Quest Nutrition
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A cookie-inspired protein bar with real chocolate pieces that delivers 20g of complete dairy protein for 180 calories, keeping sugar to 1 gram by leaning on fiber and modern sweeteners.
When to choose Quest Nutrition Oatmeal Chocolate Chip
Best for dessert-leaning protein snacks or post-workout bites when you want staying power without much sugar—so long as you’re comfortable with dairy and sweeteners like erythritol and stevia.
What's in the Quest Nutrition bar?
Quest’s Oatmeal Chocolate Chip bar is built on a milk protein isolate plus whey protein isolate blend, so you get 20 grams of complete dairy protein—solidly top-tier—without much lactose. The oatmeal-cookie cues come from oats, almonds, cinnamon, and real chocolate (cocoa butter included), while sweetness leans on fiber and modern sweeteners rather than cane sugar.
Calories land on the lighter side for a protein bar, carbs skew high on the label but are mostly fiber or sugar alcohols, and fat is a modest mix from almonds and cocoa butter.
Here’s how that recipe plays out for fullness, energy, and sweetness.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Carbohydrates
- 24 g
- Sugar
- 1 g
- Calories
- 180
Protein
2015HIGHProtein comes from a blend of milk protein isolate (casein + whey) and whey protein isolate, giving you a complete amino acid profile with relatively little lactose. It’s a fast–plus–slow combo—whey for quick uptake, casein for a longer release—which helps with satiety and muscle repair. If you’re milk‑allergic or extremely lactose‑sensitive, note that isolates are low in lactose but not dairy‑free.
Fat
79MIDThe 7 grams of fat mainly ride in with almonds and cocoa butter from the chocolate. Almonds contribute mostly monounsaturated fats, while cocoa butter leans saturated but is rich in stearic acid, which tends to be cholesterol‑neutral. Net result: modest fat for texture and flavor without leaning on refined seed oils.
Carbs
2420MIDMost carbs here are engineered rather than grain‑based: polydextrose (a manufactured prebiotic fiber) provides bulk, erythritol (a sugar alcohol) adds sweetness with near‑zero calories, and glycerin keeps the bar soft. Oats and almonds add a small whole‑food carbohydrate contribution. Expect steadier energy than a syrup‑heavy bar, though sensitive stomachs may feel sugar alcohols if you stack multiple servings.
Sugar
14LOWWith just 1 gram of sugar, sweetness comes from a sugar alcohol (erythritol), a plant‑derived high‑intensity sweetener (stevia), and a tiny boost from an artificial sweetener (sucralose). That keeps blood sugar impact small, but it’s a more processed way to sweeten compared with honey or fruit. If polyols bother your stomach, keep an eye on your total daily intake.
Calories
180210LOWAt 180 calories—lower than many protein bars—your energy is driven mainly by the 20 grams of protein and the small amount of fat. A big share of the labeled carbs come from fiber and erythritol, which contribute little usable energy. In practice, it eats like a sweet snack but stays relatively light on calories.
Vitamins & Minerals
No vitamin fortification here; the noteworthy micronutrient is roughly 10% Daily Value calcium, naturally coming from the dairy protein isolates. Small amounts of iron and potassium likely come from oats, chocolate, and nuts, but nothing else stands out.
Additives
You’ll see a handful of functional additives: polydextrose for fiber and bulk, glycerin to hold moisture, lecithin (soy or sunflower) as an emulsifier, and a blend of modern sweeteners to keep sugar low. These are highly refined tools that deliver texture and sweetness with fewer calories. The trade‑off is a more engineered ingredient list, which some people tolerate better than others.
