NuGo Nutrition
Chocolate Banana
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A candy‑bar‑style, gluten‑free crunch with real milk chocolate, banana flavor from natural flavor (not fruit), and no sugar alcohols—plus a built‑in vitamin/mineral premix.
When to choose NuGo Nutrition Chocolate Banana
Quick, tasty fuel before a workout or during an afternoon slump—especially for people who prefer no sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners, eat gluten‑free, and don’t need vegan.
What's in the NuGo Nutrition bar?
Chocolate Banana without an actual banana?
NuGo’s bar gets its chocolate from a milk‑chocolate coating and its banana character from “natural flavor,” not fruit pieces, and builds its protein on a soy base with a dash of dairy casein.
The macro story is unusual for a protein bar: modest protein at 13 grams, very low fat, and higher carbs and sugars (80th–90th percentile) that skew it toward quick energy rather than slow‑burn satiety.
Fortified vitamins and minerals give it a multivitamin edge, and the gluten‑free oats and brown‑rice crisps bring a familiar cereal‑bar crunch.
- Protein
- 13 g
- Fat
- 4 g
- Carbohydrates
- 25 g
- Sugar
- 14 g
- Calories
- 190
Protein
1315MIDThirteen grams of protein puts this bar on the lighter side for protein bars, and it comes primarily from soy (soy crisps and added soy protein) with a helping of dairy casein via calcium caseinate. Soy offers a complete plant protein at good value, while casein is slow‑digesting and helps the texture hold together. The mix suits most people, but it does introduce both soy and milk allergens.
Fat
49LOWFat stays low at 4g, coming mostly from cocoa butter and a little milk fat in the milk chocolate. Cocoa butter is rich in stearic and oleic acids (more neutral than some saturated fats), but the small amount overall keeps the bar light rather than creamy. The upside is fewer calories from fat; the trade‑off is a bit less staying power.
Carbs
2520HIGHMost of the 25g of carbs are from refined sweeteners—tapioca syrup (a glucose‑rich starch syrup), agave syrup (fructose‑forward), and the cane sugar in the milk chocolate—supported by oats and brown‑rice crisps. That means quick energy with a sweeter bite, with some steadiness from the oats and a bit of added fiber, but expect a faster rise than a bar built on whole grains and nuts. With carbs high versus other bars, it’s better for a pre‑workout bump than a slow‑burn snack.
Sugar
144HIGHWith 14g of sugar, this is on the sweeter end for protein bars. The sweetness comes from refined sources—tapioca syrup, agave syrup, and sugar in the milk chocolate—rather than fruit; there are no artificial sweeteners or sugar alcohols here. Expect a dessert‑like profile with a gentler immediate spike than straight table sugar thanks to agave, but still very much an added‑sugar bar.
Calories
190210MIDAt 190 calories (below the category average), most energy here comes from carbohydrates, then protein, with only a small contribution from fat. That macro split makes the bar feel lighter and more carb‑forward—useful when you want quick fuel, less ideal when you need a long‑lasting meal replacement.
Vitamins & Minerals
The generous list of B‑vitamins plus vitamins A, C, and E comes from fortification, not hidden superfoods. A vitamin–mineral premix lifts many nutrients to about 25–30% DV per bar, and calcium hits ~20% DV via calcium carbonate with a little help from the dairy protein. It’s a multivitamin‑style boost baked into a snack.
Additives
This recipe leans on several functional helpers: soy lecithin keeps the chocolate smooth, acacia gum and soy fiber bind the bar and add a touch of soluble fiber, and “natural flavor” delivers the banana note. These are common, fairly refined ingredients that improve texture and shelf life. You won’t find sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners, but you will see refined syrups and a full vitamin–mineral premix.
Ingredient List
Soybeans
Cassava root
Cassava starch
Sugarcane stalks
Cocoa beans
Cow's milk
Cacao beans
Soybeans
Vanilla orchid seed pods
Agave plant sap
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Yeah they’re shockingly delicious tbh; the dark chocolate pretzel flavor is one of my favorite easy snacks.”
“I’m a big fan of the Nugo Dark protein bars; might not have as high of a protein content than some others but they use minimal ingredients and taste like a treat.”
“Nugo bars are criminally underrated for their taste. Their regular dark and dark pretzel flavors are absolutely orgasmic. The crunch is similar to that of kit kats... or at least what I remember them tasting like.”
Main Praise
Taste and texture are where NuGo shines, and this flavor hits the brand’s sweet spot: a satisfying crispy‑meets‑chewy bite under real chocolate. Bon Appétit has praised NuGo’s texture as the best in the category, and Redditors regularly call the bars “criminally underrated,” with a crunch that evokes a certain wafer classic.
Independent testers (like BarBend) consistently rank NuGo at or near the top for flavor, which tracks here: chocolate‑banana is a crowd‑pleaser when it doesn’t taste fake, and this leans more bakery‑banana than taffy.
Fans also like that NuGo avoids sugar alcohols and the aftertaste that can come with them. At 190 calories, it’s a light, satisfying snack rather than a gut‑bomb, and the fortification adds a multivitamin‑like boost without turning the ingredient list into a chemistry set.
Main Criticism
If you want a high‑protein powerhouse, 13g won’t scratch the 20‑gram itch. The bar sits on the sweeter end for protein bars with 14g of sugar, so it’s more dessert‑leaning than some competitors.
A handful of reviewers report batch inconsistency—occasional dryness, a waxy chocolate note, or a vaguely “weird” taste—so freshness seems to matter. It contains milk and soy, which rules it out for vegans and those avoiding either allergen.
One Reddit post flagged a late‑2024 recall notice involving undeclared milk in some NuGo bars; recall details change, so dairy‑avoidant shoppers should always check labels and official notices. Finally, if you’re chasing long‑haul satiety, the low fat and moderate protein won’t carry you as far as nut‑based or higher‑protein bars.
The Middle Ground
So which matters more: the candy‑bar‑good bite or the macro math? If you’re heading into a lift or a run, that carb‑forward profile can be a feature, not a bug—quick energy, a bit of protein, and no sugar alcohol landmines.
If you need a meal replacement or want the fewest added sugars, this isn’t your bar; even a NuGo fan on Reddit admitted the Slim line has “the best macros,” though not always the best taste.
Meanwhile, texture praise is unusually consistent across outlets—Bon Appétit’s “best texture” nod, BarBend’s taste win, and that Redditor who said the crunch is like a Kit Kat (dramatic, but not entirely wrong).
Complaints about occasional staleness or waxiness don’t negate the flavor win, but they do remind you to eyeball freshness and best‑by dates. As for the banana, some will love the gentle, bakery‑style note from natural flavor; others may wish for real fruit pieces—preference, not a verdict.
What's the bottom line?
NuGo Nutrition Chocolate Banana is a flavor‑first, gluten‑free cereal‑style bar that eats like a treat and fuels like a pre‑workout. It trades maximal protein for a crisp bite under real milk chocolate, keeps the ingredient toolbox familiar (no sugar alcohols, a vitamin/mineral premix), and lands at 190 calories for an easy snack. Choose it when you want quick, tasty energy and a dessert‑leaning profile.
Skip it if you need 20g of protein, strictly dairy‑free ingredients, or the lowest possible added sugar. In the crowded protein‑bar aisle, this one wins on joy per bite—and is at its best when you let it be what it is: a crunchy, chocolate‑banana pick‑me‑up that doesn’t pretend to be a full meal.