REDCON1
Banana Nut Bread
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A rare meat‑based, multi‑source protein bar with a soft, distinctly “real food” texture that reviewers consistently praise as best‑in‑class.
When to choose REDCON1 Banana Nut Bread
Grab it when you need a substantial on‑the‑go mini meal or post‑workout refuel with 20g of protein and about 260 calories—not when you’re chasing strict low‑carb macros.
What's in the REDCON1 bar?
REDCON1’s Banana Nut Bread MRE Protein Bar takes the “field ration” approach to protein: beef, salmon, and chicken proteins team up with egg whites, soy, pea, and brown rice, with a little whey in the coating.
It lands in the top tier for both protein and carbs and sits on the higher end for calories—more mini-meal than nibble—thanks to oats plus a carbohydrate blend that mixes whole-food starches (yam, sweet potato) with refined ones (maltodextrin, dextrose).
The banana-bread vibe comes from oats, cinnamon, natural flavors, and real nuts (peanuts, almond), not actual banana, and the sweet taste is dialed in with sugar alcohols and zero-calorie sweeteners to keep listed sugars modest.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Carbohydrates
- 29 g
- Sugar
- 6 g
- Calories
- 260
Protein
2015HIGHTwenty grams of protein come from an omnivore blend—beef, salmon, and chicken proteins plus egg whites—backed by soy, pea, and brown-rice proteins, with a little whey in the coating. That multi-source approach delivers a complete amino-acid profile and solid digestibility while buffering the quirks of any single protein source. Note that milk and fish allergens apply.
Fat
99MIDNine grams of fat are drawn from a mix of processed oils (palm, palm kernel, soybean), quick-burning MCT oil, and whole-food nuts (peanuts, almonds). Expect a blend of saturated fats from palm/palm-kernel and unsaturated fats from nuts and soy—not a strictly olive-oil-style profile. It’s moderate overall, but those watching saturated fat should note the palm-based coating.
Carbs
2920HIGHThe carbs are mixed: cleaner, slower-burn sources like gluten-free oats, dehydrated yam and sweet potato, and bits of blueberry/goji sit alongside refined starches such as maltodextrin and dextrose, plus pea starch and brown rice flour. That means quick lift plus some staying power; chicory-root fiber helps steady things, while sugar alcohols and glycerin keep sugars lower but can unsettle sensitive stomachs. If you want purely whole-food carbs, this isn’t that.
Sugar
64MIDAbout 6g of sugar likely comes from table sugar, natural sugars in the dried fruit, and a little lactose from whey; most of the sweetness instead is supplied by sugar alcohols (maltitol, sorbitol), glycerin, and high-intensity sweeteners (sucralose and acesulfame potassium). This keeps sugar modest while relying on highly processed sweeteners that can cause gas or urgency for some at higher intakes. It’s low in sugar by design, not because the bar is barely sweet.
Calories
260210HIGHAt 260 calories, this bar sits toward the higher end and eats like a mini meal. Energy is split across all three macros, with carbs leading and protein and fat close behind—unsurprising given the oats/yam/sweet-potato base plus nut and palm oils. Reach for it when you need real fuel, not a light snack.
Vitamins & Minerals
The standout micronutrient is calcium at about 20% Daily Value, most plausibly from the dairy components (whey/whey-containing coating). You’ll also see beta-carotene and vitamin A palmitate on the label, but they don’t register above 10% DV here—nice extras, not the headline.
Additives
This is a functionally engineered bar: humectants and bulk sweeteners (glycerin, sugar alcohols) keep it soft and lower in sugar; emulsifiers (soy/sunflower lecithin, mono- and diglycerides) and cellulose gum manage texture; potassium sorbate protects freshness; and high-intensity sweeteners fine-tune flavor. These are widely permitted and effective, but they also make the recipe more ultra-processed than a short-ingredient, whole-food bar. If your gut is sensitive, the polyols are the first place to look.
Ingredient List
Cattle hides, bones, or meat
Cold-water finfish
Domestic chicken muscle meat
Eggs
Brown rice grain
Yellow pea seeds
Oat grain
Ipomoea batatas storage root
Yellow and green peas
Blueberries
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“1. RedCon MRE bars - German choc and cookies and cream - 20g protein, 20g carb. MRE bars are my go to, tho…”
“Do Redcon1 MRE Bars count? I love those. All flavors. Animal protein, sweet potato, unique ingredients.”
“I've tried the mre bars, pre workout and occasionally MOAB and have had great results.”
Main Praise
Taste and texture take the spotlight. Fitness Informant has repeatedly called MRE’s texture the best they’ve tried—softer than the typical protein brick, with a light shell and visible inclusions like oats or fruit in certain flavors.
PricePlow’s reviewer echoed that, noting multiple flavors land like actual treats rather than “protein bar that tried. ” On Reddit, user None-ya-Business- even lists them as a go‑to, specifically calling out the German Chocolate and Cookies & Cream varieties.
Fans also like the ingredient concept: animal proteins with oats and sweet potato for a more meal‑like experience. In practice, that translates to a bar that actually satisfies rather than holding you over for twenty minutes.
Main Criticism
Cost comes up often—several reviewers call MRE Bars pricier than average and not always “innovative” enough to justify it. The macros skew heavier, and a few Redditors flag the bar as more of a mini meal than a quick snack.
The sweetness strategy leans on sugar alcohols and high‑intensity sweeteners; great for keeping listed sugar modest, but they can cause gas or urgency for some. Ingredient purists will also point to refined carbs like maltodextrin and dextrose mixed in with the oats and root powders.
And if Banana Nut Bread is your flavor, temper expectations: at least one reviewer wished for more banana.
The Middle Ground
So where does that leave us? If you prize texture and a dessert‑leaning flavor experience, MRE Bar is near the top—multiple independent reviewers say so, and the 4.
3‑star Amazon average (with 67% five‑star) backs it up. If you want a light snack or a short‑ingredient, strictly whole‑food bar, this isn’t that.
The formula is engineered: real oats and root powders sit alongside refined starches, emulsifiers, and sugar alcohols—smart for performance, less so for minimalism. As for “not innovative,” it’s hard to call a beef/salmon/chicken + egg/plant blend run‑of‑the‑mill; Reddit user ClarkGriswoldsEggnog literally cited the animal protein and sweet potato as why they love it.
The heavier feel is a bug if you want a nibble, a feature if you need real fuel. Your gut will decide how you feel about the sweeteners—some sail through; others don’t.
What's the bottom line?
REDCON1’s MRE Bar delivers a substantial, dessert‑adjacent protein bar with a legitimately standout texture and a protein blend you almost never see in this aisle. With about 20g of protein and roughly 260 calories, it eats like a practical mini meal, not a token snack. That’s the appeal: it satisfies.
Trade‑offs are clear. The bar keeps sugars modest by leaning on sugar alcohols and sucralose/ace‑K, and mixes whole‑food carbs with refined ones, so ingredient minimalists may balk—and sensitive stomachs should test tolerance. It’s also not the budget pick.
If you want a filling, good‑tasting bar and you’re fine with a modern, engineered recipe (and you tolerate polyols), MRE is an easy recommendation—especially flavors like German Chocolate or Oatmeal Chocolate Chip. If you’re chasing strict low‑carb or avoiding milk/fish allergens, look elsewhere. Otherwise, this is the rare “built for the field” bar that feels like a treat.