GoMacro
Banana + Almond Butter MacroBar
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A short, organic ingredient list built around almond butter, seeds, and real banana—no sugar alcohols, fully vegan and gluten‑free—delivering a chewy, banana‑bread vibe with plant protein.
When to choose GoMacro Banana + Almond Butter MacroBar
Best as a pre‑workout or mid‑afternoon pick‑me‑up for plant‑based eaters or anyone avoiding whey and sugar alcohols; less ideal if you want a low‑carb bar or 20g of protein in one shot.
What's in the GoMacro bar?
GoMacro’s Banana + Almond Butter MacroBar reads more like an energy bar with benefits than a heavy-duty protein bar.
Its protein comes from a plant blend of sprouted brown rice protein and pea protein, while the banana-and-cinnamon duo leads the flavor, supported by creamy almond butter, sunflower seeds, and a few walnut pieces.
Carbs are high for the category, driven by organic brown rice syrup, puffed brown rice, and real banana—quick fuel when you need it. Fat is mostly unsaturated and arrives naturally from nuts and seeds, which helps tame the carb rush.
If you want a banana bread–leaning snack that prioritizes energy yet still delivers 10g of plant protein, this one fits the brief.
- Protein
- 10 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Carbohydrates
- 36 g
- Sugar
- 8 g
- Calories
- 280
Protein
1015LOWProtein is supplied by an organic blend of sprouted brown rice protein and pea protein—two plant isolates that complement each other (pea brings lysine, rice fills in elsewhere). At 10g, it’s lighter than many protein bars, so think supportive protein rather than a full-on meal replacement. The sources are clean-label but refined, and generally well tolerated for those avoiding dairy or soy.
Fat
119MIDFat comes mainly from almond butter, sunflower seeds, and walnuts—mostly unsaturated, with a little plant omega‑3 (ALA) from the walnuts. It’s a touch higher than average for bars, which can help you feel satisfied and smooth out the bar’s fast carbs. You’ll see more omega‑6 than omega‑3 here (sunflower is linoleic‑rich), but there are no industrial seed oils or palm shortenings in the mix.
Carbs
3620HIGHMost carbs come from organic brown rice syrup (a rice‑starch syrup that digests quickly) and puffed brown rice, with help from real banana and a bit of coconut sugar. This skews toward fast energy and a higher glycemic punch, though the bar’s nuts and seeds slow the curve somewhat. If you’re chasing steady, low‑GI fuel, look elsewhere; if you want a quick top‑up before activity, it delivers.
Sugar
84HIGHThe 8g of sugars come from two places: added sweeteners (organic brown rice syrup and coconut sugar) and the natural sugars in banana. Coconut sugar is made from palm sap and brings a gentle caramel note, while rice syrup is glucose‑heavy and hits fast. There are no artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols here, so the sweetness reads simple and familiar—expect a real, but not extreme, rise in blood sugar.
Calories
280210HIGHAt 280 calories, this sits on the high end for bars. The bulk of that energy comes from carbs (36g) and fats (11g), with protein playing a smaller role. Think of it as a mini meal or a substantial snack—enough to cover a light breakfast or to prime a workout.
Vitamins & Minerals
No single vitamin or mineral clears 10% of daily value, but the ingredients add small bonuses: potassium and vitamin B6 from banana, vitamin E from almonds and sunflower seeds, and a little iron from the plant proteins and seeds. Treat these as nice-to-haves rather than headline features.
Additives
The ingredient list is short and mostly whole-food: nut butter, seeds, banana, and puffed brown rice. Function comes from refined yet familiar helpers—brown rice syrup to bind, coconut sugar for sweetness, and plant protein isolates for that 10g—plus a touch of natural flavor to round the banana‑cinnamon profile. No sugar alcohols, artificial sweeteners, or long emulsifier lists.
Ingredient List
Brown rice
Ground roasted almonds
Brown rice grain
Yellow pea seeds
Dehulled whole grain rice
Bananas
Sunflower plant seeds
English walnut tree nut
Coconut palm sap
Inner bark of cinnamon trees
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“GoMacro bars are my absolute favorite. All flavors are really chewy, but I especially like the oatmeal chocolate chip because the oats and chocolate chips give it just a slight texture that pairs well with the chewy. Plus it's got good protein and is all the frees (gluten, etc.) AND they taste good, not too sweet or heavy like some protein bars are.”
