GNC Total Lean
Peppermint Mocha
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A mint–mocha bar that genuinely leans dessert-y in flavor while delivering 16g protein at 190 calories, and it’s gluten‑free.
When to choose GNC Total Lean Peppermint Mocha
Mint‑chocolate lovers who want an under‑200‑calorie protein snack after a workout or as an afternoon pick‑me‑up—and who are fine with dairy, soy, and sugar alcohols.
What's in the GNC Total Lean bar?
GNC Total Lean’s Peppermint Mocha bar leans on a whey‑forward protein blend (whey concentrate and isolate) with supporting roles from sodium caseinate, soy protein isolate, and a bit of bovine collagen for chew.
It comes in lighter on calories than many bars and keeps total carbs on the lower side for the category, thanks to sugar‑reducing sweeteners and binders. The “mocha” mood is built with alkalized cocoa for a smooth chocolate note, while peppermint oil delivers that cool, candy‑cane finish.
What follows is a closer look at where each macro—and most of the flavor—really comes from.
- Protein
- 16 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Carbohydrates
- 15 g
- Sugar
- 4 g
- Calories
- 190
Protein
1615MIDThe 16 grams of protein are driven primarily by whey protein concentrate and whey isolate, with sodium caseinate and soy protein isolate adding structure and a little extra amino acid depth. That dairy‑led mix is complete and well‑digested; the soy helps with texture. Collagen shows up for softness and binding more than muscle support—it’s incomplete on its own—so the heavy lifting here still comes from whey/casein.
Fat
89MIDMost of the 8 grams of fat come from palm kernel and palm oil (more saturated) alongside smaller amounts of refined seed oils (soybean, sunflower) and a touch from almonds and peanuts. The palm fats give the bar its firm bite and shelf stability, while the seed oils contribute unsaturated fat but skew omega‑6 upward. If you prefer fats from less‑processed sources (think olive oil and nuts), know this blend is closer to typical bakery fats.
Carbs
1520LOWCarbs here are largely engineered rather than whole‑food: corn syrup, maltodextrin, and table sugar for quick binding and sweetness, balanced by sugar alcohols (such as maltitol and sorbitol) and glycerin to keep sugars low and the bar soft. Expect faster energy from the glucose‑based syrups, with the polyols tempering outright sugar spikes a bit. These aren’t slow‑burn oats or dates, so the feel is more confectionery fuel than long‑lasting starch—and sensitive stomachs may notice polyols at larger intakes.
Sugar
44MIDOnly 4 grams of sugar show up because most sweetness comes from sugar alcohols (maltitol, sorbitol), moisture‑holding glycerin, and a pinch of the zero‑calorie sweetener sucralose. The remaining sugars come from table sugar, corn syrup, and some lactose from the dairy proteins. That trade‑off keeps sugars modest but leans into more processed sweeteners, which can bother polyol‑sensitive guts if you eat several sweetened products back‑to‑back.
Calories
190210MIDAt 190 calories, this sits on the lighter side for protein bars. Energy is split fairly evenly across macros—roughly 64 calories from protein, 72 from fat, and the rest from carbohydrates—making it a snackable boost rather than a full meal. Lower sugars (helped by polyols and a tiny dose of sucralose) also keep calories in check.
Vitamins & Minerals
No standout vitamins or minerals top 10% Daily Value on the panel. You may get trace vitamin E from added tocopherols and nuts, and small contributions from vitamin A palmitate or beta‑carotene used for stability/color, but not in amounts that make this a micronutrient play. Count this bar for protein and flavor, not for vitamins.
Additives
This formula relies on a long tool kit—emulsifiers (mono‑ and diglycerides, acetylated monoglycerides, PGMS, lecithins), humectants like glycerin, a preservative (potassium sorbate), anticaking agents, colors, and flavors—to keep texture soft, sweetness high, and shelf life steady. These are widely permitted at tiny doses, yet they signal a highly refined bar rather than a short‑ingredient‑list snack. If you’re minimizing ultra‑processed additives or are sensitive to polyols, take note.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk whey
Vegetable oils (palm, soy)
Cattle hides, bones, connective tissue
Oil palm fruit
Cow's milk whey
Defatted soybean flakes
Cacao beans treated with alkali
Cassava root
Sugarcane and sugar beet
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, GNC’s mint‑chocolate flavors get called out for nailing that Girl‑Scout‑cookie lane—without the chalky aftertaste that haunts many protein bars.
The texture lands closer to a candy bar than a dense brick, which is a big reason people reach for it in the afternoon sweet‑spot hours. The macro math is easy to live with: 16g of protein for 190 calories is a friendly ratio when you want protein without committing to a meal.
Several reviewers also note it’s surprisingly satisfying for its size, making it a practical bridge between meals. And it’s gluten‑free, which opens the door for more snackers who love mint‑mocha but skip wheat.
Main Criticism
This is not a short‑ingredient‑list bar.
It uses a suite of processed sweeteners (sugar alcohols like maltitol and sorbitol, plus a touch of sucralose) and emulsifiers to keep sugar low and texture soft; some folks’ digestion doesn’t love that combo, especially if they stack multiple sweetened products in a day.
Fat leans on palm oils, which bumps saturated fat compared with bars built on nuts or olive oil.
There’s also a broader, ongoing dispute over the line’s “lean” branding—legal articles have questioned whether that word matches the nutrition profile, while the company counters that “lean” signals a lifestyle line rather than a fat claim.
Finally, it’s not designed for ingredient purists or anyone avoiding dairy, soy, peanuts, or tree nuts.
The Middle Ground
If your top priority is a protein bar that tastes like a treat, this one delivers. A Redditor summed it up well: lots of good flavors, and mint is a standout—this Peppermint Mocha sits in that same neighborhood.
On the nutrition side, 16g protein from a whey‑forward blend (with casein and a little soy) gives you a complete amino profile; collagen appears more for chew than muscle.
The flipside is how it achieves the candy‑bar experience: sugar alcohols and a handful of emulsifiers keep sugar and calories modest but push it squarely into the ultra‑processed camp, which some readers prefer to minimize.
As for the “lean” debate, the most honest answer is the one on the label: 190 calories, 8g fat, 15g carbs, 4g sugar—decide if that fits your goals rather than letting a word on the front of the box do it for you.
In short, it’s a dessert‑leaning protein snack that trades whole‑food simplicity for flavor and convenience—and for many, that’s exactly the point.
What's the bottom line?
GNC Total Lean’s Peppermint Mocha is the mint‑chocolate protein bar for people who actually like eating protein bars. It’s creamy‑crisp, unmistakably minty, and brings a respectable 16g of protein in a tidy 190 calories. The protein quality is solid thanks to whey and casein, and the bar stays gluten‑free.
The compromises are clear: a long, highly processed ingredient list, sugar alcohols that may not agree with sensitive stomachs, and saturated fat from palm oils. If you want a whole‑foods bar made of oats and dates, this isn’t it. save, this is squarely in its element.
Just keep an eye on how your body handles polyols, and remember that “lean” is marketing; the Nutrition Facts panel is the real referee. Condensed listicle take: Dessert‑level mint‑mocha flavor with 16g protein at 190 calories and gluten‑free status. Great for a post‑workout or afternoon treat if you’re okay with sugar alcohols and dairy/soy; less ideal for ingredient minimalists or polyol‑sensitive stomachs.