Ingredient List
Skim cow milk
Cow's milk whey
Almond tree seeds
Oat grain
Cacao beans
Corn or wheat starch
Fats and oils
Cocoa beans
Inner bark of cinnamon trees
Soybeans
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“I personally love the quest bars. They don’t really taste like the real thing, but they’re a reasonable facsimile. They are nicely soft and chewy and if any particular bar has icing, it is also on the bottom. They do have big chunks of chocolate in them, if applicable. If you’re a sweet tooth person who’s trying not to eat like an asshole these definitely scratch that itch. And a super high protein/calorie ratio for a bar like this. My favorites are Cookie Dough, Raspberry White Chocolate, Lemon Cake, Birthday Cake. Be aware that a lot of people do NOT agree on my picks though haha. Least favorites are the brownie and peanut butter chocolate. Kinda nasty. Best to grab a bunch of singles and give them a try and see which are for you. Also their peanut butter cups are BANGING and their cookies are really good. Just keep an eye on the nutrition facts”
“Quest bars are perfect. A goodly amount of protein in a tasty bar. I’m mad they quit making my favorite from years ago, peanut butter supreme. I don’t like the ones with chocolate coating as much. When I did Adkins I ate them daily. They are high quality.”
“I just want to express my love of them. I really look forward to them every morning like I would a muffin or brownie. I love them melted and I love them cold. I mostly love that they keep me full for hours and hours by some magical science probably called fiber. Who else agrees?”
Main Praise
When this flavor lands, it really lands. Fans highlight the soft, chewy texture, convincing oatmeal-cookie profile, and generous chocolate chunks, plus how long it keeps them satisfied.
Bon Appétit editors call Quest one of the most filling bar lines, and Men’s Health praises the taste with no chalky aftertaste in their picks. On Reddit, some users say they look forward to their bar every morning and keep this flavor on hand for hectic days.
And the macro math is genuinely strong: 20g of protein at 180 calories with a lot of fiber is hard to beat for a sweet-leaning bar. Because it isn’t candy-bar coated, you get the warm spices and melting chips without a waxy shell.
Main Criticism
The sweetness strategy divides people.
A vocal slice of reviewers taste a persistent “sweetener backnote,” and a Guardian taste test panned a different Quest flavor for being chalky and overly sweet—fuel for those who prefer simpler ingredient lists.
Sugar alcohols can also be rough on sensitive stomachs; even some otherwise positive Amazon reviews note occasional GI grumbles. Texture can vary with freshness—older bars tend to get firm—so the best-by date matters.
Finally, it’s off the table for some diets due to milk, almonds, and soy lecithin.
The Middle Ground
So who’s right: the folks calling it their daily dessert stand-in, or the ones who swear every flavor is a letdown? Probably both.
Taste and tolerance are personal, and this bar doubles down on a specific approach: dairy isolates for protein, fiber for bulk, and low-sugar sweetness from erythritol, stevia, and a touch of sucralose.
That design is why some Redditors say it keeps them full for hours, while others can’t get past the aftertaste (one even deemed all Quest fans “liars”—we hope they were having a better day by dinner).
Magazine editors split, too: Men’s Health gives Quest props for a clean finish; a Guardian panel disliked a dipped variant’s texture. The likely middle: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip is one of Quest’s more crowd-pleasing, unfrosted flavors, but if sugar alcohols or engineered sweetness aren’t your thing, you’ll notice it immediately.
And yes, freshness matters; a soft, pliable bar eats very differently from a bar that’s aged into a brick.
What's the bottom line?
Quest’s Oatmeal Chocolate Chip threads a narrow needle: cookie-like flavor, real chocolate, and 20g of protein in 180 calories, plus enough fiber to make it feel like a legitimate mini-meal. If you enjoy a sweet, chewy bar and you’re fine with modern sweeteners, it’s an easy win to stash in a gym bag or desk drawer.
If you prefer ultra-simple ingredients, avoid sugar alcohols, or need to skip milk, almonds, or soy, it won’t be your match. For everyone else, this is a pragmatic, dessert-leaning protein bar that delivers on fullness and flavor more often than not—just check for a fresh, soft bar so you meet the best version of it.