RXBAR
Vanilla Almond
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A short, real‑food ingredient list sweetened with dates—not syrups or sugar alcohols—paired with 12 grams of dairy‑free egg‑white protein and true vanilla bean.
When to choose RXBAR Vanilla Almond
Reach for this as a pre‑workout or mid‑morning bridge when you want simple, gluten‑free, sugar‑alcohol‑free fuel. Great for folks who value whole ingredients over maxed‑out protein counts.
What's in the RXBAR bar?
RXBAR Vanilla Almond keeps things refreshingly simple: dates for sweetness and chew, egg whites for the protein, and almonds plus cashews for nutty richness.
That recipe makes the bar more carb‑forward than many protein bars (because it’s fruit‑sweetened rather than artificially sweetened), with moderate fats from nuts, a lighter 190‑calorie footprint, and 12 grams of complete, dairy‑free egg‑white protein.
Vanilla bean and a touch of natural flavors round out the vanilla character, while the almonds carry the almond note.
- Protein
- 12 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Carbohydrates
- 24 g
- Sugar
- 16 g
- Calories
- 190
Protein
1215MIDProtein here comes mainly from egg whites—clean, complete, and highly digestible—so the 12 grams you get are quality grams, even if that total sits on the lighter side for the category. Almonds and cashews chip in a little extra, but egg whites do the heavy lifting and keep the bar dairy‑free (not for those with egg allergies).
Fat
79MIDThe 7 grams of fat come almost entirely from almonds and cashews, which lean monounsaturated—the same heart‑smart family found in olive oil. With no added oils, the fat stays moderate, helping with fullness and smoothing the energy from the dates without feeling heavy.
Carbs
2420MIDCarbs are driven by dates, a whole fruit that doubles as sweetener and binder. That means naturally occurring sugars plus a bit of fiber and potassium for quick energy, with the nuts’ fat and fiber helping to steady the ride more than a syrup‑sweetened bar would. At 24 grams of carbs (higher than many bars), think of it as more energy bar than low‑carb snack.
Sugar
164HIGHAll 16 grams of sugar come from dates—no refined sugar or artificial sweeteners. Fruit sugar is still sugar, but the whole‑date matrix brings a little fiber and minerals, and the nuts help temper the rush compared with candy‑style bars. It’s on the higher end for sugar among protein bars, so timing it around activity can make sense.
Calories
190210MIDAt 190 calories, this is lighter than many protein bars. Most of the energy comes from the dates’ carbohydrates, with a meaningful assist from nut fats and the 12 grams of egg‑white protein. It’s a tidy snack or pre‑workout option when you want fuel without a brick‑heavy feel.
Vitamins & Minerals
No standout fortification here—nothing tops 10% of daily value. You do pick up modest potassium (about 8% DV) from dates and a small bump of iron from the nuts, plus a pinch of sodium from sea salt.
Additives
The label stays short: dates, egg whites, almonds, cashews, vanilla bean, sea salt, and natural flavors. Those natural flavors are concentrated extracts used in tiny amounts to boost the vanilla aroma; otherwise this is a whole‑food‑focused bar with no sugar alcohols, artificial sweeteners, or emulsifiers.
Ingredient List
Date palm fruit
Eggs
Almond tree seeds
Cashew tree kernel
Vanilla orchid seed pods
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“I usually buy the RX Bars. It’s one of the few protein bars and I found that does not have “fake” or alcohol sugars. Those sugars always leave a bad taste in my mouth. I end up having an RX Bar pretty much every day for breakfast.”
“I got hooked on the RX bars a few years back. While they lag in protein then make up for it with their ingredients.”
“I have moderate/ severe IBS. The RX Bars are fantastic, they taste great and I have produce no side effects for me.”
Main Praise
Fans rally around the simplicity. Multiple reviewers highlight the relief of a bar without sugar alcohols or a fake aftertaste—Redditor On‑The‑Rails even has one most mornings.
Professional outlets back that up: Healthline, Men’s Health, and Good Housekeeping all commend RXBAR for whole‑food ingredients and call out the smart carb‑to‑protein ratio for recovery. Many people find the 12 grams of egg‑white protein digestible and steadying, with one IBS‑prone Redditor noting it sits better than bars loaded with artificial sweeteners.
Flavor‑wise, Vanilla Almond comes off clean: gentle vanilla, nutty backbone, no candy‑coating theatrics. It’s the kind of bar you can eat regularly without getting palate fatigue.
Main Criticism
Texture is the lightning rod. A handful of Amazon and Reddit reviews call RXBARs tough, sticky, and prone to living in your molars rent‑free—SnoopysAdviser’s words, not mine.
Some boxes skew dry or hard, which suggests batch variability. Protein is moderate for the category; if you’re chasing 20 grams in a single bar, this isn’t it.
Sugar sits higher than many protein bars at 16 grams, even if it’s from dates, so low‑sugar seekers may balk. And because the protein is from egg whites, vegans need to sit this one out.
The Middle Ground
So who’s right—the texture critics or the whole‑food cheer squad? Probably both.
If you want a soft, candy‑bar‑style bite with 20 grams of protein and barely any sugar, RXBAR is not trying to be that. But if you prefer recognizable ingredients and want to avoid sugar alcohols and aftertastes, Vanilla Almond makes a strong case.
The 24 grams of carbs to 12 grams of protein (about 2:1) is exactly what Men’s Health flagged as useful post‑workout; time it around activity and the 16 grams of fruit sugar works with you, not against you.
As for chewiness, consider it part of the RXBAR contract—though Amazon reviewer Beth M. offers a practical hack: pair it with a hot coffee or tea to soften the bite.
And while International_Sail_7’s IBS experience was positive, everyone’s gut is different; the absence of sugar alcohols helps many, but personal tolerance still rules.
What's the bottom line?
RXBAR Vanilla Almond is the minimalist’s protein bar: a short ingredient list, 12 grams of complete egg‑white protein, and sweetness from dates rather than a lab. It’s chewy, yes, but it’s also steady, portable fuel that actually tastes like nuts and vanilla instead of a dessert imitation. Choose it when you want real‑food calories you can put to work—before a lift, during a long morning, or as an afternoon bridge.
Skip it if you need ultra‑high protein, strict low‑sugar, or a melt‑in‑the‑mouth texture. For everyone else, this is the dependable white T‑shirt of bars: simple, versatile, and somehow the thing you reach for more often than you expect.