Abstract: A nutrition bar which incorporates protein in the form of nuggets having high levels of selected proteins. By use of the nuggets of the invention, nutrition bars are formulated to have elevated levels of protein, yet good taste and other organoleptic properties. The nuggets according to the invention include greater than 50 wt % of a non-soy protein selected from the group consisting of milk protein, rice protein and pea protein, especially between 51 wt % and 99 wt %, more preferably between 52 wt % and 95 wt %, most preferably 55 wt % or above. The milk protein is preferably whey protein. The nuggets of the invention are preferably made using an extrusion process wherein the extrusion temperature is moderated so as to avoid damage to the whey proteins and concomitant off-taste. In this preferred process according to the invention, extrusion is conducted at temperatures of from 60 to 140° C., after which the protein is dried using a belt/conveyor drier or a fluid bed drier.

Abstract: A low calorie snack food, especially a nutritious hand held snack food, with good organoleptic properties. Preferably, the snack food of the invention does not present an overall sweet impression. In one embodiment, the snack food comprises I) an outer shell, especially a shell comprising one or more cereal ingredients, and II) an inner creamy filling including no more than 25 wt. % sugar solids by weight of said filling, no more than 5 wt. % water, at least 20 wt. % lipid, said lipid comprising no more than 20 wt. %, on the total lipid content, of digestible saturated and trans fatty acid moieties, and at least 2 wt. % of a fibrous filling agent. Preferably the filling agent is dextrin. The filling preferably comprises from 30 to 45 wt. % lipid. The lipid of the filling preferably includes no greater than 10 wt. % (on total lipid) of trans- and saturated triglycerides.