There’s a quiet rebellion happening in the wellness world, one that begins not with a green juice or a yoga mat, but with something far more ordinary: a protein bar.

Because if you’ve ever unwrapped a so-called “healthy” bar and realized it’s basically a candy bar in disguise (hello, added sugars and mystery oils), you’re not alone. We’re all trying to eat well, fuel consciously, and live vibrantly, yet the aisles are full of snacks that leave us bloated, jittery, and somehow hungrier than before.

That’s the exact frustration that inspired Joel Montesano, founder and CEO of Five Plus Protein, to create a new kind of fuel, one that honors both body and biology. In a culture obsessed with quick fixes, his bars whisper something different: Eat for longevity. Eat to age well. Eat to feel good.

And yes, they taste good, too.

From Frustration to Formulation: The Five Plus Protein Origin Story

When Joel founded Five Plus Protein (Way of the Fit LLC) in May 2023, it wasn’t born in a sterile lab or corporate boardroom. It started, like most revolutions do, with a deeply human struggle.

“I couldn’t find a protein bar that didn’t wreck my digestion,” he says. “They were either full of sugar, made with inflammatory ingredients, or just plain unpalatable.”

After 25 years in sales and marketing, a background in fitness and martial arts, and 14 years in the U.S. Navy’s elite Nuclear Power Program, Joel knows a thing or two about discipline, science, and performance. He also knows that the small choices we make daily, what we eat, how we recover, and how we age, accumulate into our lifelong vitality.

So, he began a mission: to craft a protein supplement that was as clean and intelligent as the people who consume it.

He teamed up with Lynda Montesano, his wife and co-founder, a business owner, designer, and wellness advocate who’s been personally shaped by her journey with Lupus, and Bridget Grover, COO, Physician Assistant, and exercise science expert with a passion for food-as-medicine. Together, they formed the ultimate trifecta of insight: the fitness professional, the medical mind, and the wellness visionary.

The result? Five Plus Protein, a brand built on uncompromising standards:

• No added sugar
• Non-GMO
• Vegan
• Gluten-free
• High in fiber, anti-inflammatory, and easily digestible

This isn’t about a diet. It’s about design, nutritional architecture, if you will.

Why “LAST” Matters

Five Plus didn’t just want a bar that was healthy; they wanted one that lasts. Each Protein LAST Bar is designed to sustain energy, stabilize blood sugar, and nourish rather than inflame. Unlike most bars that cause the familiar spike-and-crash cycle, thanks to added sugars and low fiber, Five Plus bars use plant-based proteins, natural fats, and anti-inflammatory botanicals to create harmony in the body.

This harmony doesn’t just fuel your workouts. It supports your longevity, the “aging well” part of their ethos.

“Food is medicine,” Lynda says. “But only if it’s formulated with intelligence, compassion, and the understanding that digestion is the foundation of wellness.”

The Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein LAST Bar

A Classic Reimagined, Creamy, Dreamy, and Incredibly Clean

Let’s start with a truth: peanut butter and chocolate is the Beyoncé and Jay-Z of flavor pairings. Embracing and alluring at the same time, cozy and luxurious. You won’t find just any old-fashioned nostalgic pleasure in the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein LAST Bar; rather, it is a modern take on a beloved snack that incorporates the latest findings in nutrition science.

This bar, which was Joel’s initial “proof of concept” and was released to the public in September 2024, exemplifies the principles of Five Plus: balance, bioavailability, and an incredibly pleasant bite.

The Ingredients Tell a Story

At the core of this bar is pea protein, a gentle yet powerful plant-based protein that delivers all nine essential amino acids without upsetting digestion. Unlike whey or soy, it’s light on the stomach, making it ideal for those who want to nourish without the bloat.

Then there’s the all-natural peanut butter, creamy, earthy, and rich in healthy fats that sustain energy and stabilize blood sugar. This isn’t processed peanut dust; it’s the real, velvety kind that melts into the bar for that signature mouthfeel.

