GNC Total Lean
Peanut Butter Pie
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
Dessert‑level flavor and a soft, candy‑bar texture paired with 16g protein at 190 calories. Gluten‑free, not vegetarian (gelatin), and sweetened mostly with sugar alcohols and sucralose rather than fruit or honey.
When to choose GNC Total Lean Peanut Butter Pie
A sweet‑tooth‑satisfying, post‑workout or between‑meals snack for gluten‑free eaters who are comfortable with artificial sweeteners and a more engineered ingredient list.
What's in the GNC Total Lean bar?
GNC Total Lean’s Peanut Butter Pie bar leans on a dairy-first protein blend—whey protein concentrate and whey protein isolate—with supporting roles from soy protein isolate and a bit of milk casein.
That combo lands you 16g of complete protein per bar, a touch above average, with a lighter‑than‑typical 14g of carbs and a moderate 8g of fat.
The “pie” flavor is built around real peanuts (plus a hint of cocoa and natural flavors), while the texture and sweetness come from a very modern pantry: refined sugars and starches alongside polyols and a dash of sucralose.
In short, it’s a dessert‑leaning profile in taste, but nutritionally it reads as a balanced snack with processed sweeteners and emulsifiers doing much of the behind‑the‑scenes work.
- Protein
- 16 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Carbohydrates
- 14 g
- Sugar
- 5 g
- Calories
- 190
Protein
1615MIDMost of the protein comes from milk proteins—whey protein concentrate and isolate—backed up by soy protein isolate and a smaller amount of sodium caseinate. Whey brings top‑tier amino acid quality and tends to be low in lactose in its isolate form, while soy adds complete plant protein and helps the bar hold together. At 16g, you’re getting a solid, slightly‑above‑average dose, but those with milk or soy allergies should steer clear.
Fat
89MIDFat here is a mixed bag: wholesome unsaturated fats from peanuts and almonds meet more processed oils, including palm/palm kernel (more saturated) and sunflower/soybean oils (higher in omega‑6). That blend explains the moderate 8g of fat—enough for satisfaction, but not heavy. Expect a balance of creamy nut richness with some saturated fat from palm‑based ingredients.
Carbs
1420LOWCarbs skew refined. You’ll see table sugar, corn syrup, dextrose, and maltodextrin—quick‑digesting sources—tempered by glycerin and sorbitol, which are moisture‑holding sweeteners that add sweetness without as much blood‑sugar lift. The result is lower total carbs than many bars, but the energy is driven more by processed sugars and polyols than by whole‑food grains or fruit; some sensitive stomachs may notice sorbitol.
Sugar
54MIDYou get 5g of sugar per bar, primarily from sugar, corn syrup, dextrose, and a little milk sugar from whey. Much of the sweetness actually comes from non‑sugar sources—glycerin and sorbitol for bulk and moisture, plus sucralose, a high‑intensity artificial sweetener—so the label’s modest sugar number reflects that swap. If you’re sensitive to sugar alcohols, be mindful; if you prefer fruit‑based sweetness, this isn’t it.
Calories
190210MIDAt 190 calories, this is a lighter bar for its category, and those calories are fairly evenly split across macros: protein (16g) and fat (8g) shoulder most of the load, with carbs (14g) rounding it out. That balance makes it feel more like a snack than a meal replacement—good between meals or post‑workout when you want protein without a big sugar hit.
Vitamins & Minerals
There aren’t standout micronutrients over 10% of daily value. Small amounts of calcium and potassium likely ride in with the dairy proteins, and the iron on the label (about 6%) can come from soy and cocoa. Sunflower oil, peanuts, and almonds contribute a touch of vitamin E, while beta‑carotene and vitamin A palmitate appear to be used more for color/fortification than as meaningful vitamin boosts at these levels.
Additives
This bar is firmly in the “engineered” camp: humectants (glycerin, sorbitol) to keep it soft, several emulsifiers (mono‑ and diglycerides, acetylated monoglycerides, propylene glycol monoesters) for structure, potassium sorbate to fend off mold, silicon dioxide to keep powders flowing, and sucralose to sweeten without added sugar. These are widely used and tightly regulated, but they’re highly refined—helpful if you want shelf‑stable convenience, less ideal if you’re minimizing ultra‑processed additives.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk whey
Cow's milk whey
Groundnut plant seeds
Defatted soybean flakes
Oil palm fruit
Soybeans
Vegetable oils (palm, soy)
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Animal collagen
apples and pears
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. Across Reddit and Amazon, people consistently call out this line for being dessert‑ish without the usual chalk or grit.
One Amazon reviewer raved that a different flavor tasted “SO good!!!!! ” with no weird aftertaste—enthusiasm that tends to spill over to the Peanut Butter Pie profile too.
The macros fit a lot of everyday goals: 16g protein in about 190 calories feels substantial as a snack, and more satisfying than many granola‑style bars with less protein and more calories.
Texture also wins points; the coated, layered bite reads more like candy than a utilitarian brick, which makes compliance—actually eating it day after day—much easier. At 4.
2 stars across well over a thousand ratings, the crowd clearly prefers the way this bar eats.
Main Criticism
The trade‑off for that flavor and texture is an ultra‑processed build. Sweetness leans on sugar alcohols (like sorbitol) and sucralose, which some people taste or feel—think mild GI grumbles in sensitive folks.
The fat profile mixes peanut and almond oils with palm‑based ingredients, nudging saturated fat higher than whole‑food nut bars; if you’re actively managing sat fat, that’s something to check on your flavor’s label.
The bar also isn’t vegetarian because it uses gelatin, and it’s off‑limits if you avoid dairy, soy, peanuts, or tree nuts.
Finally, the “lean” branding has been questioned in legal pieces that argue the term overpromises on fat content, while GNC counters that “lean” refers to a lifestyle line—not a technical fat claim.
Either way, label‑readers may bristle at the semantics.
The Middle Ground
So where does the truth land? If your priority is a protein bar that genuinely tastes like dessert and still delivers a respectable 16g protein in under 200 calories, this checks the box—loudly.
The flipside is philosophy and tolerance: ingredient minimalists won’t love the humectants, emulsifiers, and artificial sweetener, and a few stomachs won’t love sorbitol. One Redditor praised the line’s “great consistency” and dessert‑like hit; another flagged the saturated fat as something to watch.
Both can be true. The nutrition here is balanced for a snack, not a meal, and the performance comes courtesy of modern food science rather than pantry staples.
If you’re okay with that, you’ll likely join the “no chalky aftertaste” chorus. If you’re not, you’ll taste the additives before the peanut butter.
What's the bottom line?
GNC Total Lean’s Peanut Butter Pie bar is a crowd‑pleaser for people who want their protein to feel like a treat. It’s snack‑calorie light at 190, delivers a legit 16g of whey‑and‑soy‑based protein, and wins on taste and texture where many bars fumble. The cost is complexity: sugar alcohols and sucralose supply most of the sweetness, several emulsifiers hold the layers together, and palm‑based ingredients likely raise saturated fat compared with a simple nut‑and‑date bar.
It’s also not vegetarian (gelatin) and is off the table if you avoid dairy, soy, peanuts, or tree nuts. Bottom line: If dessert‑leaning flavor, gluten‑free status, and reliable protein matter more to you than minimal processing, this is an easy yes as a between‑meal or post‑workout snack.
If you want whole‑food ingredients and zero artificial sweeteners, keep walking—there are better fits for that philosophy. Quick take for the listicle: Candy‑bar taste, 16g protein, 190 calories; great snack for sweet‑tooth lifters who tolerate sugar alcohols and don’t need a vegetarian label.