Lenny and Larry’s Cookies Review: How Healthy Are They?
Whether you’re a gym goer or someone searching around at a gas station, you’ve probably seen or heard of Lenny and Larry’s cookies.
With labels like 10g of fiber, 16g of protein, and non-GMO verified, you may assume they’re good for you.
But, how healthy are they really?
In this review, we’ll look at nutrition facts, ingredient lists, and taste testing results to give you everything you need to decide if Lenny & Larry’s cookies truly are the healthiest choice for those with a sweet tooth!
What is Lenny and Larry Cookies?
One of the most well-known brands in the protein cookie market is Lenny and Larry’s. Lenny and Larry’s cookies are popular among athletes, fitness enthusiasts, and anyone looking for a tasty and convenient way to increase their protein intake. They’re found in most gas stations and grocery stores across America.
Their Complete Cookie line offers a variety of delicious.
- White Chocolate-flavored Macadamia
- Chocolate Chip
- Double Chocolate
- Snickerdoodle
- Oatmeal Raisin
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
- Salted Caramel
- Chocolate Donut
- Choc-o-Mint
- Peanut Butter
- Lemon Poppy Seed
- Birthday Cake
As well as special edition/limited-time flavors like their holiday collection.
Each cookie contains 16 grams of protein and 10 grams of fiber.
They are made with all-natural ingredients and are free from dairy, soy, GMOs, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, and sugar alcohol.
In addition to their Complete Cookie line, Lenny and Larry’s also offers breakfast bars, protein sandwich cookies, protein wafers, and more.
Our Lenny and Larry Cookies Review
Taste: 3/5
Everyone’s taste buds are different so this is just a matter of opinion.
Unlike many other protein snacks, this cookie has some decent flavor. There still is the standard cardboard-like aftertaste, but it’s much more subtle than most. The white chocolate chips in the cookie I tried weren’t sweet like a normal white chocolate chip, but there was a flavor resembling one.
Overall, the taste wasn’t too bad for a protein cookie so a 3 is a fair rating for the flavor.
Texture: 4/5
Protein snacks are notorious for being dry, but with Lenny and Larry’s the moisture is much better.
These protein cookies are one of the best when it comes to overall texture. Many people compare them to a soft-baked cookie and that’s pretty spot on when I tried them.
If you’re a texture person, then this can be a great option.
Protein Content: 2/5
These protein cookies give you 16 grams of plant-based protein sourced from pea protein, rice protein, and vital wheat gluten. While these cookies are vegan-friendly, it’s still rather a low amount of protein for a 400-calorie cookie.
A standard protein bar can give you the same protein content with half as many calories.
If your goal is to use this as a meal replacement or an alternative to a normal protein bar, then this would be somewhat reasonable. But many of these calories come from its sugar content.
Sugar Rating: 1/5
Lenny and Larry’s protein cookies contain anywhere from 18 to 30 grams of total sugar per cookie.
Although their cookies are free from artificial sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup, Lenny and Larry’s cookies use cane sugar and invert sugar to give the cookie flavor.
Invert sugar is similar to regular sugar but is often used for sugary snacks and drinks to help retain moisture, which can be helpful for a protein snack since most are dry as hell.
According to Webstaurantstore.com, inverted sugar is not worse for you than added sugar, but it’s not any better either.
So even though high fructose-free may sound healthier, these cookies are still high in sugar content.
Price: 3/5
The price of a 13-pack box of a variety of flavored cookies is $23.99 on their website. Making each cookie costs about $1.83 before shipping and taxes.
This number would normally be pretty high for a convenient source of protein, but many will use this cookie as a meal replacement since the calories are high enough (and it’s a pretty big cookie).
So when it comes down to price, it can be good or bad depending on what you’re looking for.
If you’re looking for more protein, then a protein bar would be cheaper.
If you’re looking for a meal replacement, then it’s pretty good as far as price goes.
Overall Nutritional Value: 1/5
Each cookie contains a little over 400 calories a piece. This could be a valid option as a meal replacement, but with protein content only being at 16g, you might be better off eating a standard protein bar if you’re looking for more convenient protein.
Protein bars are typically less to eat and have equal if not more protein than these cookies.
Also with the sugar content being similar to a Hershey’s chocolate bar, the score of the overall nutrition should be lower.
The main pros of this protein cookie are that it’s high in fiber, friendly towards certain dietary restrictions, and is a different way to get your daily protein in comparison to a standard protein shake and protein bar. (Which is why they started the company in the first place.)
FAQ’s
Are Lenny and Larry’s Cookies Healthy?
Not really. Healthy is a relative term, but with the nutrition facts, there are healthier options for you.
While they are friendly toward certain diets, these cookies are high calorie, and high sugar, with some extra protein compared to a regular cookie.
Are Lenny and Larry’s Cookies Keto Friendly?
No. The complete cookies are not keto-friendly since they have anywhere from 27-30g of carbs. But they do have a keto cookie option if you’re looking for something with less carbs.
Are Lenny and Larry’s Cookies good for weight loss?
No. These cookies are over 400 calories each, making them more of a meal replacement than a snack. But with the high sugar content, it may not be best to use these as a “healthy snack.”
At the end of the day, if you want to lose weight, you’ll need to be in a calorie deficit, so technically, anything can help you lose weight if you don’t go over your calories for the day. (Not advising you to eat like shit, just pointing it out.)
Are Lenny and Larry’s Cookies good for building muscle?
Not really. To build muscle, you need sufficient protein, enough calories, and good and consistent training.
While Lenny and Larry’s cookies have good protein and a good amount of calories, it’s high in sugar and sourced from plant-based protein.
Plant-based protein isn’t bad for you, but if you’re looking to build muscle, protein sourced from meat and poultry tends to be best. These sources of protein have more amino acids that aid in muscle gain, so unless you’re vegan or vegetarian, you may want to look for something else.
Are Lenny and Larry’s Cookies good for bulking?
Yes. If you’re looking to gain some extra pounds to bulk up, then these protein cookies can be helpful. With over 400 calories and 16g of protein per cookie, this can help you boost your daily calorie intake while giving you some extra protein.
Other Protein Cookies
Quest Nutrition Protein Cookies
These soft and chewy cookies come in flavors such as chocolate chip, double chocolate, peanut butter, and oatmeal raisin. Each cookie contains 15 grams of protein and 1 gram of sugar.
MusclePharm Protein Cookies
These soft-baked cookies come in flavors like double chocolate, peanut butter, and oatmeal raisin. Each cookie contains 16 grams of protein and 9 grams of sugar.
Buff Bake Protein Sandwich Cookies
These unique cookies have a creamy filling sandwiched between two crunchy protein cookies. They come in flavors like birthday cake, red velvet, and chocolate chip. Each serving contains 12 grams of protein.
Oatmega Protein Cookies
These gluten-free cookies are available in flavors like white chocolate macadamia, peanut butter, and double chocolate. Each cookie contains 12 grams of protein and only 8 grams of sugar.
Bottom Line
When it comes to emerging food on the market, it’s always best to check the nutrition facts. While the marketing may make something seem healthy with “high protein” or “high fiber”, the nutrition facts are what should be true.
The bottom line with these cookies is that they aren’t all that healthy, but they do have above-average protein…for a cookie. They’re basically regular cookies with some protein and fiber in them.
Are they healthier than a normal cookie? Yes.
Would I pick them over a protein bar? Probably not.
Maybe once in a while, if you’re sick of eating the same protein bar over and over again. But as my primary snack for protein, I’d steer clear.