I have tried other Quest brand protein bars and despite all the favorable hype I have seen regarding them on a couple weight loss social media apps, I never cared for the very strong, over powering artificial sweetness I tasted with each that I have tried. However, I understand and accept that everyone has different likes and dislikes. You might just love this artificial taste.

I do not buy protein bars or cookies very often as they often have an off taste from the vitamins the producer has incorporated into the ingredients. However, while out on the road in my semi yesterday, this product caught my eye during a stop at a service plaza. I almost walked on past it since I do not care for their protein bars, but the look of a chocolate chip cookie that has 15 grams protein, 4 net grams of carbs, less than one gram of sugar while containing 9 grams of fiber caught my attention. For all intents and purposes, the nutritional values meet what I look for in foods, and after all, who can resist a good chewy chocolate chip cookie that is also a healthier choice than any other cookies stocked on the truck stop shelves.

I finished my purchase and walked back out to my truck for the final leg of my 945 mile trip. Once back behind the wheel of my truck, I slipped it into gear and began unwrapping the cookie as I was merging back onto the interstate highway. The cookie looked delicious. It had a soft texture to it which was a bonus for me too. I was anticipating a little something tasty and healthy with a hot cup of coffee to hold me over until I got home as I took my first bite.

OK, at first bite, the cookie was soft and firm enough to be chewy! I have always loved a good chewy chocolate chip cookie over those that are crisp. Just a personal preference of mine. The initial taste was pleasant enough. The flavor kind of reminded me of a chewy Chip’s Ahoy. Except, it had a sickening artificially sweet undertone, that actually became over powering with each additional bite. To be honest, I am not 100% sure, but I cannot help but to assume this sweetness comes from their use of stevia as a sweetener. I know it does not come from the erythritol as I bake and cook with erythritol products at least once or twice a week.

You may like this taste, I do not. Again, it is just a matter of personal taste and opinion. There is no wrong or right to what flavors we like or do not like. But for me, Quest took a perfectly good cookie and ruined it with whatever the ingredient is that causes this over bearing sweetness. In fairness, I must say that by my having been entirely sugar free for a few years now, my taste for sweet treats has declined. Just like eating a low sodium diet, it gets where just a little salt can totally ruin a meal for me too. The last I will say on this sweetness is the taste in my mouth did not leave for quite some time. Thank god I had a few pieces of spearmint gum to finally get rid of it, I was tempted to pull over and get a mouthful of dirt to make it go away…   🙂

Quest Chocolate Chip Cookies are nutritionally sound, and you might really enjoy them. Try these before buying some sugar laden cookie that will only serve to fatten your belly while spiking your blood sugar and insulin. These cookies might fit your needs for a sugar free sweet treat on occasion. I feel if there was no stevia in these cookies, they would be a really good, wholesome snack to treat yourself with. For $3.74 for one cookie, you are also not likely to gorge yourself on them.

Ingredients:

Protein Blend (Milk Protein Isolate, Whey Protein Isolate), Butter (Cream, Natural Flavor), Soluble Corn Fiber, Erythritol, Palm Oil, Unsweetened Chocolate, Calcium Caseinate, Natural Flavors, Water, Cocoa Butter. Contains less than 2% of the following: Sunflower Lecithin, Sea Salt, Baking Soda, Sodium Caseinate, Xanthan Gum, Steviol Glycosides (Stevia)