GoMacro
Sunflower Butter + Chocolate MacroBar
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
An all-organic, no–sugar alcohol, vegan bar with a chocolate–sunflower flavor, a satisfyingly chewy texture, and a rare 15% daily value of iron for a plant-based option.
When to choose GoMacro Sunflower Butter + Chocolate MacroBar
Clean, portable energy with moderate protein—pre‑workout, hikes, or long afternoons—especially for folks who avoid whey or dislike sugar alcohols.
What's in the GoMacro bar?
GoMacro’s Sunflower Butter + Chocolate MacroBar reads like a plant-powered treat but behaves more like an energy bar. Its protein comes from organic sprouted brown rice protein—dairy-free and gentle—plus a small lift from sunflower seed butter and flax.
Most of the oomph, though, is carbohydrate: brown rice syrup binds the bar while crispy and puffed brown rice bring chew and crunch, so the fuel arrives fast. Fats skew wholesome, coming from sunflower seeds and sprouted flax (with a touch of plant omega-3), and cocoa contributes the chocolate while cinnamon and natural flavor round out the warmth.
You also get a notable 15% daily value of iron, likely from the cocoa and sprouted grains.
- Protein
- 10 g
- Fat
- 8 g
- Carbohydrates
- 38 g
- Sugar
- 7 g
- Calories
- 270
Protein
1015LOWProtein lands on the lighter side at 10 grams, driven mainly by organic sprouted brown rice protein with a small assist from sunflower seed butter and flax. Rice protein keeps the bar vegan and typically easy on digestion, but it’s naturally lower in lysine, so this feels more like snack protein than a heavy post-workout dose. If you rely on plant proteins for recovery, you may want to pair it with another lysine-rich food later.
Fat
89MIDMost of the 8 grams of fat come from organic sunflower seed butter, with sprouted flax adding a little more. That means predominantly unsaturated fats, including a small amount of plant omega-3 (ALA), and very little saturated fat since the chocolate is from cocoa powder, not cocoa butter. It’s a sensible fat profile for everyday snacking.
Carbs
3820HIGHThe carbohydrates are built around organic brown rice syrup plus crispy and puffed brown rice, with a touch of coconut sugar. Brown rice syrup is a refined, quick-burn sweetener and puffed grains digest fast, so expect ready-to-use energy rather than a slow, sustained release. A bit of fiber from flax and whole-grain rice helps, but overall this is a high-carb, fast-fuel bar.
Sugar
74MIDThe 7 grams of sugar come from traditional sweeteners—organic coconut sugar and brown rice syrup—rather than sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners. While the sugar number is modest, keep in mind that refined rice syrup and puffed rice starch still break down quickly to glucose, so the glycemic punch is bigger than the sugar line alone suggests. If you prefer steadier blood-sugar curves, pair the bar with something protein- or fiber-dense.
Calories
270210HIGHAt 270 calories, this bar sits on the higher-energy end and gets most of those calories from carbohydrates, with seeds contributing a moderate amount of fat and the rest from protein. In practice, it eats like a compact meal or pre-activity fuel rather than a light bite. If you’re counting calories, plan it into your day rather than treating it as a tiny add-on.
Vitamins & Minerals
The standout micronutrient is iron at 15% of daily value, likely supplied by the cocoa and sprouted brown rice components, with seeds contributing as well. You’ll also see small amounts of potassium and calcium, but there’s no vitamin fortification here. Think of the minerals as a pleasant bonus rather than the main event.
Additives
The ingredient list is short and organic, with most items recognizable. The more processed pieces are the brown rice syrup (a refined sweetener) and the sprouted brown rice protein (a concentrated plant protein), plus the catch-all natural flavor. There are no emulsifiers, sugar alcohols, or artificial sweeteners, so overall the bar feels minimally engineered compared with many protein bars.
Ingredient List
Brown rice
Cow’s milk or cream
Brown rice grain
Defatted cacao bean solids
Dehulled whole grain rice
Coconut palm sap
Flax plant seeds
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 praise how balanced it feels: mildly sweet, chocolate-forward, and genuinely chewy in a satisfying, slow‑snack way. The ingredient list reads clean and recognizable—no sugar alcohols, no artificial sweeteners, no whey—which many people with iffy digestion find easier to tolerate.
Amazon reviewers call out the portability (“doesn’t melt”) and the way a bar can curb cravings without tasting like diet food.
Serious Eats even gave the line a nod for its pleasant chew and chocolate notes, and The Washington Post highlighted GoMacro among the healthier options for its straightforward, whole‑food leaning formula.
Several Redditors say they can nibble one over an hour and feel comfortably full, not weighed down.
Main Criticism
The biggest knock is right in the name: MacroBar, not Mega‑Protein Bar. At 10g of protein and 270 calories, it leans energy-first, not muscle-first.
Texture is a love‑it or leave‑it: some call it pleasantly chewy; others call it taffy‑ish and sticky on the teeth. A few reviewers felt the flavor can read muted or a touch artificial compared with bolder, dessert‑style bars.
Cost comes up often—organic and specialty‑diet credentials aren’t cheap—and occasional reports mention overly dry bars or odd wrappers. And while the sugar number is modest, the brown rice syrup base is quick-burning, which can bother sensitive stomachs or those seeking slower blood‑sugar curves.
The Middle Ground
So which is it—gentle champion or sneaky sugar slab? It depends on what you ask a bar to do.
As an organic, vegan, soy‑ and gluten‑free pick with a short ingredient list and no sugar alcohols, it’s a standout for people who struggle with whey or polyols; Amazon’s Harvey S.
Picker practically made it his GI peace treaty.
But Reddit user “unknown” (an iconic username, truly) reminds us that even “low FODMAP” flavors can still disagree with real stomachs—especially when a bar’s backbone is refined rice syrup and puffed grains that digest quickly.
Texture splits the room: Serious Eats dubbed it a winner for chew, while Verywell Fit’s testers weren’t charmed. Both can be true.
Frame it as an energy bar with a decent 10g of plant protein and you’ll likely be delighted; expect a low‑carb, 20g protein hitter and you’ll be disappointed.
The glycemic curve is the wild card: pair it with yogurt, a handful of nuts, or a latte with extra milk and the experience changes from quick spark to steadier glow.
What's the bottom line?
GoMacro’s Sunflower Butter + Chocolate MacroBar is best understood as a clean, plant‑based energy bar that happens to bring 10 grams of protein along for the ride. It’s chewy, chocolate‑leaning, and refreshingly free of sugar alcohols and whey, with a short, organic ingredient list and a bit of iron as a bonus. If you want something that’s kind to many (not all) stomachs, won’t melt at the bottom of your bag, and tastes like a real snack rather than a lab project, this fits beautifully.
Where it falters is the same place some people expect it to shine: it’s not a high‑protein, low‑carb brick. At 270 calories, largely from quick‑digesting carbs, it works best as pre‑workout fuel, a hike companion, or an afternoon backstop—ideally paired with extra protein if muscle recovery is the main goal. Price and chewiness may give you pause, but if your priorities are organic, vegan, and no sugar alcohols, this bar earns its place.
Condensed listicle take: A clean, vegan, chocolate‑sunflower chew with 10g protein and 270 calories. Great for pre‑workout or long afternoons, especially if you avoid whey and sugar alcohols; look elsewhere if you want 20g protein or a low‑carb profile.