Mmmmm, Protein!

-By Jess

It’s not easy to find a healthy meal in the Loop that satisfies both your hunger and your palate. From McDonald’s french fries, to Subway’s faux meat, and even Panera’s supposedly healthy salads that in actuality boast upwards of 700 calories, one could certainly pack on the Chicago winter layers without much effort. That’s why I was thrilled to discover The Protein Bar.

Protein Bar- Interior

Located at 235 S Franklin Ave, on the east side of the Sears (yes, Sears, not Willis) Tower, The Protein Bar offers a welcome break from the grease filled gut bombs offered up by many of it’s neighboring establishments. In fact, their mission "is to be the destination for individuals seeking the quick and filling essential protein they need to live a healthy, active lifestyle.” They even boast that if you consume 20 meals there over the next 20 days there will be a noticeable difference in the way you feel. One might assume that this ‘health food’ joint would serve up bland meals with tiny portions, but that fortunately is not the case.

The fare at The Protein Bar includes many items including smoothies, bowls, wraps, salads, chilies and burritos, of which I have sampled several! Before I get into those, however, I’d like to share a few tips for having a successful trip…

1. If at all possible, avoid the lunch-hour rush (12-1pm). This has become a pretty popular place and the tiny space makes it difficult to accommodate the long winding line. I did just read on their newsletter (yes, I am a nerd and get their newsletter) that they’ve recognized the problem and have made some adjustments to their service to get people through the line more quickly.
2. If you cannot avoid the lunch rush, I suggest one of these time-saving techniques:
• Grab a pre-made wrap or salad! These delicious concoctions are constantly made fresh with the purpose of getting busy ‘loopers’ in and out with a satisfying meal. Just grab it from the cooler and head straight to the register, bypassing that entire line!
• If a drink or bowl is something you desire you will want to grab one of the little menus up front so you can be prepare to order when you get to the counter – please don’t be ‘that person’ who takes forever to order when they’ve already been standing in line forever – PLEASE ☺
• Specifically, if you would like to order a drink be prepared to answer the following questions:
• What protein would you like? (Whey, soy, or egg)
• What type of milk would you like? (Skim, soy, or almond)
• What boost would you like? (Antioxidant, energy, fat-burner, fiber, flu-fighter, green, hangover, libido, mulit-vitamin, or women’s health – PHEW!)

Their website offers up a great deal of advice on which to choose – so click away. My favorites include:

The Bucktown Green Tea or “BGT”

Weighing in at a mere 305 calories the BGT consists of Matcha green tea and bananas with your choice of milk and protein. I prefer almond (half the calories of skim, and quite a bit tastier) and whey (for active/exercising adults). The green color may look a little intimidating, but it has a delightfully smooth and summery taste with just a bit of sweetness. 

The BGT

The Green City Vegan Wrap

A mere 290 calories, this incredibly fresh wheat wrap filled to the brim with spinach, carrots, cucumbers, chickpeas, broccoli, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes and onions is topped off with a light drizzle of EVOO and Balsamic Vinegar. The first time I ate this wrap I was shocked at how tasty and filling it was. I had just left Women’s Workout World on Monroe after a draining turbo kick class and was both ravenous and needing something that wouldn’t be too heavy. It has been a favorite ever since, at anytime of the day.

The Vegan Bar-rito

This ‘burrito’ is made of hot black beans, diced tomatoes, fresh shredded cheddar cheese and warm quinoa, and amounts to just 290 calories. I had never sampled quinoa before and was pleasantly surprised by how nicely it replaced rice. This is an excellent choice on a day that you are particularly hungry (it REALLY fills you up) and looking for something to warm you up as well.

Crackberry

I ordered this little ditty first of all because I had a sweet tooth that morning, and secondly because I was pretty entertained by the name. This  345 calorie bowl comes with all-natural granola mixed with yogurt, acai berry, and is topped with fresh bananas. I was so please with this as a breakfast because it satisfied my sweet tooth without making me feel icky a couple hours later.

Chili

Similarly to the Vegan Bar-rito, the Quinoa Chili is perfect for a cooler Chicago day. At 310 calories this chili is made up of warm quinoa topped with your choice of house-made chili (veggie, chicken or beef), fresh shredded cheddar cheese, and a dollop of Greek yogurt. I like to have a little crunch with chili so I suggest picking up a packet of multi-grain chips near the checkout counter.

Protein Bar Chili w/Greek Yogurt and Quinoa

Finally, if the delicious food and reasonable prices are not enough for you, then you’ll be pleased to know that this service comes with a genuine smile. I have yet to have a less than totally pleasant encounter with any of the staff members which makes meal-time even more enjoyable. And as one last plug, the manager, Matt Matros, is a finalist in the One Man Chicago Contest, which recognizes area men who represent the best of Chicago through community involvement, personality, intelligence, and fitness. He along with his staff members make the effort to get to know the ‘regulars’ and their orders – including me and my BGT!

Protein Bar - 4 Food Babies

-Jess

Protein Bar 

235 S Franklin St - (312) 346-7300 

Open Monday - Friday: 6:30am - 7:00pm