Transparent Labs
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A nostalgic cookie flavor packaged with a cleaner-for-the-category label and third-party testing—an uncommon combo that’s earned “best overall” nods from multiple outlets.
When to choose Transparent Labs Oatmeal Chocolate Chip
Reach for it when you want a satiating, cookie-adjacent mini meal or post-workout snack and you prefer real sweetness over sugar alcohols. Not ideal if you need vegan or gluten-free, or if you chase maximum protein per dollar.
What's in the Transparent Labs bar?
Transparent Labs Protein Bar (Oatmeal Chocolate Chip) leans into real-food building blocks: peanut butter for the base, gluten-free rolled oats for the oatmeal bite, and dairy-free chocolate chips for that classic cookie moment.
Protein comes from a clean, two-protein blend—grass-fed whey protein isolate and egg white protein—so you’re getting complete, highly digestible amino acids rather than a plant-protein compromise. The macro story is unusual for a protein bar: moderate protein, higher fats and calories, and mid-range carbs powered by dates, honey, and a touch of tapioca syrup.
Translation: sweetness mostly from whole-food sources, fats largely from peanuts with a helping of coconut oil for structure, and an overall profile that eats more like a small, satisfying snack than a “diet” bar.
- Protein
- 15 g
- Fat
- 15 g
- Carbohydrates
- 22 g
- Sugar
- 11 g
- Calories
- 270
Protein
1515MIDProtein here comes from a duo of grass-fed whey protein isolate and egg white protein—both complete, highly digestible sources. Whey isolate is a filtered, low-lactose dairy protein that absorbs quickly; egg white adds structure and rounds out the amino acids. The result is solid, average-for-the-category protein that’s easy on many stomachs unless you’re sensitive to milk or egg.
Fat
159HIGHFat is driven primarily by peanut butter, with support from coconut oil and a little from the chocolate chips. Peanut butter supplies mostly heart‑friendly unsaturated fats; coconut oil, by contrast, is rich in saturated fat that can raise LDL over time. The higher fat load makes the bar more filling, though those managing cholesterol may want to keep coconut‑oil‑containing snacks in rotation, not in constant repeat.
Carbs
2220MIDMost carbs come from dates, rolled oats, honey, and tapioca syrup. That’s a blend of whole‑food carbs (dates and oats bring fiber and micronutrients) with a refined syrup made from cassava starch, which hits fast. Expect quicker energy upfront, with the oats and peanut butter fat helping steady the pace rather than a sharp spike‑and‑crash.
Sugar
114HIGHThe sugar you taste is largely from honey and dates, with some help from tapioca syrup and the chocolate chips. Compared with many protein bars, the total sugar lands on the higher side, but it avoids artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols. Expect a naturally sweet profile with a faster hit from the syrup and honey, softened by oats and fats.
Calories
270210HIGHThis is a calorie‑denser bar, and fat is the main reason—roughly half the calories come from the peanut butter and coconut oil. Carbs from dates, oats, honey, and tapioca syrup add another chunk, while protein plays a supporting role. Think mini‑meal or substantial snack rather than a feather‑light pick‑me‑up.
Vitamins & Minerals
There aren’t fortified vitamin callouts here, so don’t expect big percentages on the label. You’ll still pick up small, food‑based amounts—vitamin E and magnesium from peanuts, manganese from oats, and potassium from dates—but nothing likely to clear the 10% daily value mark.
Additives
The ingredient list skews pantry‑friendly: peanut butter, oats, dates, honey, chocolate chips, and sea salt, plus refined whey isolate and tapioca syrup for function. You won’t find artificial sweeteners, sugar alcohols, or a long string of emulsifiers and gums. It’s a short list with a couple of modern processing assists rather than a chemistry set.
Ingredient List
Peanuts
Cacao beans
Cow's milk whey
Date palm fruit
Cassava starch
Honey bees collect floral nectar
Eggs
Oat grain
Coconuts
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Transparent labs is rated as the cleanest across multiple websites.”
Main Praise
The biggest wins come from how this bar is put together and how it tastes.
Men’s Health, Healthline, and BarBend all call out Transparent Labs’ ingredient philosophy and third‑party testing, which is rare in the bar aisle and reassuring if you like knowing what you’re actually getting.
The oatmeal‑chocolate chip profile reads like real food—oats, chocolate, a touch of chew—so you don’t get that neon, artificially sweet finish some bars carry. Several reviewers point to the texture as pleasantly chewy rather than taffy‑sticky, and the overall sweetness lands in the “treat” zone without going overboard.
Add in complete protein from dairy and egg sources, and you’ve got a bar that feels substantial and, for many, genuinely enjoyable to eat after a lift or as a hold‑you‑over between meals.
Main Criticism
Price is the recurring sore spot. Men’s Health pegs it at the premium end (roughly $3+ per bar), and Redditor tpepp4664 literally went looking for cheaper alternatives with similar quality.
Texture splits opinion: some independent reviews mention a slightly chalky or dry bite, and Redditor Remarkable_Depth_975 didn’t mince words about it.
From a numbers perspective, 15 grams of protein at 270 calories won’t thrill anyone chasing the highest protein‑per‑calorie ratio, and the total sugar (11 grams) plus higher fat means this eats more like a mini meal than a super‑lean snack.
BarBend also flags higher saturated fat and sodium, and you generally have to buy a box, not singles.
The Middle Ground
So who’s right: the “best overall” crowd or the “not worth it” skeptics? Both, depending on what you value.
If your top priority is a short, high‑quality ingredients list, third‑party testing, and a flavor that actually evokes an oatmeal chocolate chip cookie, the praise tracks—and you’ll likely accept the higher price and a texture that leans chewy and, to some palates, a touch dry.
If you’re calculating cost per gram of protein, there are bars at 20–22 grams for fewer calories, usually sweetened with sugar alcohols or high‑intensity sweeteners.
Transparent Labs takes the opposite route: more real sweetness (you’ll taste it), more fat for fullness, and fewer lab‑y sweeteners—trade‑offs that move it into “satisfying mini meal” territory rather than “diet bar.
” And about that chalkiness: taste and texture vary with temperature and expectations; maybe Remarkable_Depth_975 got a bar fresh from a cold glove box. Or maybe you’ll love it, especially if you prefer bars that don’t taste like candy.
What's the bottom line?
Transparent Labs’ Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Protein+ Bar is comfort-forward and ingredient-conscious. It delivers a complete 15 grams of protein from dairy and eggs, real sweetness you can actually taste, and enough fat and calories to keep you full—great after a workout or when lunch is still an hour away. Multiple outlets applaud the cleaner label and third‑party testing; that rigor and flavor approach are why it’s won “best overall” accolades.
The trade-offs are equally clear: a premium price, texture that some find a bit dry, and macros that prioritize satiety over sheer protein density. If you want maximum grams per dollar or a feather‑light snack, look elsewhere. If you want an oatmeal cookie energy with a straighter‑shooting ingredients story, this is a strong, grown‑up choice—just read the wrapper if you have dietary restrictions (contains milk and egg, and it’s not labeled gluten‑free).