If you’re always in a hurry when it comes to food, but want to stay fit and trim, you might like the idea of meal replacement bars. Here’s a review of new nutritious vegan bars from French company Feed. There’s also a chance to win a box of ten, plus some crunchy chocolate snacks worth nearly £50.
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I’ve always been in two minds about meal replacement bars and shakes. I’m a firm believer in whole food cooking from scratch. On the other hand there are times when we all need something super convenient. And if I’m going to eat convenience food, I want it to be healthy and nutritious.
Feed.
This is where the French company Feed. comes in. Their meal replacement bars are good quality, healthy and nutritious and they actually taste good too. Recently, I’ve been trying out a few of them for you. I know, I’m too kind.
I’ve been taking them to work for lunch on the days I work away from home. And goodness me, what a relief it is not to have to make sandwiches in the morning. Especially as it’s usually two minutes before I have to fly out of the door in order not to miss my train.
Of course packed lunches don’t just have to be about sandwiches. For more lunch ideas you can see the recent post I did about 31 vegan lunch recipes. But I find sandwiches are generally the quickest and easiest thing to make and eat at work. My favourite is my homemade mushroom pâté. But let’s be honest, these bars are even easier.
The bars are GM free and made in France. And of course, if you prefer the idea of shakes, Feed has you covered.
Buy online with free delivery for all products.
Meal Replacement Bars
So, not only have I not had to make work sandwiches recently but I’ve really enjoyed eating the Feed meal replacement bars. I thought they wouldn’t last as long as my usual lunch, but actually they take just as long to eat, if not longer. They’re delightfully chewy, so it’s not a case of just taking a bite and swallowing. There’s a lot to get your teeth into.
The bars are also surprisingly substantial. When I’ve finished one, I feel fully satiated. You’re meant to consume them along with a glass of water, so that must bulk them out quite a bit. As well as protein and good carbohydrates, they’re full of fibre. So I expect that plays quite a big part too.
Each bar states that is it convenient, balanced and affordable.
Convenient
I’ve already stated how convenient I find them. It’s so much easier than making lunch to take to work. The bars are super handy too. They aren’t to heavy to carry around and they don’t take up much space either. So keep a couple in your bag for when you’re out and about or your desk drawer at work. They’ll keep for a good few months.
The bars, however, are not just a replacement lunch. You can have them for breakfast or supper. Or even as a snack. You know what you need.
As well as for work, these meal replacement bars are perfect for other activities too. We haven’t done a long walk along the coast in quite a while. It’s been way too wet, but when we do, these Feed bars would be just the thing. Likewise they’d be good to take as a post workout meal, especially the Light bars. Or if you’re just too busy to cook or need to chill out.
Balanced
The Feed bars state that they provide 100% of your nutritional requirement. All the protein, fibre, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins and minerals your body needs. They’re gluten-free, lactose-free and vegan. So unlike many similar products, there are no whey proteins to be found.
If you’re trying to count your calories, these bars are perfect. A complete meal replacement bar is only about 400 calories and you know exactly what you’re getting.
Affordable
Feed claim that their bars are affordable. I’m not really sure how true that is. I make my own lunches to take with me when I’m away from home, so I’m not really sure how well these compare price wise. But they are good quality. And you’ll know you’re getting a balanced nutritious meal, which might not be the case with other products. If you regularly buy your lunches, these meal replacement bars may be perfect for you.
French Chic
As you’d expect from the elegant French, the packaging is chic. It’s clear and light in colour with no in-your-face overcrowded graphics and text. The colour of the main ingredient is reflected in the outer edges of the otherwise white wrappers.
Meal Replacement Bars – What Do You Get?
The bars are both vegan and gluten-free, but they do contain nuts. The plant proteins come from soya, peas, chickpeas, almonds and sesame seeds. Rice, buckwheat and amaranth are some of the grains used. The main sweetener is agave syrup.
