Protein Bar™ makes healthy eating in Chicago that much easier

Protein Bar™ has signature vitamin drinks, signature bowls, salads, wraps, boosts to add to the drinks (ex. Flu Fighter Blend, Women's Health Blend and Hangover Blend), or you can build your own drink or bowl. While your average deli can give you the basics--lunch meat, bread, vegetables and a couple different popular fruits--Protein Bar™ takes their menus a step further with items like agave nectar, acai berries, blueberries, soy protein meat, coconut and quinoa (a grain native to the Andes but also grown in South America and the Colorado Rocky Mountains). Quinoa looks like couscous but tastes more like small pieces of brown rice. Curiosity about the name made me try quinoa chili (with cheddar cheese and Greek yogurt on top), multigrain chips and one of their signature drinks--the Millennium Perk (chocolate protein, espresso protein, soy milk and house-made cocoa malt). And this entire meal was outstanding. Altogether the total was $11.79 without tax.

The signature drinks are approximately $5.15, signature bowls range from $3.95 to $5.85, chips are $1.29, salads are $7.25 and the wraps are $6.35. And while some may think these prices are high and opt for the dollar menu items or $5 sandwiches from other restaurants, compare the calories, protein, fiber, saturated fat and amount of sugar in other places versus those at Protein Bar™. Your physician and your body may send you a "thank you" card too. 

There are no secrets at Protein Bar™. The menus give consumers exact calculations about what they're eating, and my meal was 765 calories, 54 grams of protein, 15 grams of fiber, 2 grams of saturated fat and 19 grams of sugar. (Feel free to compare my vitamin intake to popular deli restaurants like Subway. I did and found that my favorite sandwich, the veggie patty 6" sub beats a couple items, but once I start adding side items and seasonings, Protein Bar™ either beats those numbers or evens it out.) Five hours later, I'm still not hungry nor do I have the desire to snack.

Additional side items by cash register

For the omnivores, there are menu items like Stir Fry Asian Chicken, Healthy Chicken Parm, chicken or beef chili, and plenty of pre-packaged deli meat sandwiches by the entrance stairwell. Other items include healthy cookies and candy (without all the dairy fat), fresh fruit, yogurt and different types of juices. The only downside was that my mouth watered for the Mediterranean Veggie Wrap, and the lunch crowd ate them all. Some items like hummus and veggie wraps are only available from the refrigerated stand, not served from the salad bar area. 

Protein Bar™ also offers catering, delivery and corporate events. There is an eating area, but what impressed me most (outside of the food) was the two big-screen televisions showing sports and news, which made me think this was the perfect place to eat and have a corporate presentation or an after-hours spot to watch the game. The restaurant also has free Wifi for those who bring their laptops.

Protein Bar™ is located at 235 S. Franklin Street, directly across the street from the Willis Tower. Hours of operation are from 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and breakfast items are served as well. To find out more information, visit www.proteinbarchicago.com.

Outside of Willis Tower along the Franklin Street side

Click here to read an interview with Matt Mathos, the owner of Protein Bar™.