Lenny & Larry's has established itself as a prominent player in the snack industry, particularly known for its meal replacement protein cookies. The brand prides itself on creating exclusively vegan cookies with natural, gluten-free, and non-GMO ingredients. Their products are often advertised as 'non-cheat treats' and a 'healthier snack option', boasting attributes like plant-based protein, high fibre, and the absence of soy, dairy, eggs, high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners, cholesterol, trans fat, and sugar alcohols.
The Complete Cookie: A Closer Look
The standard Lenny & Larry's Complete Cookie is made with a blend of wheat, soy, and pea proteins, offering around 16g of protein and 10g of fibre per cookie. However, each cookie is actually two servings, which means that the impressive protein and fibre claims are halved if you eat the whole thing. While Lenny & Larry's began displaying nutrition information per serving and per cookie after some backlash, and even released a 'snack size' single-serve cookie, the serving size issue remains a point of contention for some consumers.
Taste and Texture
The Complete Cookie comes in a variety of flavours, and the texture is often praised as being similar to a soft-baked cookie. It's described as thick, dense, crumbly, chewy, and soft all at once. The base flavour is generally savoury with a hint of sweetness, often complemented by chocolate chips or other additions.
Nutritional Concerns
Despite being marketed as a healthier alternative, the Complete Cookie has faced criticism for its high sugar content. Some flavours contain as much as 26g of sugar per cookie, exceeding the protein content. This has led some commentators to deem them 'worse than the real thing' nutritionally speaking.
Lenny & Larry's Keto Cookies: An Option for Keto Dieters?
Given the high carb and sugar content of the original Complete Cookie, it's unsuitable for a keto diet. However, Lenny & Larry's has introduced keto cookies to cater to this market.
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Taste and Texture
Lenny & Larry’s keto cookies are fairly new and have a more limited flavour selection. In terms of taste and texture, these cookies are described as dry and crumbly, likely due to the bean flour they contain. They are also less sweet than the original Complete Cookies, aligning with a keto dieter's palate.
Lupin Bean Flour: A Key Ingredient and Potential Concerns
Lenny & Larry's keto cookies utilize lupin bean flour as a primary ingredient. While this allows them to maintain their vegan status, it also raises some concerns.
Anti-Nutrients
Lupin bean flour is high in anti-nutrients like lectins, phytic acid, and trypsin inhibitors. These compounds can cause inflammation and digestive distress or prevent the absorption of nutrients. While processing lupin beans can reduce some anti-nutrients, it may increase others.
Low Nutritional Value
Raw lupin beans are rich in vitamins and minerals. However, they contain a toxic alkaloid called lupanine, which is fatal if ingested. To make lupin beans edible, manufacturers must process them extensively, which can result in a loss of up to 75% of their nutrients.
Peanut Allergies
The lupin bean is closely related to the peanut, and it can trigger allergic reactions in individuals with peanut allergies.
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Other Ingredients and Considerations
Pea Protein
Because these cookies are vegan, whey protein powder isn’t an option. Pea protein is used instead. While it is a complete protein, it doesn't have the same branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) content as whey protein.
Chicory Root Fiber
Chicory root fiber (inulin) is another ingredient that sparks debate in the keto community. While it contains zero net carbs, it can cause gastrointestinal distress in some people due to its rapid breakdown.
Nutritional Profile
Lenny & Larry's keto cookies are not particularly high in protein, and their overall nutritional profile may not be impressive to some.
Individual Flavour Reviews
While the user provided detailed reviews of several Complete Cookie flavours, including Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter, Snickerdoodle, White Chocolate Macadamia, Gingerbread, and Pumpkin Spice, specific reviews of the keto cookie flavours were not included. However, the general consensus is that the keto cookies sacrifice some of the taste and texture of the original Complete Cookies in order to meet the requirements of a ketogenic diet.
Chocolate Chip
This classic flavour is described as having a soft, chewy base with semi-sweet chocolate chips. The reviewer praised the texture and the balance of flavours but noted the high sugar content.
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Peanut Butter
The Peanut Butter cookie features a dense and soft texture with plenty of peanut pieces. The reviewer enjoyed the authentic peanut flavour but noted an odd aftertaste.
Snickerdoodle
The Snickerdoodle flavour features warm spices and a generous sprinkle of cinnamon sugar. The reviewer appreciated the balance between spice and sweetness but noted the high sugar content.
White Chocolate Macadamia
This flavour features a dense texture with white chocolate and macadamia chips. The reviewer enjoyed the combination of flavours and textures but wished for more chocolate chips.
Gingerbread
The Gingerbread cookie is described as moist, dense, and delightfully soft with a strong ginger flavour. The reviewer considered it a favourite from the range.
Pumpkin Spice
The Pumpkin Spice cookie features warming spices and a sweet flavour. The reviewer enjoyed the autumnal flavour but noted the high sugar content.
Lenny & Larry's: Marketing and Controversy
Lenny & Larry's has faced criticism for its marketing practices, particularly regarding claims of healthiness and protein content.
Misleading Claims
The brand has been accused of misleading consumers by exaggerating the protein content per serving and implying that the cookies are a healthy snack option when they are essentially just cookies with added protein and fibre.
Lawsuit
In 2018, Lenny & Larry's settled a lawsuit alleging that its Complete Cookies had not told the complete truth about their protein content.
The "Healthy Cookie" Misconception
It's important to remember that Lenny & Larry's cookies are still cookies, and they should be treated as a treat rather than a health food.
The Boss! Cookie: A Different Approach
In 2021, Lenny & Larry's released The Boss! Cookie, which is marketed as a true protein cookie. This cookie weighs the same as half a Complete Cookie and boasts 18g of protein, the lowest sugar content (1g), and a significant amount of fibre.
Alternatives: Making Your Own Keto Cookies
If you're not satisfied with the taste, texture, or ingredients of Lenny & Larry's keto cookies, another option is to make your own keto-friendly cookies at home. This allows you to control the ingredients and customize the flavour and texture to your liking.