When I’ve tried meal replacement bars and shakes in the past, I’ve been put off by how sweet they are. The Feed bars are sweet, but only slightly so. And definitely not enough to put me off. Put it like this, they don’t taste like pudding. In fact I’ve really enjoyed the bars I’ve tried so far. But it would be nice if they could make some nicely flavoured savoury ones.
Feed: The Complete Meal
There are eight different flavoured meal replacement bars in this range. Feed have tried to make them really easy to eat, so they come semi sliced. In other words, it’s really easy to break pieces off the bar rather than feel you have to munch on them whole. Although that’s perfectly fine too. They weigh 100g, contain around 400 calories and cost £3.
Original Bars
- Chocolate
- Banana & Chocolate
- Lemon & Amaranth – I really like this one.
- Apple & Cranberry
- Coconut & Chocolate – I really like this one.
- Red Berries
Organic Bars
Two of the bars are even organic, though at £4.50, they do cost more. This is what Feed say about them:
“This range exclusively uses organic ingredients chosen by the michelin-starred chef, Thierry Marx. We have included four vegetable proteins with interesting nutritional profiles: rice, pumpkin, flax and hemp proteins, as well as olive and rapeseed oils, fruits, and superfoods, such as baobab fruit pulp, spirulina, moringa, achiote, acerola, tulsi and amalaka fruits, all rich in vitamins and minerals.”
- Fig & Almond – I really liked this one.
- Cranberry & Chocolate
Feed: Light
There are only two meal replacement bars in this range, but I really liked both of them. They’re coated in a thin layer of chocolate, so resemble a classic chocolate bar in some ways. However, they’re only slightly sweet and much better for it. They weigh 70g and contain around 250 calories. It appears that you can only buy these as part of a larger pack.
- Blackberry and Chocolate with konjac
- Sesame and Chocolate with konjac
Crunchy Chocolate Snacks
When it comes to snacking, these crunchy chocolate balls are the business. They have a similar crunch and texture to Maltesers, but with much less sugar. They also have a lot more in the way of protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals. I really like them, but because they’re not laden with sugar and fat, I find I can stop at just a few.
A 90g pack can be consumed as a meal replacement as it provides all the nutrients you need. It comes in at 388 calories and costs £4.50. Great for sofa surfing.
The Verdict
I’m actually really impressed with these Feed meal replacement bars. They’re tasty, filling, nutritious and not overloaded with calories. When I’ve eaten them for lunch I’ve not felt hungry for the rest of the day. They’re vegan and gluten-free, so they’re accessible to most of us. I was thrilled to be able to eat them during Veganuary.
I wouldn’t want to have them very often as I’d quickly miss the salad and vegetable ingredients I usually have. They’re also too expensive for me to indulge in on a regular basis. But as an occasional work lunch, they’re ideal. Especially when you’ve left it too late to prepare anything yourself for work. Or is that just me?
Stay in Touch
Thanks for visiting Tin and Thyme. If you try any of these Feed meal replacement bars, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below. Do share photos on your preferred social media site and use the hashtag #tinandthyme, so I can spot them.
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Choclette x
Meal Replacement Bars. PIN IT.
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Feed Meal Replacement Bars Giveaway
Feed. is offering one Tin and Thyme reader ten of their replacement meal bars together with a bag of their crunchy snack chocolates. The bundle is worth around £50. To be in with a chance of winning, please fill in the Gleam widget below. You will need to leave a comment on this post, answering the question, which then gives you additional chances to enter if you so wish. Gleam will pick a winner at random from the entries received. If you are commenting anonymously, please give me some way of identifying you as I will be verifying the validity of entries. Any automated entries will be disqualified.
This giveaway is only open to those with a UK postal address. Winners will need to respond within 5 days of being contacted. Failure to do this may result in another winner being picked. Leaving your details gives permission for them to be passed on to Feed. should you be a winner in this giveaway.
