Full of crash-free energy and made with clean ingredients in a variety of flavor combinations, MoonBlocks may just be the newest innovation in meal replacements.
Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post nor am I an affiliate with Movebutter. This post does contain a Movebutter referral link, and I will earn referral credit to my account for any purchases made through that link. As always, the opinions expressed here are my own.
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Have you heard of MoonBlocks? I hadn’t until last month, when I received a link to the new product produced by the online grocery retailer Movebutter. The advertisement made claims that these little cubes would be the revolutionary next step in meal replacement, containing organic and fair-trade whole food ingredients with no artificial additives or preservatives. Most importantly, MoonBlocks are said to contain ingredients that provide natural energy with none of the crash of other more artificial products.
I’ll be honest – These little one-inch snacks with their adorable astrological naming conventions looked like a gimmick too good to be true. Could MoonBlocks really taste good? Would they fit the new lower calorie diet I’ve been trying to maintain? If the marketing materials are true, it would make for a perfect, low calorie snack or meal replacement option for me, as my snacking habit is to eat little pieces of something over a period of time. So, we took the risk and ordered the Medley Box.
The result of this experimental order? I’ve been munching on MoonBlocks for a couple of weeks now, and I’m here to report I’m hooked. MoonBlocks are definitely my new on-the-go meal replacement, with less sugar and better ingredients than my usual granola bars and protein shakes. They aren’t perfect – some are higher in calories and sugars than others, and you still need to watch how many you devour in a single sitting – but I definitely like them. Let’s get into the details.
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Movebutter – The Supermarket of the Future
With a mission statement based in strong ethics, responsible product sourcing, and innovative ideas about the food industry, Movebutter is positioning itself as “the supermarket of the future”. By eliminating middlemen, the online retailer seeks to make organic, ethically sourced food products accessible to the general public. Movebutter sells a variety of everyday ingredients, from artisan grains and pasta, to healthy snacks, to even a variety of meat and fish through their website.
While it may be too early to say whether Movebutter’s advocacy goals of helping to eliminate food deserts and increase access to healthy food is feasible through their business model, their steps look promising. Not only do they connect with small artisan makers with a history of organic production, they donate 1% of profits to organizations working to bring food to under-served communities, all while trying to maintain cost transparency with their customers.
MoonBlocks appear to be the first product specifically developed by the Movebutter team. It’s their answer to a need for organic, whole food snacking and meal replacement alternatives. With the unique look and fun names associated with MoonBlocks, this flagship product could be just the kind of viral marketing strategy the company needs to grow their business and take it to the next level – especially if the food has as much value and substance as they claim in the long term.
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MoonBlocks At A Glance
Rather than selling flavors individually, Movebutter currently sells MoonBlocks in seven different variety packs, broken up by diet or ingredient type. The different boxes are Superfood, Whole30, Vegan, Fair Trade, Energy, Macaron, and Medley, with the Medley Pack containing all 12 flavors currently produced. The other packs contain a variety of three to seven flavors, depending on how many match the labeled criteria.
Of course, I tried the Medley Pack so I could taste every single type.
Like the Movebutter brand itself, the packaging and branding for MoonBlocks is streamlined and simple, with each of the flavors named after a particular moon or planetary body (brief, pithy descriptions explain the reasoning for each name on the jars). A single jar contains two servings, with an average of 12 blocks in each, and the ingredient lists are short and understandable.
Nutrition wise, MoonBlocks are similar to an artisan granola bar, and most (save for the Macarons, which really do taste like their coconut cookie namesake) have a texture to match due to all the grains, nuts, and dried fruit they contain. Calories range from the low end per serving (110) in the healthiest ones, to the higher end (410) in the sweet, dessert-like Macarons. Protein and sugars vary between flavors as well, so it’s up to the consumer to figure out which varieties fit best with their dietary goals.
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The Myriad Flavors of MoonBlocks
MoonBlocks range from nutty and somewhat bitter to sugary sweet, and many have a strong base of coconut. While all the flavors are rather distinct, MoveButter breaks them down into three categories:
Energy Blocks: As someone trying to cut down her caffeine and sugar habit, the idea of getting healthy, whole food energy in a MoonBlock was intriguing. Most of the Energy Block flavors have a relatively nice balance of sugar and protein in a single serving but they can vary significantly by flavor. This type is probably my favorite, and the ones I can most consistently return to and eat handfuls of as a meal replacement. Flavors include: Callisto (Natural Carob Blocks), Elara (Almond Butter Cranberry Blocks), Ganymede (Coconut Coffee Almond Blocks), and Titan (Peanut Butter Honey Blocks).