“I second the GoMacro bars!! Currently it is the only solid food I tolerate (primarily tube fed). They are delicious! My favorite is the PB chocolate chip but all of their flavors that I’ve tried so far are good.”
“I really love GoMacro bars. I just ordered 5 bags of Huel and 48 GoMacro bars (24 normal and 24 minis). They are dense, so I tend to nibble on them to fulfill food cravings, and they fill me up and taste great.”
Main Praise
Fans keep coming back for the texture and the restraint. The chew is purposeful—Serious Eats even called the line a standout for people who like a “slight chew”—and the sweetness lands as gentle rather than cloying.
Reviewers consistently highlight the simple, recognizable ingredients and the absence of sugar alcohols, which many credit for fewer GI surprises compared with typical “diet” bars. Plant‑based eaters like that it’s vegan, soy‑free, and dairy‑free without tasting austere.
On Amazon, thousands of ratings hover around the 4. 5‑star mark, and multiple buyers note it travels well and doesn’t melt in a hot car or backpack.
The Washington Post also put GoMacro in the “healthier bars” conversation for its whole‑food tilt and solid, if modest, protein.
Main Criticism
The same chew that devotees love reads as dense or sticky for others, with a few people calling it taffy‑like or tough on sensitive teeth. It’s not a protein powerhouse at 10 grams, so if you expect a full shake’s worth of protein in bar form, you may be disappointed.
A handful of Redditors with IBS/SIBO report burping, bloating, or urgent trips—likely a reminder that rice syrup and quick‑digesting carbs won’t sit well with every gut, even without sugar alcohols. Some call the flavor a bit flat across the line, and Verywell Fit’s panel found the taste somewhat weak and the chew overdone compared with their top picks.
Price also comes up: it’s a premium bar, and a couple of buyers grumbled about occasional stale or open wrappers in bulk orders.
The Middle Ground
So which is it—tasty, gentle fuel or sticky, sweet letdown? It depends on what you’re asking a bar to do.
With 36 grams of carbs and 11 grams of mostly unsaturated fats, this MacroBar is designed to energize and satisfy, not to hit a bodybuilder’s protein target.
That’s why some Redditors praise it as a stomach‑friendly, portable snack, while others—especially in the IBS/SIBO crowd—report discomfort; rice‑based syrups are absorbed quickly, and quick fuel can be quick trouble for sensitive guts.
The flavor divide makes sense, too: there’s real banana and cinnamon plus a touch of natural flavor, so if you’re expecting a bold, candy‑bar punch, you might read it as muted; if you want something that tastes like food, you’ll likely find it reassuring.
And while the Washington Post fairly flags the added sugars in the line, this particular bar’s 8 grams sit in the “sweet but not over the top” zone, especially without sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners.
In short, the praise and critiques both track—the bar does exactly what it was built to do, which isn’t the same thing everyone wants.
What's the bottom line?
GoMacro’s Banana + Almond Butter MacroBar is a plant‑based comfort snack with a purpose: steady, portable energy plus 10 grams of protein, delivered through a short list of organic ingredients you can pronounce. It tastes like banana bread’s outdoorsy cousin and avoids the usual minefield of sugar alcohols, whey, and soy. The trade‑off is clear: higher carbs, moderate protein, and a chew that you’ll either find satisfying or a bit much.
If you need a pre‑workout boost, a hike companion, or a late‑afternoon calm‑me‑down that still feels like food, it fits beautifully. If you’re gunning for low‑carb or a 20‑gram protein bar, this isn’t it—pair it with yogurt, a latte, or a hard‑boiled egg and you’re set. Quick take for the listicle: Chewy, banana‑bread energy bar with 10g plant protein and no sugar alcohols.
Great for pre‑workout or afternoon slumps; skip it if you want low‑carb or a 20g protein bar. Contains tree nuts.