Prizes are offered and provided by Feed. and Tin and Thyme accepts no responsibility for the acts or defaults of said third party. Tin and Thyme reserves the right to cancel or amend the giveaway and these terms and conditions without notice.
Closing date is Wednesday 11 march 2020
Do take a look at the Tin and Thyme giveaways page to see if there’s anything else you’d like to enter.
Thanks to Feed. for the products which they sent for review purposes. They did not expect me to write a positive review and all opinions are, as always, my own. Thanks for your support of the brands and organisations that help to keep Tin and Thyme blithe and blogging.
ellie spider says
When I am rushing between meetings at work or when I want something after the gym but not a full heavy meal
Adrian Bold says
Perfect for snacking and helps towards my own weight loss goals.
Rebecca Beesley says
These would be incredibly useful for two particular scenarios… when I rush off to the course I’m doing straight after morning school run I struggle to find time to pack myself a proper lunch. This would be perfect. The other occasion is when I’ve headed out for the day and can’t find any suitable places to grab a vegetarian lunch. These would be a perfect stand by lunch alternative in those emergencies.
LOUISE HEATON says
These would be perfect for my niece, Jess who works as an auxiliary nurse at a veterinary hospital. She is also a cleaner there, so is always busy, busy, busy.
Patrick Quilty says
perfect for me , as an engineer i am always out at work in my van all day and it is easy to just skip lunch
Sue Clarke says
My son is taking some to Uganda as he is going to be in a remote area.
Carol W. says
I always keep at least one bar in my bag in case I miss my bus home and have to walk (they only run once an hour) or if it’s a really nice day and I go for a wander along the canal or the local parks and don’t have to get home to cook a meal when I can be enjoying the great outdoors.
Victoria Bazley says
I’d love to try these. Lunchtimes are particularly difficult, either I make my own lunch and I don’t feel satisfied so snake, or I buy out and buy too much. These sound perfect. Grab and go!
Karoline Wood-Swirles says
These look ideal for when you’re in a rush and need to grab something quick. It’s hard to find vegan food on the go so these would be perfect!
Lisa Armstrong says
I would use them at work or anytime when I am very busy !
Susan Willshee says
When we go away on our hols we often go out walking during the day. One of these bars would be a great meal replacement to take with us on our strolls.
Sammie Martin says
I would love these to keep the calories down for one meal a day (probably lunch).
George Spedding says
before going to the gym, sometimes too tired to eat when I get home
Troy Easton says
When busy at work on a shifted I don’t always get chance to eat a meal have only 10 minutes or sometimes five minutes every couple of hours.
sharon martin says
i think i’d find these useful on busy days or when out and about as i tend to skip eating lunch on such days so these look like a great option
kim neville says
Would be very useful to have when have a busy day ahead or when out walking to keep up my energy levels
Sally says
Would be so easy to have these when you’re on the go all the time
Adrian Price says
i would take them to work on the construction site as a healthy meal replacement
Julie Ward says
I’m not very organised and tend to skip lunch, so these would come in useful then
olivia Kirby says
I would use them leading up to going on holiday or a wedding I am going to this year. I may also use them instead of breakfast on work days as it’s too early to eat otherwise.
Melissa Lee says
I’m quite often out and about in the day and would love to have something healthy and calorie controlled to eat rather than buying lunch somewhere else
ALBA GARCIA says
I would like to taste them! Good luck!
Sheri Darby says
When I am on a very long walk and don’t want to carry a packed lunch with me
Kim Carberry says
I am really bad at eating lunch. I get wrapped up in doing something and before I know it, it’s 2pm and I’m starving. These would be a great way to keep me filled until tea time. x
holly harmsworth says
On the school run when i’m rushing out the door and there is no time for breakfast these would be perfect
Natalie Charman says
I am trying to lose weight so meal replacement bars are great to have when outside to stop me heading to McDonald’s!
