Oh how I love company promotions….Like when they hand out free bars like it’s Halloween candy (kinda stingy without trying to come off as uptight) at Navy Pier.
According to the company, “Every SOYJOY® bar begins with high-quality, non-genetically modified whole soybeans. Unlike other soy products that use highly processed soy protein isolates, the whole soy ground into every SOYJOY® bar keeps the rich fiber and heart-healthy soy nutrients intact.”
Most of you guys already know all the health benefits of Soy, so I’m going to skip the talk and instead offer the link to their site so you can get a good read on what their dietitians say about Soy & Soy Joy’s.
Michelle says, Contrary to many negative reviews, my experience with Soy Joy hasn’t been terrible at all. My HUGEST complaint is – the dryness of the bar and the greasy aftertaste it leaves on your tongue (depending on what flavor you get) – but some may enjoy this grease-factor as a fragrant buttery flavor, so just keep that in mind!
Here’s what I have to say about the flavors I’ve tried!
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Strawberry
Stats:130 calories, 5g fat (2.5g saturated), 45mg sodium, 17g Carbs, 3g Fiber, 11g Sugar, 4g Protein
Ingredients: Whole Soybean Powder, Raisin, Sugar, Butter (from milk), Egg, Maltodextrin (natural fiber source), Dried Coconut, Dried Strawberry, Dried Pineapple, Milk Chocolate Chips (sugar, whole milk powder, cocoa butter, chocolate liquor [with alkali], dextrose, butter oil, soy lecithin, vanilla extract, salt), Dried Cranberry, Salt, Natural Flavors, Fermented Milk Powder
Picture Source: Bakers World
Flavor: I really enjoyed the berry flavor in the bar, which wasn’t sour like some bars can be, and JUST sweet enough. There were a ton of raisins and super shredded pieces of strawberry and coconut. I definitely didn’t taste the milk chocolate, cocoa butter, or chocolate liquor in there, but I suspect those ingredients are the “secret sauce” to balancing out the tartness of the fruits.
Texture: A good balance of chewy and crumbly at the same time, which I find really pleasant. I didn’t notice any extra texture from the addition of the chocolate chips because they were grinded up so small, but I did notice the really lightly gritty coconut flakes. The bar didn’t taste as dry as it looked (maybe just a tad) but overall has a nice bite to it thanks to all the pieces of raisins lodged throughout the bar.
Overall: It was tasty, fruity, sweet, and a great snack! It tastes like a dry raisin cookie with a special flavor I can’t put my finger on (thank you chocolate liquor)! I did feel kinda ripped off when I saw that strawberry was the 8th ingredient on the list though!!
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Mango Coconut
Stats: 140 Calories, 6g fat, (3.5g saturated fat), 45mg Sodium, 16g Carbs, 3g Fiber, 11g Sugar, 4g Protein
Ingredients: Whole soybean powder, Raisin, Butter (from milk), Sugar, Dried Coconut, Eggs, Maltodextrin (natural fiber), Dried papaya, Dried Mango, Dried Pineapple, Salt, Natural Flavors.
Picture credit: Spark People
Flavor: Although I liked the flavor of the bar and appreciate the fact that it isn’t overly sweet (like Clif bars), it was just OK for me. There was a little bit of a buttery after-taste (though I don’t get why it was so dry!) and had that mild, tropical flavor from the dried bits of papaya, mango, and pineapple. I was definitely not blown away with mango flavor, nor did I taste much coconut at all, but I really don’t like the gritty texture that too coconut flake can give a bar, so it balances out.
Texture: REALLY dry. Crumbly on the outside and chewy as soon as you bite into a dried piece of fruit – mainly raisins. The general consistency of the bar is a little gritty and crisp from the fine flakes of dried coconut lodged evenly throughout the whole bar.
Overall: A good balance of flavor, not too sweet, slightly buttery, but really dry! It was a great snack on the go at 140 calories, but this teeny thing doesn’t look like it has 6g of fat in it, considering how much moisture it was lacking.
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Peanut Chocolate Chip
Ingredients: Whole Soybean Powder, Raisin, Butter (from milk), Sugar, Peanuts, Egg, Milk Chocolate Chips (sugar, whole milk powder, cocoa butter, chocolate liquor (with alkali), dextrose, butter oil, soy lecithin, vanilla extract, salt), Dried Pineapple, Maltodextrin (natural fiber source), Natural Flavors, Salt, Parmesan Cheese (from skim milk)
Flavor: Lightly sweet, with a clean peanut flavor and occasional burst of cocoa-ness from the random chocolate chip. It’s not your traditional indulgent tasting peanut/chocolate bar because of it is definitely a tad bit fruity, but it’s refreshing to me! Not heavy.
