REDCON1
PB and J
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A rare, multi‑source protein blend that includes beef, salmon, and chicken—backed by egg and plant proteins—wrapped in a PB and J flavor that’s actually soft and jammy rather than taffy‑tough. Texture is a headliner alongside the macro mix.
When to choose REDCON1 PB and J
Best for a portable small meal with quick energy and 20g of protein—pre‑workout, post‑lift, or a long afternoon on your feet. It’s gluten‑free by ingredients, but not ideal for low‑carb eaters or anyone avoiding milk, egg, fish, soy, peanuts, almonds, or coconut.
What's in the REDCON1 bar?
PB and J, but make it muscle: this bar pairs real peanuts and berry powders (raspberry, blueberry, and fruit extracts) with 20 grams of protein from an unusually mixed roster—beef (often collagen‑leaning in the market), salmon, chicken, egg whites, soy, pea, brown rice, and a touch of whey in the coating.
It’s also a higher‑carb bar (around the 92nd percentile), drawing energy from dehydrated roots and oats alongside faster carbs and modern sweeteners, so the lift feels more quick than slow‑burn. Fats come partly from nuts, then from palm/MCT oils for a stable texture.
In short: big protein from many sources, jammy peanut‑berry flavor, and a formula built for punchy energy rather than minimalist ingredients.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 9 g
- Carbohydrates
- 29 g
- Sugar
- 6 g
- Calories
- 260
Protein
2015HIGHThe 20 grams of protein come from a blend of beef protein isolate, salmon and chicken proteins, egg whites, soy, pea, and brown rice, with a little whey in the coating—an unusual mix that lands the bar near the top of the pack for protein. If the “beef protein isolate” is collagen‑based (as many are), it isn’t a complete amino acid on its own, so pairing it with complete sources like egg, soy, pea, and whey helps round out the profile. Dairy is present via whey, so this isn’t a dairy‑free bar.
Fat
99MIDFat comes from peanuts and almonds (mostly unsaturated) plus palm/palm‑kernel and soybean oils and some MCT oil. That combination keeps the texture stable but adds more saturated fat than a nut‑oil‑only bar, while soybean oil brings omega‑6. Overall it’s a middle‑of‑the‑road fat load, mixing hearty nut fats with faster‑burning saturates from palm/MCT.
Carbs
2920HIGHCarbs are a mash‑up: whole‑food style sources (dehydrated yam/sweet potato, gluten‑free oats, fruit powders) sit alongside refined carbs and starches (maltodextrin, dextrose, tapioca and pea starch), plus chicory fiber and polyols. Expect quicker energy with some ballast from fiber and protein, but the presence of fast sugars and refined starches tilts this toward a higher‑glycemic ride than a bar built solely on grains and nuts. Sugar alcohols and glycerin help keep sugar grams down and texture soft, but can bother sensitive stomachs.
Sugar
64MIDThe 6 grams of sugar reflect a mix of sources: added sugar and dextrose, natural sugars from fruit powders and from milk sugar (lactose) in the whey‑based coating. Sweetness is then amplified by sugar alcohols (such as maltitol and sorbitol) and zero‑calorie artificial sweeteners (sucralose and acesulfame potassium), which cut sugar grams but can cause GI upset for some people. Net effect: moderate sugars with modern sweeteners doing heavy lifting.
Calories
260210HIGHAt 260 calories (above average), most energy comes from the 29 grams of carbohydrate, with protein and fat splitting the rest. Polyols and glycerin lower the calculated calories a bit versus a simple 4‑4‑9 math, but it still eats like a small meal. If you’re using it pre‑ or post‑workout, plan the rest of your meal around that carb emphasis.
Vitamins & Minerals
Calcium lands around 20% Daily Value, likely from the whey‑based coating and other milk solids in the formula. Vitamin A palmitate and beta‑carotene appear on the ingredient list, but the panel doesn’t show them above 10% DV here—think color/fortification accents rather than a major vitamin boost.
