Power Crunch
Lemon Meringue
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A true wafer-style protein bar with bright lemon flavor and a high-quality whey blend that eats like a cookie rather than a brick.
When to choose Power Crunch Lemon Meringue
Snackers who want a sweet, crisp, low-effort bite with 13g of dairy protein—especially those who dislike chewy, chalky bars. Not for gluten- or dairy-avoidant eaters.
What's in the Power Crunch bar?
Power Crunch Protein Bar – Lemon Meringue leans into a classic wafer-with-cream build, so it eats more like a light cookie than a dense nut bar.
Its 13g of protein comes from a Proto Whey blend (hydrolyzed whey, whey isolate, and some milk protein isolate), which are clean, complete dairy proteins that digest quickly and are typically low in lactose.
Carbs are relatively low for the category, while fat runs high, thanks to palm and palm kernel oils with a bit of canola for balance. The lemon meringue character is achieved with lemon oil and a bright hit of citric and lactic acid, while carotenes lend sunny color.
Sweetness comes partly from sugar and fructose, then is topped off with tiny amounts of stevia and monk fruit to keep sugar below dessert levels. Notably, the wafer uses enriched wheat flour (with malted barley flour), so this one isn’t gluten-free and does contain soy lecithin.
- Protein
- 13 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Carbohydrates
- 11 g
- Sugar
- 7 g
- Calories
- 220
Protein
1315MIDProtein is delivered by a dairy trio: hydrolyzed whey, whey isolate, and milk protein isolate. That mix offers top-tier, complete protein with fast digestion and typically low lactose, though 13g lands below the average for protein bars. If you tolerate dairy, it’s a high-quality source; milk-allergic readers should skip it.
Fat
149HIGHMost of the 14g of fat comes from palm oil and palm kernel oil to create the creamy, crisp wafer texture, with canola oil adding some unsaturated fat. Palm-derived fats are higher in saturated fat (structure and snap), while canola leans monounsaturated. The result is a richer, dessert-like bar with a higher fat load than most.
Carbs
1120LOWCarbs are modest and come largely from enriched wheat flour in the wafers plus added sugar and fructose, with a bit of soluble corn fiber for bulk. These are refined sources—quick energy upfront—though the bar’s fat and protein help slow the overall rise in blood sugar. Expect more “treat” than whole‑grain fuel here.
Sugar
74MIDYou get 7g of sugar from straightforward sources—table sugar and fructose—while stevia and monk fruit (high‑intensity plant sweeteners) supply extra sweetness with virtually no calories. In practice, the lemony pop reads sweet but not syrupy, and the sweetness isn’t coming from fruit. Sensitive palates may notice a light stevia finish.
Calories
220210MIDAt 220 calories, most energy comes from fat, then protein, with a smaller share from carbs. That balance can feel satisfying and less carb-heavy than granola-style bars, but it also means saturated fat carries more of the load. If you’re watching saturated fat, consider where this fits in your day.
Vitamins & Minerals
There aren’t big vitamin or mineral hits here. Small amounts of B‑vitamins and iron ride in with the enriched flour, and the dairy proteins contribute a little calcium (about 4% DV), but nothing crosses the 10% DV line. Think of this as a protein snack, not a multivitamin.
Additives
To build that wafer-and-cream texture and bright lemon flavor, the bar uses soy lecithin (emulsifier), citric and lactic acid (tang and pH control), carotenes (color), and leavening agents for the wafer. Stevia and monk fruit are highly purified, high‑intensity sweeteners used in tiny amounts to keep sugar moderate. It’s a fairly processed recipe—typical for wafer bars—designed for crisp layers, stability, and a clean lemon snap.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk cheese whey
Cow's milk whey
Skim cow milk
Oil palm fruit
Wheat grain endosperm
Sprouted barley grain
Petrochemical-derived pyridine synthesis
Mineral salts from elemental iron
Synthetic vitamin B1 salt
Microbial fermentation or chemical synthesis
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Power Crunch bars. There are a ton of flavors and they don't have that gross chemical taste like a lot of protein bars (Quest, FitCrunch).”
“Powercrunches SLAP, I have a dedicated shelf of them in my fridge 🥹”
“power crunch is amazing, especially the strawberry =]”
Main Praise
Taste and texture carry this bar.
Across Amazon, SELF, Verywell Fit, and a grab bag of Reddit threads, the consensus is that Power Crunch nails the crispy wafer and avoids the chalky aftertaste that sinks so many bars.
People who “don’t do protein bars” make exceptions here because it feels like a cookie—light, not gummy—and the lemon reads bright, not syrupy.
The portability is a plus, and it’s an easy win for parents or partners trying to bump protein without a lecture; several reviewers mention that even picky eaters treat it like a snack, not a chore.
Value comes up often too: it’s broadly available and typically cheaper than premium, high-protein bricks. In short, taste-first snackers feel seen.
Main Criticism
The flip side of the sweetness is, well, sweetness: some palates pick up a stevia/monk fruit finish, and a few call it artificial. The wafer can be crumbly—great in the mouth, messy on the shirt—so it’s not a ‘eat-while-walking-in-white’ kind of bar.
Nutritionally, critics point to moderate protein (13g), very low fiber, and a higher saturated-fat tilt from palm oils; if you’re looking for a meal replacement or a fiber boost, this isn’t it.
There are also hard stops: it contains dairy, wheat, and soy, so it’s off-limits for those allergies or for gluten-free diets.
The Middle Ground
If you come for taste, you’ll likely stay. Multiple outlets highlight the “doesn’t taste like chalk” experience, and Reddit users stash them in the fridge like contraband treats.
But the nutrition tradeoff is real: compared with heavy-duty 20–25g bars, 13g of protein is more of a snack than a post-deadlift prize. And while one Amazon reviewer called it “pure fat,” that’s overstated—the label shows 14g of fat alongside 13g of protein and 11g of carbs at 220 calories.
Still, the fat skews saturated because wafer layers rely on palm-derived fats for that crisp bite; it’s part of why the texture works so well. Sweetener aftertaste is genuinely user-dependent—some don’t notice it, others can’t un-notice it—so if you’re stevia-sensitive, sample a single bar first.
Practical tip from the crumb-averse: eat over a napkin or chill it; the wafer holds together better when cool.
What's the bottom line?
Power Crunch Lemon Meringue is the rare protein bar that feels like a treat first and a macro boost second. It serves up a bright lemon snap, a nostalgic wafer crunch, and 13g of fast-digesting dairy protein without the slog of a dense, chewy bar. The cost of that texture is a more processed ingredient list, higher saturated fat, and very low fiber.
If you need a full-on meal replacement or you’re steering clear of gluten or dairy, this isn’t your lane. If your goal is a not-too-heavy afternoon snack or a sweet, travel-friendly way to tack on protein, it hits the brief beautifully. Consider it a “protein cookie” you can feel fine about—just pair it with fruit or yogurt if you want more fiber or staying power, and keep a napkin handy for the crumbs.
Condensed listicle take: Cookie-crisp lemon wafer with 13g of whey protein and a bright citrus pop; great for sweet-tooth snackers who hate chalky bars. Watch the low fiber, higher sat fat, and dairy/gluten if those are concerns.