GNC Total Lean
Coconut Caramel
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
Dessert-first taste in a moderate‑calorie package: 16 grams of protein at 190 calories, a cookie‑inspired coconut‑caramel profile created without real coconut, and a texture that reads candy bar rather than oat‑and‑seed brick.
When to choose GNC Total Lean Coconut Caramel
Choose this bar if you want a sweet, satiating afternoon snack or post‑workout treat that actually tastes like dessert, you’re cool with processed sweeteners, and you prefer gluten‑free. Skip it if sugar alcohols, soy/dairy/collagen, or longer labels are deal‑breakers.
What's in the GNC Total Lean bar?
GNC Total Lean Protein Bar, Coconut Caramel, leans on a soy‑led protein blend supported by dairy proteins—and even a touch of collagen—to deliver 16 grams in a 190‑calorie bar.
Carbs are on the lower side for the category, kept there by a mix of sugar alcohols and a pinch of sucralose rather than fruit or grains, while the fat profile is built mostly from confectionery-style oils (palm/palm kernel, plus sunflower/soy) with a cameo from nuts.
Despite the name, there’s no coconut listed; the coconut‑caramel vibe is created with sweeteners, oils, chocolate, and natural flavors. If you’re after moderate protein in fewer calories and you’re comfortable with processed sweeteners and emulsifiers, this is the sort of bar that fits the bill.
- Protein
- 16 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Carbohydrates
- 14 g
- Sugar
- 5 g
- Calories
- 190
Protein
1615MIDThe 16 grams of protein come from a blend: soy protein isolate leads the way, joined by whey (isolate and concentrate) and sodium caseinate, with a smaller contribution from bovine collagen. Soy and dairy proteins are complete and highly digestible, giving you a solid amino acid profile; collagen adds texture but is incomplete on its own. Expect a mix of faster‑digesting whey and steadier casein/soy—good coverage for a snack—at a slightly‑above‑average protein level for bars.
Fat
109MIDMost of the 10 grams of fat are supplied by palm and palm kernel oils (semi‑solid, higher in saturated fat), blended with sunflower and soybean oils (unsaturated, omega‑6‑rich) and a bit from almonds. This creates candy‑bar‑like structure and shelf stability but skews more processed and saturated than, say, an olive‑oil or nut‑butter base. If you’re watching LDL cholesterol or aiming for more monounsaturated fats, note the palm oils’ prominence.
Carbs
1420LOWThe 14 grams of carbs are largely refined: table sugar and corn syrup for sweetness and binding, balanced by sugar alcohols (maltitol, sorbitol) and glycerin to keep sugar grams moderate and the bar moist. That means these aren’t “whole‑food” carbs like oats or dates; you’ll get quicker energy from the syrups with some blunting from protein, fat, and polyols. Sensitive stomach? Sugar alcohols can cause bloating or urgency at higher intakes.
Sugar
54MIDSugar sits at 5 grams, coming from table sugar, corn syrup, and a little lactose from whey ingredients, while most of the sweetness is carried by sugar alcohols and a tiny dose of the artificial sweetener sucralose. That can mean a smaller blood‑sugar bump than a fully sugar‑sweetened bar, but it’s still a suite of refined sweeteners rather than fruit‑based sugars. If you’re sensitive to polyols, pace yourself.
Calories
190210MIDAt 190 calories (below the category average), this bar’s energy is split roughly half from fat, about a third from protein, and the rest from carbs—some of which are lower‑calorie polyols. The result: a snack‑sized bar that feels satiating for its calories, thanks to the protein and fat, rather than a big carb hit.
Vitamins & Minerals
There aren’t meaningful micronutrient standouts here (nothing tops 10% DV). Small amounts of calcium likely come from tricalcium phosphate and the dairy proteins, iron from soy, and vitamin A appears on the label as color/fortification (beta carotene, vitamin A palmitate) but not at notable levels. Think protein snack, not multivitamin.