Superfood Blocks: I’m not entirely sure how to describe the Superfood MoonBlocks. Overall, they taste the “cleanest”, if that makes any sense. Packed with whole food ingredients you can really taste, whether you like these absolutely comes down to whether you enjoy the dehydrated fruits they contain. Flavors include: Europa (Supergreens Blocks), Phobos (Chocolate Maca Blocks), and Pluto I (Coconut Mango Pomegranate Blocks).
Macaron Blocks: All of the macaron-type MoonBlocks are higher in sugar and calories and lower in protein than the others above. They are made more like a dessert, and really do taste like one. I find all of them delicious, but only have one or two at a time to satisfy my sweet tooth a little less guiltily. Eating a whole jar at one-time, healthy ingredients or not, would be no better than another jar of sweets for lunch, in my opinion. Flavors include: Amalthea (Chocolate Almond Caramel Blocks), Oberon (Coconut Chocolate Blocks), Io (Meyer Lemon Coconut Blocks), Miranda (Coconut Vanilla Blocks), and Tethys (Coconut Mango Blocks)
From top to bottom, right side: Tethys, Oberon, Titan, Elara, Pluto I, Ganymede
Curious about specifics? Here are my thoughts:
- Top Three Favorites:
- Titan (Peanut Butter Honey Blocks): I had high hopes for these. With peanut butter and crisped rice, they remind me of a much healthier, far less sweet version of a childhood favorite, Peanut Butter Marshmallow Crispy Treats. I could eat these non-stop.
- Io (Meyer Lemon Coconut Blocks): If you read this blog often, you know I LOVE Meyer Lemon everything. These sweet little morsels capture the lovely brightness of those little fruits and couple it with a creamy coconut center.
- Pluto I (Coconut Mango Pomegranate Blocks): The lowest calories of the lot, these little MoonBlocks aren’t only one of the prettiest, but are very delicious with a nice light sweetness. These are a great meal replacement option when mixed with a flavor with a little higher protein.
- Least Favorite: It was absolutely no surprise to me that my least favorite of the bunch would be the green, nutrient-rich Europa (Supergreens Blocks). They’re full of fruits and veggies, a nice amount of protein, and taste strongly of dried apple. I think these will be a favorite for people that are much more healthier eaters than I am, but they just aren’t the highest on my list of preferences.
- Most Well-Balanced: Not only does it have a great name, but the Phobos (Chocolate Maca Blocks) are lower on the calorie spectrum per serving, middling on the sugar count, and higher in protein than a lot of the other blocks. It’s not the tastiest to my palette, but it’s a great snack that is well-balanced in flavor and nutrition.
- Most Universal Appeal: Amalthea (Chocolate Almond Caramel Blocks) and Miranda (Coconut Vanilla Blocks) are simple, classic flavor combos reminiscent of everyday candies that have been elevated to something special. One or two is a delicious dessert.
- My Favorite Lunch Combo: A Mix of Titan, Ganymede, Phobos and Pluto I, with one Io for dessert.
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Final Thoughts
As I mentioned above, there isn’t a single flavor of MoonBlock that I wouldn’t eat. They’re good for a snack (if you want to eat a couple over a period of time), and travel well as a meal replacement option on the road. Eating too many of any individual flavor at once can be a bit boring though, so I’ve taken to making myself a little “MoonBlocks Sampler”. I’ve mixed up my jars so that they contain a variety of flavors that come out to be around 300-350 calories per serving, heavy on the protein-packed flavors and only a few of the sweet ones as “dessert”. So far, it’s working out well for me, and I find them far more satisfying than a single protein bar or store-bought shake for lunch.
It will take some time for me to determine the long-term viability of MoonBlocks to my diet, but for now, I definitely think they are great option for on-the-go meal planning. If you’re looking for an alternative healthy snack and want to support a company built on strong ethics (or just like the idea of lunar-inspired food), it might be worth giving MoonBlocks a try for yourself. Who knows, you may fall in love with the little bites!
