REDCON1
Coach Prime's Strawberry Cheesecake
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A rare, multi‑source protein blend led by meat proteins (beef, salmon, chicken) with egg, soy, pea, and rice—wrapped in a surprisingly soft, candy‑bar‑like texture with visible inclusions like oats and fruit.
When to choose REDCON1 Coach Prime's Strawberry Cheesecake
Choose it when you want a portable small meal—post‑workout, between meetings, or on the road—that delivers 20g of protein and steady‑plus‑quick carbs. Not ideal if you avoid animal proteins or do poorly with sugar alcohols.
What's in the REDCON1 bar?
Coach Prime’s Strawberry Cheesecake bar is built like a roster—lots of positions, each doing a job. The protein comes from a multi‑source blend led by meat proteins (beef, salmon, chicken) with egg white, soy, pea, and brown rice, plus a touch of whey in the coating.
It lands near the top of the category for protein while also packing higher‑than‑average carbs for energy. The strawberry‑cheesecake character leans on natural flavors and colors; the actual fruit pieces skew blueberry and goji rather than strawberry.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Carbohydrates
- 29 g
- Sugar
- 6 g
- Calories
- 260
Protein
2015HIGHTwenty grams of protein here comes from a deep blend: beef, salmon, and chicken proteins alongside egg albumin, soy, pea, and brown rice, with a little whey in the coating. Egg and dairy proteins are top‑tier for amino acid quality, and soy/pea help round out the plant side. Note that “beef protein isolate” in the market can sometimes be collagen‑based; this formula offsets that possibility by including complete proteins like egg, soy, and dairy.
Fat
99MIDAt 9g, fat sits mid‑pack and comes from several places: palm and palm‑kernel oils (more saturated), soybean oil and nuts (almonds, peanuts) for unsaturated fats, and a bit of MCT oil for quick‑burning energy. Expect a mix of saturated and unsaturated fats that gives structure and a creamy coating. If you’re watching saturated fat, know that palm ingredients push that number up compared with bars using olive or nut oils alone.
Carbs
2920HIGHCarbs are a mix of whole‑food and refined sources. You get oats, dehydrated yam and sweet potato, and bits of blueberry/goji for steadier, fiber‑aided energy—but they’re joined by faster carbs like maltodextrin and dextrose plus pea starch. The result is dual‑track energy: some quick lift, some slower release, with fiber, protein, and fat helping smooth out the ride.
Sugar
64MIDOnly 6g of sugar, largely from a little added sugar, the fruit bits, and a touch of dairy sugar from the whey coating. Most sweetness instead comes from sugar alcohols (maltitol, sorbitol, glycerin) and high‑intensity sweeteners (sucralose and acesulfame potassium). That keeps sugars down but can bother sensitive stomachs if multiple polyols hit at once.
Calories
260210HIGHAt 260 calories (on the higher side for bars), most energy comes from the sizable carb load with meaningful contributions from protein and moderate fat. The label’s total can look a touch lower than simple macro math because some sweeteners (like certain sugar alcohols) count fewer calories per gram. Practically, it eats like a small meal—good for longer stretches between bites.
Vitamins & Minerals
Calcium stands out at about 20% of daily value, coming mainly from the dairy components in the coating (whey/whey protein). You’ll also see vitamin A ingredients on the label (vitamin A palmitate and beta‑carotene), which add color and a small provitamin A boost—even if they don’t register as a large %DV on pack.
Additives
This is a highly engineered bar. Humectants (vegetable glycerin, maltitol, sorbitol) keep it soft; emulsifiers and texturizers (lecithins, mono‑/diglycerides, cellulose gum) hold it together; potassium sorbate helps it stay fresh; and sucralose/acesulfame‑K bring sweetness with few sugars. Effective for texture and shelf life, though the polyol blend can be gassy for some.
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 are the headline. Fitness Informant gave the MRE Bar a “perfect score on texture,” and PricePlow’s reviewer said flavors land in the top tier, calling one “a straight Fudge No Bake.
” On Reddit, None-ya-Business- named MRE their go‑to, and another user praised the animal‑protein base and unique ingredients like oats and sweet potato. Amazon buyers echo it: 4.
3 stars across more than 1,600 ratings with raves for the German Chocolate flavor and the fact that it eats like a real snack, not a chore. Beyond flavor, many appreciate that it feels more like food—oats, bits of fruit—rather than a brick of whey taffy.
And the 20g of protein per bar makes it easy to hit a meaningful protein target without needing a shake.
Main Criticism
It’s not a featherweight. Several users call it heavy or more like a meal replacement, which tracks with the higher‑than‑average carbs and 260 calories.
Price comes up too—generally a bit steeper than mainstream bars, promotions notwithstanding. Ingredient‑wise, critics point to refined carbs like maltodextrin and dextrose, plus a sweetener system that leans on sugar alcohols (think maltitol and sorbitol) and sucralose/acesulfame‑K; those can bother sensitive stomachs.
And flavor isn’t bulletproof—one Redditor found Banana Bread under‑flavored. A few skeptics also view the brand as more sizzle than steak.
The Middle Ground
So where does the truth sit? The MRE Bar sells the “real food” idea, and there are real‑food touches—oats, yam and sweet potato powders, even blueberry/goji bits in this strawberry‑cheesecake build.
But it’s also a modern, engineered bar: humectants to keep it soft, emulsifiers to hold it together, and low‑calorie sweeteners to keep sugar at 6g. That’s not a moral failing; it’s a design choice.
If you’re chasing low‑carb minimalism, Reddit user who wants “nothing heavy” won’t be convinced—and they’re right for their goals. If you want a convenient small meal with 20g of protein and you prize taste and texture, the enthusiastic crew (shoutout to ClarkGriswoldsEggnog) probably has a point.
One technical note: “beef protein isolate” on the market can sometimes be collagen‑leaning; this formula counters that by including complete proteins like egg and dairy, which helps the amino acid picture.
Net‑net: it’s neither a pure whole‑food bar nor a candy bar in gym clothes—it lives in the middle, where a lot of busy, protein‑seeking people actually eat.
What's the bottom line?
REDCON1’s MRE Bar—especially this Coach Prime Strawberry Cheesecake variant—earns its fans the old‑fashioned way: it tastes good and eats easily. The protein is serious at 20g, the carbs are substantial enough to fuel a workout or a long morning, and the texture avoids the jaw‑workout trap. The flip side is also clear: price tends to run higher, the label is long and includes sugar alcohols that may not love everyone back, and it’s decidedly not vegan or vegetarian.
If you want a portable, dessert‑leaning small meal with real‑food touches and a soft, satisfying chew, this belongs on your short list. If you want ultra‑lean macros, minimal ingredients, or you’re sensitive to polyols, keep looking. Otherwise, enjoy the surprisingly balanced ride: a meaty protein backbone disguised as cheesecake, a modest 6g of sugar, a helpful calcium bump, and enough staying power to get you to your next actual meal without the hanger.