Additives
This is an additive‑heavy build: multiple emulsifiers (mono‑ and diglycerides, acetylated monoglycerides, propylene glycol mono esters, lecithins) to keep the texture uniform; preservatives like potassium sorbate and tocopherols; silicon dioxide for flow; and both sugar alcohols and sucralose for sweetness. These are highly refined functional ingredients that create a confectionery texture at the cost of label simplicity; polyols in particular can challenge sensitive guts.
Ingredient List
Defatted soybean flakes
Cow's milk whey
Oil palm fruit
Vegetable oils (palm, soy)
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Cattle hides, bones, connective tissue
Corn or wheat
apples and pears
Cow's milk whey
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 is the headline. Reviewers repeatedly praise the candy‑bar texture and dessert flavors—several even compare the line’s mint variety to a certain cookie aisle favorite—with notes like “no chalky flavor” and “no weird aftertaste.
” For a bar under 200 calories, it punches above its weight in satisfaction; more than one buyer says it keeps them full between meals or after a workout.
The 16 grams of protein hits a sweet spot for a snack (not a meal replacement) and, paired with the coating and layers, makes it feel like an indulgence without blowing the day.
Even value‑minded shoppers call it a solid mid‑range option: better macros than many snack bars, better taste than most high‑protein bars, and broadly available when you need a quick grab‑and‑go.
Main Criticism
Flavor isn’t bulletproof across the board—Coconut Caramel earns the occasional side‑eye for an aftertaste that some don’t love, likely owed to the sweetener blend. The bar’s “lean” branding has also drawn scrutiny in legal coverage, with critics arguing the fat profile (driven by palm and palm kernel oils) doesn’t square with the label’s promise.
If you prefer short‑list, pantry‑style ingredients, the emulsifiers, sugar alcohols, and sucralose may be a non‑starter. Practical note: the chocolatey coating can soften in warm environments, which isn’t ideal for tossing in a hot car or a sweaty gym bag.
And while price sits in the mid‑tier, it can feel steep if you typically buy simpler snack bars.
The Middle Ground
Put simply: this is a flavor‑first protein bar that behaves like a snack, not a spartan health food. Enthusiasts love it because it delivers genuine dessert vibes with 16 grams of protein and only 190 calories; that combination is rare and, frankly, delightful.
Skeptics point to what enables that treat‑like texture—palm‑based fats and a suite of refined sweeteners—and they’re not wrong about the trade‑offs. The lawsuit chatter over the word “lean” lives in that grey area: consumers hear a health halo, while the brand says it’s a lifestyle name rather than a fat‑claim.
Meanwhile, a Reddit commenter calling out the bar’s higher saturated fat and 5 grams of sugar is raising a fair flag for anyone tracking those numbers closely. The nutrition math isn’t scandalous for the category, but the label simplicity isn’t this bar’s calling card.
If your priority is whole‑food carbs and nut‑butter fats, look elsewhere; if you want a dessert‑leaning bite that still checks a protein box, this one delivers exactly that.
What's the bottom line?
GNC Total Lean’s Coconut Caramel bar is a crowd‑pleaser for sweet‑tooth lifters and snackers: convincingly candy‑like, 16 grams of protein, and 190 calories. The flip side is a confectionery build—palm oils, sugar alcohols, and sucralose—that keeps sugar grams modest but won’t charm clean‑label purists or anyone who gets tummy grumbles from maltitol or sorbitol. It’s gluten‑free, but not vegetarian (there’s bovine collagen) and not soy‑ or dairy‑free, so allergen‑ and preference‑wise, it’s a specific fit.
If your ideal protein bar tastes like dessert and you’re comfortable with a modern, functional ingredient list to get there, this is a strong pick for an afternoon bridge or post‑workout treat. If you want oats, dates, and olive oil, keep walking. Listicle mini‑review: Dessert‑level taste with 16 grams of protein at 190 calories; great if you’re okay with sugar alcohols and palm oils, not so great if you want a short, whole‑food ingredient list or need to avoid soy, dairy, or collagen.