Texture: Much drier and crumblier than most other bars I’ve ever had with occasional crunch from the small pieces of peanut and chips scattered throughout the SoyJoy. There are mini pieces of dried pineapple that offer a nice, slightly chewy texture.
Overall: You know what, I like this bar! It isn’t too sweet, it’s nutty, flavorful, and though a little dry, tasty. I find that last ingredient (parmesan cheese) kinda off-putting though.
these are teeny little guys but sound like the pack a lot of nutritional value, and taste🙂
Teensy weensy! I’ve always wanted to try these – but I’m so skeptical cause of the mixed reviews😛
Enjoy your weekend!
Love,
Meg
I tried two flavor once and didn’t like much. Although it’s not too sweet (good) it was a kind of dry. But I think nutritionally it’s a good snack.
I LOVE Soy Joy!! I have been eating them for over a year now. The ones that are old are definitely dry, but when they are fresh they are soft and chewy🙂
I just tried the peanut butter chocolate the other day, and loved it. I have not tried the blueberry yet, nor have I seen it! It must be new. I also love the pink, strawberry flavor.
i generally liked them too, but didn’t feel all that satisfied after eating one
Oh, I didn’t know the soy joy bars used whole soybeans instead of soy protein isolate. I just assumed that it was the isolate! I have a bunch in my cupboard right now that I was weary to try (got them free at the Bite of Seattle a while back). Thanks for the reviews! Now I know which ones I will try first, hehe!
I’ve never tried soyjoy and would never have expected them to look like that! Thanks for the reviews!🙂
2 dayyys!
I’ve never tried soyjoys but have wondered what they were like! Thanks for sharing, girl!!❤ jess
xoxo
Ughghghgh, I hate Soy Joy! I definitely picked a couple flavors up on Navy Pier last weekend, trying to give them another shot. FAIL FAIL FAIL. I think the texture is awful, the taste is bad, and they are way too small. Blech.
I got free soy joy samps when I was in Chi too! Umm they’re still in their packages all crumbled at the bottom of my bag.. haha
I really just can’t get into Soy Joys. It’s a taste thing. Some people seem to love them, though. I’ve been experimenting with making my own bars, though. On Monday, a friend of mine has a guest post about the energy bars he makes (they taste like Clif bars)!🙂 Be sure to check it out!
Thanks for the review! I’m curious about the bars. They don’t look very tasty, but I’m curious. I’m glad you liked them well enough.
i’ve never tried those, but others reviews shied me away. maybe i will go out and buy one and give it a shot🙂
Hi Michelle! Thanks for your comment on my blog🙂 I got a lot of great and positive responses from my question about what to do about being overbearing with Nick’s food choices.
Anyway, for a great ice cream (using fat free soy milk and full fat 1/2 and 1/2) check out my blog. It’s on the right hand side. Click on the picture and my post will come up where I wrote out the recipe. For the pumpkin ice cream I just added the pumpkin puree and used a blender instead of a whisk to mix everything! It’s SO delicious. I think you should buy one for him for Christmas and have a batch of ice cream already made, so he can try it right when he opens it! Then he will know it was a good choice🙂
I enjoyed your review! I got a couple of free Soy Joy samples when they first came out, and I wasn’t a fan. I didn’t like them very much, thought they were dry and kind of bland, and I found that they were too small to really put a dent in my appetite.
Your reviews always seem so nicely balanced, and I appreciate that! Thanks for keeping it real!
Surprisingly being a big soy fan, I haven’t tried these and I see em’ all the time! I guess I have so many bars that I already love and these didn’t look to-die-for, but thanks for the review!
My husband loves the SoyJoy bars, but I have never tasted them! I never get a chance when they’re in the house 🙂
Glad I found your review. I may have to buy one and hide it for myself!
Glad you like them… for me, not so much!
http://katiepaper.blogspot.com/2010/01/daily-yuck.html
I really enjoy the Mango-Coconut and the Chocolate Peanut!
I really love soyjoy, but I decided to go vegan, so too bad I can’t eat them anymore
hopefully they will bring out vegan products one day? ^^
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