REDCON1
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A rare meat‑and‑plant protein blend (beef, salmon, chicken, egg white, soy/pea/rice with a touch of whey) paired with a soft, cookie‑like texture and visible oat/fruit bits.
When to choose REDCON1 Oatmeal Chocolate Chip
Best for a satisfying mini‑meal or post‑workout refuel when you want 20g of protein and don’t mind sugar alcohols. Not a match for vegetarians/vegans or anyone who needs ultra‑simple ingredients.
What's in the REDCON1 bar?
This Oatmeal Chocolate Chip bar leans hard into a multi-source protein strategy—beef, salmon, chicken, egg white, soy, pea, brown rice, plus a touch of whey in the chocolatey coating—delivering 20g of protein that sits near the top of the category.
Carbs are high for a protein bar, with gluten‑free oats and a “real‑food” blend of yam, sweet potato, and berries joined by refined carbs and added fiber to shape the energy curve.
Sugar stays modest at 6g because sweetness comes mostly from sugar alcohols (like maltitol and sorbitol), glycerin, and a tiny dose of sucralose/Ace‑K. Fats are moderate and mixed—palm/palm‑kernel/soybean oils, a dash of MCTs, and some nut fats—while the oatmeal‑cookie vibe comes from oats, cocoa (alkalized), cinnamon, and nut inclusions.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Carbohydrates
- 29 g
- Sugar
- 6 g
- Calories
- 260
Protein
2015HIGHProtein comes from a broad blend: animal (beef, salmon, chicken, egg white) plus plant (soy, pea, brown rice), with a little whey in the coating. That diversity helps cover all essential amino acids more evenly than any single source, with egg and whey known for top-tier quality and soy/pea/rice rounding out the profile. At 20g (roughly 90th percentile), it’s a substantial, “complete‑leaning” protein hit for a bar.
Fat
99MIDThe 9g of fat are a mix of saturated-heavy palm/palm‑kernel oils and soybean oil alongside nuts (peanuts, almonds) and a bit of MCT oil. Nuts bring mostly monounsaturated fats, while palm and palm‑kernel tilt more saturated; MCTs are quickly used for energy but don’t supply essential fatty acids. Overall, the fat load is moderate, with a blend that prioritizes texture and stability more than a purely unsaturated oil profile.
Carbs
2920HIGHCarbs (29g; high for the category) come from both whole and refined sources. You get oats, dehydrated yam/sweet potato, and bits of fruit for slower, fiber‑supported energy, paired with quick hitters like maltodextrin and dextrose, plus added chicory root fiber. Expect a mix of fast and steadier release; note that sweetness is also supported by sugar alcohols (maltitol, sorbitol) and glycerin, which keep sugars lower but can bother sensitive stomachs.
Sugar
64MIDSugar is held to 6g, with sweetness largely coming from sugar alcohols (maltitol, sorbitol), glycerin (a plant‑derived syrup), and two zero‑calorie sweeteners (sucralose and acesulfame potassium). The actual sugars likely come from a small amount of added sugar, dextrose, and the fruit bits. This keeps blood sugar lower than a sugar‑sweetened bar, though polyols can cause gas or laxity for some at higher intakes.
Calories
260210HIGHAt 260 calories (on the higher side for bars), this functions more like a small meal than a light snack. Calories are split across a big protein dose, a larger carbohydrate portion, and moderate fat—so it’s built for staying power rather than ultra‑lean macros. If you’re between meals or training, the balance makes sense; if you want a tiny calorie bump, it’s more than you need.
Vitamins & Minerals
Calcium lands at 20% of daily value—consistent with the presence of dairy ingredients in the coating (whey and whey protein), which naturally carry calcium, with a small assist from almonds. Other listed micronutrients are modest here, so the bar’s nutrition story is driven more by its macros than by fortification.
Additives
This is an engineered bar with many functional helpers: humectants (glycerin, sorbitol) to keep it soft, bulk sweeteners (maltitol), high‑intensity sweeteners (sucralose, Ace‑K) to cut sugar, emulsifiers (soy/sunflower lecithin, mono‑ and diglycerides) for a smooth bite, cellulose gum for structure, and potassium sorbate to protect freshness. These are highly refined ingredients chosen for texture, stability, and lower sugars. The trade‑off is a longer label and, for some, potential GI sensitivity to polyols.
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 calling cards. Fitness Informant gave the texture a rare “perfect” and praised how soft and less chewy it is than typical bars.
PricePlow’s TheSolution said Oatmeal Chocolate Chip tastes like a “straight Fudge No Bake,” which is high praise in bar land. On Reddit, None-ya-Business- calls MRE Bars a go‑to, while ClarkGriswoldsEggnog loves the animal‑protein‑plus‑sweet‑potato twist.
Over on Amazon (4. 3 average across 1,600+ ratings), fans describe it as a legit meal replacement that actually tastes like a treat.
The common thread: it’s flavorful, filling, and easy to eat—no jaw workout required.
Main Criticism
The downsides cluster around heft, carbs, and cost. Several users note it feels more like a meal than a light snack, and at 29g of carbs and 260 calories, that criticism is fair.
Price gets flagged as higher than average, with some Reddit voices calling the products “overpriced” or “run of the mill. ” The sweetening system relies on sugar alcohols and small amounts of high‑intensity sweeteners, which can bother sensitive stomachs.
Ingredient purists also point to refined carbs like maltodextrin and dextrose as a miss for a product marketed with a “real‑food” halo. And flavor consistency isn’t bulletproof—one user found the Banana Bread variety underwhelming on banana flavor.
The Middle Ground
So where does the truth land?
The MRE Bar is not a minimalist, farmer’s‑market bar—despite its oats and sweet potato cameos, it also uses a modern bar toolkit (polyols, emulsifiers, refined carbs) to achieve that soft, dessert‑like bite and keep sugars modest.
If you’re after ultra‑lean macros or the simplest ingredient list, you’ll bounce off this fast. But calling it “not innovative” feels off; a beef‑salmon‑chicken‑plus‑plant protein roster is still unusual, and it builds a complete‑leaning amino profile with a texture people actually crave.
The “it’s heavy” critique is both true and the point: at 260 calories and 20g of protein, it’s designed as a small meal or solid post‑workout refuel, not a dainty bite.
GI comfort will come down to your tolerance for sugar alcohols. In short: it’s a hybrid—part pantry, part lab—and for many, that mix works spectacularly in the flavor and fullness departments.
What's the bottom line?
REDCON1’s MRE Bar (Oatmeal Chocolate Chip) delivers what most bars promise and few pull off: 20g of protein that actually eats like dessert. The multi‑source, meat‑plus‑plant protein blend is the differentiator, and the soft, bakery feel has won over everyone from Reddit regulars to seasoned reviewers. The trade‑offs are clear: more calories and carbs than a “lean” bar, a higher price tag, and a sweetening system that may not love every stomach.
If you want an ultra‑simple label or you’re vegetarian/vegan, this isn’t your match. But if you’re after a satisfying, portable mini‑meal—with a standout texture, modest sugars, and a protein profile built for staying power—this one’s easy to recommend. Think of it as the bar you reach for when you’re hungry now and still want to enjoy the next five minutes.