Additives
This is a highly engineered bar: emulsifiers and stabilizers (for example, soy lecithin, mono‑ and diglycerides, cellulose gum) shape texture, potassium sorbate extends shelf life, and a blend of sugar alcohols plus artificial sweeteners manages sweetness with fewer sugar grams. Chicory root fiber adds prebiotic fiber and body, while glycerin keeps it soft and moist. It’s a longer, more processed list than a simple nut‑and‑fruit bar—fine for many eaters, but worth noting if you prefer minimal additives.
Ingredient List
Cattle hides, bones, or meat
Cold-water finfish
Domestic chicken muscle meat
Eggs
Brown rice grain
Yellow pea seeds
Ipomoea batatas storage root
Yellow and green peas
Blueberries
Lycium barbarum shrub fruit
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
Among protein‑bar people, MRE’s texture is the applause line: soft inside, a little structure outside, and none of the jaw workout. Independent reviewers have called it best‑in‑class on texture, and PB and J delivers a clear peanut base with berry notes that read more jam than candy.
Several Reddit users describe MRE Bars as their go‑to, and the Amazon crowd lands the line around a strong average with a majority of five‑star ratings, often citing taste and satiety.
The 20g protein is easy to clear, and the higher‑carb profile makes it feel more like food than a token snack. For lifters and busy commuters, it scratches that “something substantial” itch without requiring a microwave.
Main Criticism
That same macro profile and engineering are the pushback. At 260 calories with 29g of carbs, it won’t fit strict low‑carb goals, and the label includes refined carbs alongside sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners that can bother sensitive stomachs.
Some Reddit voices find the bars heavy or so‑so for the price, and flavor consistency isn’t perfect across the lineup (the banana bread scuffle comes up a lot). The ingredient list is long, so minimalists won’t be thrilled, and the allergen spread is wide.
The Middle Ground
Put those views together and the picture sharpens. If you value a dessert‑like texture and a satisfying chew, MRE likely wins you over; if you want five ingredients and slow carbs only, it won’t.
The brand’s whole‑food pitch is partially true—there are oats, dehydrated roots, and real peanuts—but it’s also paired with modern sweeteners and faster carbs. That combo is why some lifters love it around training: quick energy with 20g of protein.
The beef protein isolate on the market is often collagen‑leaning, which isn’t complete on its own, but here it rides alongside egg, soy, pea, and a touch of whey to help cover amino bases.
Redditor ClarkGriswoldsEggnog appreciates the animal‑protein‑plus‑sweet‑potato angle; others call the brand hype. Both takes make sense depending on what you’re prioritizing.
What's the bottom line?
If PB and J is your happy place and you want a bar that eats like food, not a chore, REDCON1’s MRE Bar PB and J is a strong pick. It’s a higher‑carb, 260‑calorie, 20g‑protein option with a standout soft texture and a jam‑leaning peanut‑berry flavor. The multi‑source protein blend is unusual; if the beef component skews collagen‑like (as many do), the inclusion of egg, soy, pea, and a little whey helps round things out.
It’s gluten‑free by ingredients but not vegetarian, and it’s loaded with common allergens. Where it won’t shine: low‑carb frameworks, additive‑averse eaters, or anyone sensitive to sugar alcohols. If those aren’t deal‑breakers, you’re getting a genuinely tasty, filling bar that behaves more like a portable small meal than a nibble.
Jammy, substantial, convenient—and more practical fuel than minimalist statement piece. Condensed listicle take: Soft, jammy PB and J with 20g of protein from a rare beef‑salmon‑chicken‑plus blend. Higher carbs (29g) make it great pre/post‑workout or as a small meal, not a low‑carb pick.
Flavor and texture draw raves; the long ingredient list and sugar alcohols may not suit minimalists or sensitive stomachs. Allergens abound (milk, egg, fish, soy, peanuts, almonds, coconut).