Vital Proteins
Vanilla Coconut
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A collagen-plus-whey protein blend wrapped in a white‑chocolate–style coating with crispy whey bits—and only 3g of sugar achieved through sugar alcohols rather than fruit syrups.
When to choose Vital Proteins Vanilla Coconut
Choose this if you want a candy‑bar‑like, gluten‑free protein hit after the gym or as a hold‑you‑over snack, and you tolerate sugar alcohols well. Not ideal if you avoid dairy, peanuts/tree nuts, or prefer minimal‑ingredient bars.
What's in the Vital Proteins bar?
Vanilla Coconut sounds like a beach day, but Vital Proteins’ Vanilla Coconut Protein Bar reads like a mini meal: 20g of protein from a blend of bovine collagen plus complete dairy proteins, relatively low carbs, and a moderate 11g of fats largely from nut butters.
The coconut character comes from coconut chips and a hint of coconut nectar under a white‑chocolate‑style coating, with vanilla‑leaning natural flavors. The surprise is how that low sugar (3g) is achieved—not with fruit, but with refined sweeteners like maltitol and glycerin—so you’re trading sugar for sugar alcohols.
Let’s unpack what that means for energy, digestion, and satiety.
- Protein
- 20 g
- Fat
- 11 g
- Carbohydrates
- 13 g
- Sugar
- 3 g
- Calories
- 230
Protein
2015HIGHThis bar’s well‑above‑average 20g protein comes from a blend: bovine collagen peptides plus complete dairy proteins (milk protein isolate, whey isolate/hydrolysate) and whey crisps. Collagen adds softness but isn’t a complete protein on its own; the whey/milk proteins bring the leucine‑rich, complete amino acids your muscles rely on. Net effect: high protein with both fast‑digesting dairy and easy‑mixing collagen.
Fat
119MIDMost of the 11g fat comes from almond and peanut butter—largely monounsaturated—rounded out by refined sunflower oil and cocoa butter in the coating. Cocoa butter adds more saturated fat (mostly stearic acid, relatively neutral for LDL), so you get creamy texture with a mixed fat profile. Overall it’s on the moderate‑to‑higher fat side versus other bars.
Carbs
1320LOWAt 13g, carbs are on the lower end for bars and come mostly from engineered sources: a sugar alcohol (maltitol) and plant‑derived glycerin in the coating, plus small amounts from coconut nectar, lactose in the dairy, and a little tapioca starch in the crisps. This keeps sugars down and usually delivers steadier energy than straight sugar, especially with all the protein and fat on board. Sensitive stomachs may notice bloating from larger sugar‑alcohol servings.
Sugar
34MIDOnly 3g sugar shows up because sweetness leans on sugar alcohols (primarily maltitol) and glycerin, which add sweetness and softness with fewer sugars than syrups. The small sugar that is present comes from coconut nectar, dairy lactose, and coconut chips. That can be gentler on blood sugar, though some people prefer to limit sugar alcohols for digestive comfort.
Calories
230210MIDAt 230 calories, it leans on protein and fat for staying power: roughly ~80 calories from protein, ~100 from fat, and the rest from carbs/polyols. Expect a more mini‑meal feel rather than a quick sugar burst; compared with many bars, it sits on the higher‑calorie side. Nuts and the white‑chocolate‑style coating are the main calorie drivers.
Vitamins & Minerals
Calcium lands around 10% Daily Value, thanks to the milk/whey ingredients and a pinch of calcium carbonate used in the whey crisps. Nuts and sunflower oil contribute a little vitamin E, but not enough to headline on the label. Think protein‑first with a modest calcium bonus.
Additives
To keep a high‑protein bar soft and cohesive, this recipe leans on a few refined helpers: glycerin (moisture), a sugar alcohol (maltitol) for bulked sweetness, sunflower lecithin (emulsifier), and rosemary extract (protects fats). These are common and safety‑reviewed, but not whole‑food ingredients. If you favor minimal processing, note the confectionery coating and polyols are the trade‑off for low sugar and a soft bite.
Ingredient List
Cattle hides and bones
Skim cow milk
Cow's milk whey
Cow's milk cheese whey
Corn or wheat
Cow's milk
Sunflower seeds
Fats and oils
Ground roasted almonds
Peanuts
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Vital Performance Bars 20 G protein 230 calories top tier source”
“Ooh, the vital proteins one sounds really good!”
Main Praise
Fans consistently point to taste and texture first. The bar has that “treat” factor—vanilla-coconut flavor, a creamy shell, and crisp whey pieces—that makes 20g of protein feel like something you look forward to, not tolerate.
Reviewers also call it filling for 230 calories; the combination of 20g protein and 11g fat behaves more like a small meal than a quick bite.
Collagen lovers appreciate that this isn’t just whey: it includes bovine collagen peptides alongside complete dairy proteins, and outlets like Stack3d note collagen represents a meaningful share of the total protein.
Reddit shout-outs and Amazon comments echo the same theme: good energy, a satisfying chew, and a flavor that doesn’t taste “diet. ”
Main Criticism
The low sugar comes with a trade-off: maltitol and glycerin. Maltitol is a sugar alcohol that some people digest just fine and others… don’t.
If you’re sensitive, bloating or GI discomfort can show up, especially if you eat multiple bars. Price also comes up; one Amazon reviewer basically said, “the price sucks,” even though they still found it buyable for the macros and taste.
Finally, if you prefer a short, whole‑food ingredient list, the confectionery coating, refined sweeteners, and emulsifiers won’t feel aligned with that philosophy. And because the protein includes collagen from bovine sources, this bar isn’t vegetarian-friendly and does contain common allergens like dairy, peanuts, almonds, and coconut.
The Middle Ground
So who’s right: the people praising it as a “top tier” bar for protein-per-bite, or the skeptics side‑eyeing the candy‑bar build and sugar alcohols? Probably both.
If your goal is a satisfying, dessert‑leaning bar with serious protein, this nails the brief. The 20g protein comes from a smart pairing—collagen for texture and complete dairy proteins for muscle-friendly amino acids—so you’re not relying on collagen alone.
On the flip side, the ingredient tech that makes it taste like a treat (white‑chocolate‑style coating, maltitol, glycerin) is exactly what minimal‑processing purists dislike, and it explains the middling 3. 9-star average on Amazon despite plenty of love in individual reviews.
Reddit user Wonderful_Mind7590 summed up the vibe with “sounds really good,” but whether it feels really good depends on your gut’s relationship with sugar alcohols. In short: excellent if you prioritize flavor-forward protein with controlled sugars; less compelling if you want fruit‑sweetened simplicity.
What's the bottom line?
Vital Proteins’ Vanilla Coconut bar delivers the dessert experience with sports-nutrition intent. You get 20g of protein from collagen plus complete dairy proteins, a creamy-crispy texture, and enough calories and fat to feel satisfied rather than snackish. The sweetness strategy—maltitol and glycerin instead of syrups—keeps sugars low, can be gentler on blood sugar for many, and won’t be everyone’s digestive friend.
If you’re cool with sugar alcohols and want a gluten‑free bar that actually tastes like a treat, this is an easy yes. If your north star is short, whole‑food ingredients, or you avoid dairy, peanuts, or coconut, look elsewhere. For everyone else, especially post‑workout or between-meal gaps, it’s a pleasantly indulgent way to land a high‑quality 20g protein hit without a sugar surge.
20g protein from collagen + whey, 230 calories, 3g sugar. Tasty and filling; contains dairy/nuts and uses maltitol—great if you tolerate sugar alcohols, skip if you don’t.