My kids have tried Quaker Q-Smart Snack Bars, and they have pronounced them OK. However, the real winner in the high protein cereal bar wars is Post's CarbWell. They win on taste and price, but they don't win on carb or sugar count. They have 9g of net carbs versus the 3g of net carbs of the Quaker Q-Smart. For me, the Carb Well bars have too many carbs, but for my kids they are OK. (My kids actually eat them as a dessert.)
Price: Post gets around the insane markup at the grocery store level by putting in a $1 coupon in every box, good for over a year. If you are going to be a repeat buyer of these things, this is a lifesaver. I never use coupons consistently, but I have worked up a stash of these things so I can always buy a box for $1 less. This makes the snack within reach for the school year. I have found Post Carb Well for $2.99 at Market Basket, and for $1 more at other stores. So guess where I buy them? At $1.99 for five bars after coupon, this is doable on a consistent basis. The Q-Smart bars are either $3.69 on sale or $3.99. No coupons. (Update: More on the coupons here!)
Taste: ALL the kids like these bars, even my kid's friends. All of them. My daughter prefers the Peanut Butter, and my son prefers the Cinnamon Raisin. I don't like the Q-Smart Bars at all (see this Q-Smart review and the snack I prefer), but I do think these are good. The Q-Smart just doesn't compete on taste.
Carb Count and Sugar Count: With 9 grams of carbs and 7 grams of sugar, these things are only good for men (who can eat a lot more carbs than women) or kids (who usually go on a modified version of the diet.) In addition, if you don't process sugar alcohols well, then the Q-Smart is definitely the way to go, if you can stand the taste. At 140 calories and some sugar alcohols, make sure you count these as part of your 300 calorie allowance of non-natural low carb foods. (Update: More on Post CarbWell Cereal Bar availability here but not discontinued...)
Post Carb Well High Protein Cereal Bars Nutritional Information
Serving Size 1 Bar
Servings Per container 5
Calories 140
Total Fat 5g
Saturated Fat 2.5
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol <5mg
Sodium 150 mg
Potassium 150mg
Total Carbohydrate 15g
Dietary Fiber 3g
Sugars 7g
Sugar Alcohol 3g
Protein 10g
Quaker Q-Smart Snack Bars Nutritional Information
Serving Size 1 Bar
Servings per container 5
Calories 120
Total Fat 6g
Saturated Fat 2.5g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 0g
Sodium 170 mg
Total Carbohydrates 8g
Dietary Fiber 2g
Sugars 1g
Sugar Alchohol 3g
Protein 11g
I have tried your new Carb Well bars and I must say they are a real treat. The peanut butter ones are so good. I am watching my sugar and these bars are great for that, plus give you that sweet treat that you need. Congradulatons on such a great product. I will continue to buy them on a weekly basic.
Thank you so much.
Posted by: Charlotte | September 30, 2004 at 08:23 PM
Speaking of Carbwell.....I live in Southern California and while in the Palm Springs area in Albertson's market...I found an incredible low-carb Planter's nuts Chocolate Peanut crunch bar...I thought they were made by Carbwell, but now I cannot find them.
Can you help me with my search?
Thanks,
Susan Harris
Posted by: Susan Harris | December 05, 2004 at 08:04 PM
I was and still am disappointed to see that my bi lo grocery store has discontinued the carbwell cinnamon and raisin cereal bars. I personally think these are the best ones. Is there anyone that carries them around the johnston, sc or augusta georgia area? I buy a lot of your products. I keep the cereal on hand and have a bunch of 1.00 off coupons. I would appreciate any info uou can give me. Thanks, Madonna
Posted by: madonna powell | January 29, 2005 at 02:19 PM
I live in the Albany-Troy- Clifton Park area of N.Y. .Can anyone tell me where I can buy carbwell bars? thanks
Posted by: Mike | February 08, 2005 at 10:53 PM
Carb Well joined with the South Beach DIet and I noticed that the bars are much smaller than what they used to be. Out here in California they are $3.99 which is alot!! They used to have the $1.00 off coupon inside and now they don't and am disappointed now
Posted by: MARIE | February 13, 2005 at 12:44 AM
Kroger stores in the Nashville TN area are discontinuing Post CarbWell bars. Does anyone know why? Have they been taken off the market by Kraft?
Posted by: digiroo | February 18, 2005 at 12:27 PM
Kroger in Columbus OH also reports these are discontinued!!??? I thought these were popular, but maybe they were just not restocking the shelves.... Anyway, Kroger shelves are empty.
Posted by: bill | February 20, 2005 at 01:32 PM
WalMart has discontinued Post Carbwell!! What's up?
Posted by: Sandi | March 07, 2005 at 08:41 AM
I truly have enjoyed the CarbWell Bars and am able to get them at other stores. My favorite has always been the Cinnamom Raisin but the last box I got -23MAY2005-XN14CA- tasted like soap when you chewed them. I just wondered if there was something wrong with that batch and if I'm emailing the right place. I actually saved one of the bars. I had friends try the others just to be sure it wasn't just me that got that taste. I'd be glad to hear what happened and what can be done. Thank you.
