Tested: Kashi GO LEAN Roll

Plain old energy bars and gels are going out of style, and here’s an example of something new – the Kashi GOLEAN ROLL. Instead of a bar, this is a roll!

It looks a lot like a bar, but it’s rounded, like a log. But not just any log… we’re talking nougat log! Seeing this roll really brought back the memories of those delicious, creamy nougat logs I used to have at Easter.

This Caramel Peanut flavor Kashi GO LEAN Roll is basically a nougat log covered in peanuts and soy crisps. It looks and smells like a PayDay candy bar.

Based on looks, it should taste extravagant. And it almost does…

See, the peanuts are nice, but the soy crisps detract from the taste. And the nougat is pretty good, albeit nowhere near as sweet as the unhealthy nougat logs! Those soy crisps lead to an overall “crispy” texture, which certainly takes away from the soft, chewy, and creamy texture I was expecting.

Breaking it down some more…

The nougat is pretty close to having the nice texture you’d expect from nougat, although it’s not as sweet as usual. The caramel coating over the nougat is good, and the peanuts on the outside are good. Unfortunately, the oats, grains, and soy crisps on the outside make it feel like you’re eating bird seed!

I guess you can’t take a candy bar, sprinkle some healthy grains on top, and have it work out well.

Kashi GO LEAN Roll Nutrition

Can the nutrition facts save this bar?

At first glance, it does seem pretty healthy for an energy bar. The 190 calorie bar provides 27g carbs and 12g protein, along with an impressive 6g fiber to help you stay satisfied. It is also formulated for an “optimized glycemic response.”

But the ingredients don’t impress me much…

Brown Rice Syrup, Crystalline Fructose, Soy Protein Isolate, Kashi Seven Whole Grains and Sesame® Blend (Whole: Hard Red Winter Wheat, Oats, Rye, Barley, Triticale, Long Grain Brown Rice, Buckwheat, Sesame Seeds), Whey Protein Isolate, Peanut Flour, Chicory Root Fiber, Peanuts, Oat Fiber, Evaporated Cane Juice, Expeller Pressed Canola Oil, Rice Starch, Mechanically Fractionated Palm Kernel Oil, Skim Milk, Vegetable Glycerin, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Natural Flavors, Soy Lecithin, Magnesium Oxide, Carrageenan, Mixed Tocopherols (For Freshness), Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Vitamin E Acetate, Zinc Oxide, Ferrous Fumarate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Folic Acid, Vitamin B12.

Crystalline fructose (which isn’t much different from high fructose corn syrup) is way too close to the top! That’s too bad. It’s probably because of the caramel and/or nougat, since most Kashi products only contain healthier sweeteners such as evaporated cane juice syrup and/or brown rice syrup.

My final verdict is…

While most of Kashi’s products are stellar, this GOLEAN Roll was a disappointment. It looks like a delicious candy bar, but it ends up tasting no better than a plain old Kashi granola bar. I wouldn’t say it’s bad, but it’s one of the worst products in Kashi’s lineup. (The GOLEAN protein & fiber bar was disappointing, too.)

Feel free to try one to see for yourself, but I would recommend you grab the Kashi TLC granola bars instead. Either stick with the healthier bars, or splurge with a PayDay candy bar – don’t compromise and get one of these.

Official website: www.kashi.com (GOLEAN Roll page.)