This High-Protein Reese’s Candy Alternative Supports My Fitness Goals

When I was bulking, the fact that I ended every night with Reese’s candy was not just a sign of where I was in my training season, but a surrender to my ever-present sweet tooth. Those 230 calories, 28 grams of sugar, and 11 grams of fat were in service of my intention to put on mass, but I was also giving in to gnawing cravings. Now, during my cut, I’ve swapped it for a high-protein Reese’s alternative that satisfies the same cravings without derailing my macros. ONE Brand’s Reese’s Peanut Butter Lovers protein bar feels like an indulgence, but it’s actually helping me achieve my current fitness goals. Tell you more? Happy to…

• ABOUT OUR EXPERTS: Brittany Michels, R.D.N, M.S. C.P.T, is a registered dietitian and certified personal trainer with The Vitamin Shoppe. Mallory Aldred R.D, is a registered dietitian and founder of What Mallory Eats. 

The Power of Protein 

In fitness, a cut refers to a period of an intentional but slight caloric deficit in effort to alter body composition—or, more specifically, reduce fat mass while maintaining muscle. While bodybuilders are most notorious for fluctuating back and forth between a bulk and cut, as a CrossFit athlete, I, too, choose to cycle between these phases. 

Why? Because a bulk gives me an annual reprieve from strict calorie counting and macronutrient tracking, while also helping me get stronger. Meanwhile, a cut gives me an opportunity to prioritize my cardiovascular capacity and lean out alongside outdoor running and beach season. (Call me vain, but a compliment about my six pack really does it for me.)

Read More: Here’s What It Really Takes To Get A Six-Pack

During a cut, my caloric intake drops about 300 calories per day, from 2400 to 2100 daily, which I achieve by reducing fat and sugar intake. But the biggest difference in my diet between the two phases is how focused I am on protein intake. 

As a person who regularly squats, pulls, and presses heavy, protein matters all year round. After all, “protein makes up the structure of our muscle and connective tissue,” explains Brittany Michels, R.D.N, M.S. C.P.T, a registered dietitian and certified personal trainer with The Vitamin Shoppe. So, high protein intake can support the health and durability of our muscles—especially when combined with exercise. Indeed, one 2022 review in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle reports that combining higher protein intake with strength training can enhance muscle mass and strength. 

But it’s when I’m in a cut that adequate protein really matters. The reason? When in a calorie deficit, the body has less calories to use for energy. As such, the body can start to break down fat and muscle tissue for energy. Eating adequate protein—about 1 gram per pound of optimal body weight—helps ensure that our bodies have the supplies they need to preserve muscle mass during a cut, recover from strength workouts, and even support additional strength gains, says registered dietitian Mallory Aldred R.D, founder of What Mallory Eats. 

“Typically, consuming whole food protein sources is the more satiating and nutritious way to meet your daily protein goals,” says Aldred. And I do get most of my 130 grams of protein from chicken, shrimp, and lean meat. But, as she says, “we live in an era where meal prep time is far and few between, so protein bars can come in handy.” Not to mention, there are few very high-protein desserts that don’t require a protein supplement of some kind. 

Read More: Which Type Of Protein Powder Is Best For You?

Breakdown of The Bar

Amongst bodybuilders and other gym-goers, ONE Brand is widely known for their tasty bars, which provide a flavorful way to support daily macronutrient intake. Their bold dessert-inspired flavors make this bar a go-to, high-protein, Reese’s candy alternative that fits seamlessly into a cut or maintenance phase. In addition to my preferred flavor, they have other dessert-inspired options, like Blueberry Cobbler, Birthday Cake, Cookies and Cream, and, my second favorite, Maple Glazed Donut. 

Despite their super-sweet taste, across the board these bars contain less sugar, carbohydrates, and fat, plus significantly more protein and fiber than the classic desserts they were inspired by. 

Consider the ONE Brand Reese’s Peanut Butter Lovers protein bar I currently nosh on nightly compared to the Reese’s Fast Break Bar I’d formerly finish off. While the chocolatey, peanut buttery bars are matched on calories and fats, ONE Brand’s high protein variation has 4.5 times the amount of protein for 18 grams total. Meaning, the bar simultaneously satiates my sweet tooth while pushing me towards my daily protein goal. Win! 

The high-protein bar also has 10 times the fiber, or 10 out of the 30 grams of suggested daily intake, per Michels, which she says is beneficial for weight management as well as overall gut health. 

Satisfying My Sweet Tooth 

Most nights, I nosh on my ONE Brand Reese’s Peanut Butter Lovers protein bar while reading my latest Elin Hilderbrand romance, just as I used to do with an actual Reese’s bar. (Yes, my muscles may make me look tough, but I’m a softie!) But ONE bars can be incorporated any time throughout the day. 

Read More: Your Ultimate Guide to Protein Bars

“This particular bar could be a convenient option for someone who always skips breakfast, including someone who exercises in the morning,” Michels says. “It contains 25 grams of carbohydrate, which is enough to provide energy for most workouts. You could also eat it post-workout to support muscle recovery, as its 18 gram protein content can support muscle repair and growth.”

Plus, even if you don’t have a regimented fitness routine, bars like this one can come in handy for a travel-friendly snack.

In a nutshell, there is no wrong way to enjoy a ONE Brand Peanut Butter Lovers protein bar!