Posted by: Christine Strones | March 08, 2005 at 02:10 AM
I love the Carb Well cinnamon-raisin bars, but they have become nearly impossible to find in Indiana. Target put their stock of Carb Well bars on clearance, CVS and Osco have not restocked the product, and my local grocery store pulled the shelf tags after selling through its initial stock. I called Post and asked whether the product is being discontinued and was told that it is not, but that's hard to believe after reading the messages here.
Posted by: Greg | March 09, 2005 at 12:07 PM
i went shopping yesterday and couldn't find the peanut butter bars...i have been trying to cut down and have llost weight with these bars. i called my daughter and she told me she couldn't find any either..i will also call the company
Posted by: diane martinez | March 11, 2005 at 10:11 AM
Where can I buy these bars? Cinnamon Raisin are my favorite. Used to find in grocery store but can't find anymore.
Posted by: Mary | March 15, 2005 at 07:21 PM
Live in NC, all grocery stores have stated they are discontinued and will take a couple of months to transition over to South Beach Diet Bars now. I had no idea everyone else out there was having the same problem I was having. Nice to know I am not alone on the crisis, as I call it. I , too, have lost soooooooo much weight eating only these and hate I can't find them too. ANd yes, they are ALOT smaller than before.
Posted by: Debbie | March 18, 2005 at 10:13 PM
Post Carb Well cereal bars are now the Kraft South Beach Diet cereal bars with the exact same flavors. The boxes no longer have the coupons.
Posted by: Gary | March 31, 2005 at 11:03 AM
Where can I find SnackWells CarbWell Snack Bars - Cookies and Creme? I love them and can't find them anywhere!!
Posted by: Dee | April 25, 2005 at 02:22 PM
I have searched in a 50 mile radius of Indianapolis, Indiana and have not found the barsfor my wife.... Post you need to bring the bars back out this is wrong for you to stop making them!!!!!!
Posted by: larry | May 15, 2005 at 01:47 PM
Help! Bought CarbWell Cinnamon Crunch Cereal. Loved it! Can't find any more! Where can we get a year's supply?
Posted by: June Wallace | May 21, 2005 at 07:40 PM
Hi there, I am new to this website but after reading several comments on how great the carbwell post bars are I feel inclined to comment that the reason why they taste so good is because they are loaded with corn syrup, sugar and a few other hidden stuff. I have been doin the low carb lifestyle for 2 years now and I bought them last year and assumed there would not be hidden sugars in the bars only because post is a well known brand. However, I glanced at the ingredient list and decided to throw the rest of mine away. So, basically the moral of the story in my mind, if they taste like they could be full of sugar chances are they are. It did train me to start looking at the ingredients list though, unfortunately some companies will say just about anything to get people to buy products.
Posted by: Elyssa | June 21, 2005 at 07:43 AM
I have been searching for the Carb Well Cereal.
I have 50 coupons for $1.00 off good until August 8th. (I still have 4 boxes but was planning on stocking up on the low carb item) As a diabetic this is the only low sugar/low carb I can eat.
DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CARB WELL CEREAL AND CAN I BUY IT ANYWHERE????
tHANKS,
PAM
Posted by: Pam in Texas | July 28, 2005 at 12:49 AM
What has happened to the Carbwell cereal? Also what has happened to the SnackWell cookies? I found them in Dallas, Texas up until a few months ago. Now can't find them in any store. MA
Posted by: MA McMillan | August 15, 2005 at 02:44 PM
Look for Carb Well cereal in outlet stores and 99 cent stores. It is going for 99 cent a box.
Posted by: Laura Smith | August 15, 2005 at 07:49 PM
yew can buy carbwell for $1 at 99 cent/dollar stores
Posted by: LoVeLiiBaBii9 | August 26, 2005 at 05:06 PM
My husband is a diabetic and really enjoyed this cereal. We cannot find a replacement with
lower carb count. Please try and return it to the markets.
Posted by: Judy | October 16, 2005 at 08:18 PM
I just tried the Kraft (formerly Post Carb Well) Cinnamon Raisin bars. They are wonderful. I found mine by the cereals in my grocery (Publix - FL) store.
I have not figured out "net" carbs yet. How many net carbs are they?
Posted by: Kristi | January 22, 2006 at 01:51 PM
I went to Albertsons to buy Shredded wheat n' bran cereal and found that it was no longer on the shelf- it was replaced with a whole wheat cereal that had honey added. I liked the old cereal that had no sugar added. Why did you do this?The Shredded wheat n' bran was one of the best cereals out there and now it is no longer available. I want ti back. Can you explain your reason for adding more sugar to it?
lois Errante
Posted by: Lois Errante | May 02, 2006 at 05:51 PM