Thomas Myerscough says
I need something healthy when I wake up for a 7am shift and don’t feel like making sandwiches
Fiona Johnstone says
These sound great. I would use them when I’m travelling. So instead of nipping to MacDonald’s I could eat one of these bars. More healthy too.
Carolynn Woodland says
The day after an eating binge would be an ideal time for one of these bars but also as a meal replacement whenever I felt my diet had slipped and I needed to get back on track. Also ideal just for snacking purposes during the day.
Elizm says
When I’m racing around all day I can easily go all day without a meal and inevitably end up filling the void on the way home with a mars bar or a packet of crisps. So I would keep these in my handbag/car etc as a better alternative to nutrition on the run
Tina H says
I struggle to eat breakfast during the week, so these would be perfect to eat at my desk at about 10:00 am when I can finally stomach food.
Laura banks says
i’m going on to shift work so they would be so much easier to eat when im on my breaks
Carole Nott says
I am still trying to shift some extra weight and these bars look like a perfect answer – would love to give them a try
Kim M says
Perfect for my other half when he’s busy at work instead of grabbing that bacon butty x
Rachel Barton says
I can see these being useful if I was out to stop me buying junk food
cheryl hadfield says
perfect for days when I am on the go at work with no time for lunch
lynn neal says
On work days when there is little time to eat a proper meal but this would be easy to keep in my bag!
Caitlin T-J says
I’d like to use the meal replacement bars on days where I have lots of university lectures and so not a lot of time to make lunch and dinner from scratch.
Amanda tanner says
I would like to use them as a replacement to a dessert after my main meal as I eat alone t of sweet stuff
Helen Thurston says
These look ideal for busy days out when I don’t have time to make or buy lunch – just keep a bar in my bag so it’s to hand when I need it.
Anne Clay says
These sound really convenient and healthier than alternatives.
Jane Morfett says
It would be good to try something new that was healthy and can be eaten on the go.
Sandra Fortune says
I love vegan and I do yoga these would be handy to keep my energy levels up thanks for the chance to win
melanie stirling says
These would be ideal for when travelling or when I’m not feeling well and don’t want to bother with a proper meal.
Kate - Gluten Free Alchemist says
These sound interesting! Good to see they are also gluten free. I do worry a bit about the idea of a bar being a ‘replacement meal’… but they may keep me away from other junk! I would certainly love to try them as a breakfast sub and for when I’m stacked with work and simply can’t find the time to eat properly xx
Choclette says
That’s just what they’re good for Kate. I definitely wouldn’t want to have them very often, but as an occasional replacement meal, they work well.
Solange says
I would use meal replacement bars when I am busy at work and I don’t get a chance to eat a meal.
Fiona jk42 says
I’d use meal replacement bars when travelling as I don’t like to buy sandwiches etc. from vendors and taking my own can be a bit impractical if I’m setting off very early.
EMMA WALTERS says
perfect for a busy shift at work when i don’t get chance to eat a meal
Ellen Stafford says
For when I am out and about. Like when I go into town…instead of popping into McDonalds or somewhere like that I could sit out on a bench and have one of these!
Judy says
I am really interested to try these Feed meal replacement bars. I find meal replacement bars useful when out and about and as part of a weight loss plan.
Susan B says
I find them most useful when I am out shopping or visiting friends and family but don’t have time to sit down to eat. I have to have something otherwise I feel ill. Bars like these with a balance of protein and carbs that I can pop in my bag are a perfect solution.
Maxine G says
Great for having for lunch on busy days when I don’t get time for a proper break!
Peter Watson says
I am keen to lose weight and meal replacement bars should help me control my calorie intake.
Julie T says
It is really good to hear that these bars aren’t too sweet as that it quite off putting to me too. I am about to have a look around their website, many thanks for the link and the post.
Choclette says
I wasn’t expecting to like them as much as I actually did. I’d prefer a savoury one really, but these still feel like a proper meal.