Like this, but not.

May 5, 2015 9:22 AM

I really, really love Brick Bars, but they're expensive. Are there any cheaper, non-nut-based alternatives?

Things I like about the Brick Bars:

Not nut-based

High in protein, low in sugar. (Most meal replacement bars have waaaaay too much sugar in them for me. 10 grams of sugar is about as much as I can take.)

Savory, not sweet.

Can be kept at the desk without refrigeration.

Single-serving.

I don't particularly care about stuff being paleo or organic or gluten free, but would appreciate a non-meat alternative that has the same qualities as Brick and/or less fat.

And yeah, I've seen the Epic Bar, but reviews aren't encouraging. I've also seen the Primal Strips, and they seem perfect, but are lower on protein than I'd like. Louisville Vegan Jerky and similar products sound nice, but appear to be about as expensive, and I WILL EAT THE ENTIRE BAG IN A SITTING.

posted by joyceanmachine to Food & Drink (9 answers total)

Best answer: I don't know of any particularly good brands, but that brick bar looks a lot like pemmican to me - you might have some luck searching with that term. I can't tell whether you'd prefer non-nut-based or non-meat-based or both, but I'm pretty sure I've seen both meat-based and nut-based pemmican before.
posted by dialetheia at 9:37 AM on May 5, 2015

Best answer: Tanka Bars & Tanka Bites are cheaper and they're freakin' delicious. It's a great company, too.
posted by ourobouros at 9:41 AM on May 5, 2015 [3 favorites]

Best answer: Hmmm, OK, it isn't in the shape of a bar, but it is non nut, non meat, non sugary and high protein in single servings - you can get little snack sized packets in Indian food supply stores, of fried moong dhal.
Here is an example: Fried moong dhal snack

Delicious, like a packet of chips, but more satisfying - like I can actually stop after one, completely unlike chips, but I like them just as much.
posted by Elysum at 10:33 AM on May 5, 2015 [1 favorite]

Best answer: How do you feel about cricket flour? Exo bars get good reviews (and are supposedly highly eco-friendly).
posted by Bebo at 10:44 AM on May 5, 2015

Best answer: I searched for "savory vegetarian protein bar" and came up with this recipe (that does include some nuts, but you could probably readily modify it) as well as a brand called Journey Bar that has several variations and appears to be about half the cost of Brick Bars. Sheffa also has a bar called Everything Savory Bar that has no nuts or meat.

If you want high protein and you don't want either nuts or meat, that kind of leaves you with beans or cheese. So, if it doesn't have to be a bar per se, another option might be to keep BabyBel cheese in your desk along with crackers or a flat bread you like (kavli is pretty hearty). BabyBel cheese will keep without refrigeration as long as the wax casing is not broken. Soy Nuts are another thing that comes to mind that is high protein and doesn't require refrigeration. Soy Nuts are not actually nuts. They are roasted soy beans. I used to eat them all the time, until I got a diagnosis and later read an article that suggested that soy is contraindicated for my condition.

Eggs are another non-meat, non-nut, high protein food. Unfortunately, searching for "savory egg protein bar" got me lots of recipes for things that had chocolate and other sweet-looking options. I did find this recipe for Savory Quinoa Spinach Breakfast Bars. However, it says it keeps 3-4 days refrigerated. If you really like the taste of this recipe, you could try getting a machine for vacuum-packing foods at home and see if that makes it adequately desk-friendly.
posted by Michele in California at 11:31 AM on May 5, 2015

Best answer: People seem to either love or hate Just the Cheese, but it does meet most of your criteria.
posted by gnomeloaf at 2:10 PM on May 5, 2015 [1 favorite]

I don't know how high protein you need, but these bars are delicious and there are a variety of flavours: larabar
posted by eisforcool at 4:05 PM on May 5, 2015

Quest bars. Soo good and high protein. Available at whole foods or vitamin shoppe
posted by chaoscutie at 6:27 PM on May 5, 2015

Response by poster: Thanks, people! Larabars are tasty, but pretty high in sugar, and Quest bars are nut-based and have a weird flavor to them, possibly because of the sucralose that they use as a sugar substitute.

If there are any other suggestions, I'd super-love to hear them -- I had no idea that BabyBel cheese kept without refrigeration! And the Exo bars look sweet, but get points for sheer coolness :D
posted by joyceanmachine at 6:42 AM on May 6, 2015 [1 favorite]