel oils (firmness and shelf life), with sunflower and soybean oils in the mix.
The result is a relatively light 190-calorie bar with mid‑upper protein, low overall carbs by bar standards, and a confectionery-style ingredient toolbox that keeps the chocolate-mint coating smooth and stable.
- Protein
- 16 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Carbohydrates
- 14 g
- Sugar
- 5 g
- Calories
- 190
Protein
1615MIDThe 16g of protein are anchored by whey—both concentrate and isolate—supplemented by soy protein isolate and a little sodium caseinate. That combo delivers complete, highly digestible amino acids, while the added collagen peptides help with chew more than muscle since collagen isn’t a complete protein. Net effect: a mid‑upper protein hit built mostly on quality dairy proteins, with soy helping round it out.
Fat
109MIDMost fat comes from palm and palm kernel oils, semi‑solid vegetable fats that give the bar firmness and shelf stability, with sunflower and soybean oils adding unsaturated fats; almonds and peanuts contribute a little, too. This tilts the profile toward more saturated fat than a nut‑butter or olive‑oil base would, which some people watch for LDL. At 10g (on the higher side for bars), it’s satiating but also a meaningful slice of the calories.
Carbs
1420LOWCarbs are largely engineered rather than whole‑food: sugar alcohols (maltitol and sorbitol—lower‑calorie sweeteners that also hold moisture) and glycerin (a plant‑derived syrup that keeps bars soft) provide bulk, with smaller amounts of corn syrup, maltodextrin, and a little tapioca starch to bind. This mix leans more quick-to-moderate energy than slow burn; polyols can blunt sugar spikes a bit versus straight sugar, but high‑GI syrups nudge the other way. Expect a designed, not oat-or-date‑based, carb profile—and know that polyols can bother sensitive stomachs at higher intakes.
Sugar
54MIDSugar is kept to 5g per bar, mainly from table sugar and corn syrup plus a little natural milk sugar from whey; cocoa and peppermint oil bring flavor without adding sugar. Most sweetness instead comes from sugar alcohols and a tiny dose of sucralose, which lowers sugar grams but relies on highly processed sweeteners. If you’re sensitive to polyols, watch for bloating or laxation when you stack servings.
Calories
190210MIDAt 190 calories, it’s lighter than many bars. The largest share comes from fat (about 90 calories), with protein close behind and the rest from carbohydrates and sugar alcohols. You get a decent protein‑to‑calorie ratio, provided your gut is comfortable with polyols.
Vitamins & Minerals
No vitamins or minerals clear 10% Daily Value. Modest calcium likely comes from the dairy proteins and a little iron from cocoa, while vitamin A palmitate and beta carotene are present more for color/fortification than for meaningful nutrition in a single bar.
Additives
This recipe leans on many functional additives: several emulsifiers (soy and sunflower lecithin, mono‑ and diglycerides, acetylated monoglycerides, propylene glycol esters) for a smooth bite, potassium sorbate to keep it fresh, and flow/whitening agents like silicon dioxide and titanium dioxide. Sweetness and softness are managed with sugar alcohols plus glycerin and a pinch of sucralose. It’s a long, highly refined ingredient list designed for confectionery texture and shelf stability rather than a short pantry label.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk whey
Cow's milk whey
Defatted soybean flakes
Oil palm fruit
Fats and oils
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Cattle hides, bones, connective tissue
Corn or wheat
apples and pears
Field corn starch
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“I just found a bar I really like last Saturday. It's the GNC Lean Bar - Strawberry Yogurt Flavor. It's only 15g of protein (unlike the Quest bar OP shared), but I really like it.”
“GNC Lean Bars! So many good flavors, 15g protein for 180cal. Or their layered bars, a bit more decadent but basically same nutritional values.”
“GNC Lean Bars does a mint chocolate bar that's almost identical if you love them”
Main Praise
Taste leads the parade. Across Amazon and Reddit, Chocolate Mint is the flavor people go back for: “no chalky aftertaste,” “actually like a Thin Mint,” and “great consistency” come up again and again.
The macros hit a sweet spot for a snack: 16g of protein in about 190–200 calories is a solid return for something that eats like a candy bar, and several reviewers mention it keeps them satisfied between meals.
The texture—thanks to that glossy chocolate coating and a soft interior—feels indulgent without tipping into cloying. Add in the gluten‑free profile and you have a crowd‑pleasing option for folks who want a treat that still moves the protein needle.
Main Criticism
The trade‑offs are real.
This is a highly engineered bar with a long list of additives, sugar alcohols (like maltitol and sorbitol), and a touch of sucralose—great for sweetness and texture, not so great for sensitive stomachs.
Fat runs higher than some “lean”‑marketed snacks due to palm and palm‑kernel oils, which is part of why the “lean” label has been challenged in court; GNC disputes the framing, but the debate is out there.
Flavor consistency can vary across the line, too—one Amazon reviewer loved Chocolate Mint but found Coconut Caramel had a noticeable aftertaste. It’s also not vegetarian (there’s bovine collagen) and contains common allergens, including milk, soy, peanut, and almond.
The Middle Ground
So where does the truth land between the dessert‑level praise and the label skepticism? If your priority is a chocolate‑mint bar that genuinely tastes good while still delivering complete protein, this one delivers.
The protein blend is anchored in whey, with soy lending backup; that’s real muscle‑building amino coverage in 16g.
The lower sugar number (5g) is achieved by leaning on sugar alcohols and glycerin—often gentler on blood sugar than straight sugar, but potentially rough on the gut if you stack servings.
As for “lean,” the legal wrangle centers on fat per 100 grams; whether you care likely depends on your own targets. Ignore the name, read the panel, and decide if 10g of fat for 190 calories fits your day.
In short: it’s a confectionery‑style protein snack that behaves like a treat and performs like a snack—not a minimalist, whole‑food bar, and not a meal replacement.
What's the bottom line?
GNC Total Lean’s Chocolate Mint bar wins on flavor and texture and gives you a respectable 16g of complete protein for 190 calories. sweet tooth hits. ” If you tolerate polyols and want a dessert‑like protein fix that won’t bulldoze your calorie budget, it’s an easy yes.
If you prefer short‑label, whole‑food bars—or you’re vegetarian or avoiding soy/peanuts/tree nuts—this isn’t your match. Treat “lean” like a line name, not a promise, and let your goals (and your stomach) be the judge.