The sweetness? Not from cane sugar or artificial syrups. Five Plus uses a delicate blend of stevia and monk fruit, two natural sweeteners that don’t spike glucose levels or trigger the crash-and-crave cycle.

• Cacao — nature’s antioxidant powerhouse, offering polyphenols that support mood and heart health.
• Cinnamon — known to balance blood sugar and warm the metabolism.
• Turmeric — the golden spice of longevity, revered for centuries for its ability to reduce inflammation at the cellular level.

It’s a bar that doesn’t just taste like a treat; it acts like a supplement.

The Texture Revolution

If you’ve ever bitten into a “healthy” bar and felt like you were gnawing on chalk, you’ll appreciate what Five Plus did differently. The Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein LAST Bar is smooth, creamy, and craveable, with a mouthfeel that’s more confection than compromise.

It’s the kind of bar you’ll want to savor with a cup of coffee, tuck into your gym bag for that post-training fuel, or toss into your carry-on as your travel-friendly breakfast.

That satisfaction you feel after eating it? That’s not an accident. It’s the synergy of fat, fiber, and protein, a trio that tells your brain, I’m nourished. I’m good.

Who It’s For

This bar is for the mindful mover. The one who cares about macros but also craves flavor. The one who reads labels, who refuses to sacrifice joy in the name of health.

It’s for the person who’s learned that longevity isn’t about restriction, it’s about balance, and finding foods that love you back.

The Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein LAST Bar is proof that nourishment can be indulgent. It’s comfort food for the conscious generation.

The Lemon Ginger Protein LAST Bar

Bright, Zesty, Uplifting, The Bar That Awakens Your Senses

If the Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bar is your cozy sweater moment, the Lemon Ginger Protein LAST Bar is your sunrise yoga session, invigorating, refreshing, and alive.

The Flavor Vibe

The health benefits of ginger and lemon have long been recognized. Juicy lemon, with its energizing acidity and inherent vitamin C boost. The hot root of ginger is well-known for its ability to ease gastrointestinal distress, reduce inflammation, and infuse internal energy.

The harmonious blend of their tangy, spicy, and well-balanced flavors is like a warm ray of sunlight on a chilly day.

The Science Beneath the Zest

This bar is powered by the same plant-based protein architecture that defines the Five Plus line, primarily pea protein, which is as gentle as it is effective.

Like all their bars, it’s vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, and completely devoid of added sugar or artificial fillers. It delivers sustained energy without the digestive backlash that plagues so many mainstream protein bars.

The fiber blend works harmoniously with the proteins to slow digestion, helping you stay full longer while feeding your gut with prebiotic goodness.

And then there’s the anti-inflammatory halo, a theme that runs through every Five Plus creation. Because when inflammation is under control, everything else in your body, from energy to immunity to mood, functions better.

The Lifestyle Connection

The Lemon Ginger Protein LAST Bar isn’t just a snack; it’s a ritual.

Imagine pairing it with your mid-morning matcha or taking it along on your afternoon hike. It’s the perfect companion for those who thrive on movement, runners, yogis, travelers, thinkers, people who see wellness as an ecosystem, not a checklist.

It’s that little boost between meetings that doesn’t crash your focus. The pre-spin class bite gives you energy without heaviness. The late-night pick-me-up that feels virtuous, not guilty.

Each bite carries that citrus zing and gingery warmth, reminding you that clean eating can be joyful.

A Team Built on Purpose

Every ingredient, every choice, every batch that leaves Five Plus Protein’s Southern California partner facility (the food scientists at YouBar) is crafted with purpose.

Joel, Bridget, and Lynda aren’t just co-founders, they’re advocates for living better longer.

• Joel brings scientific precision and a lifelong passion for fitness.
• Bridget ensures every formulation aligns with the body’s needs.
• Lynda brings a deeply personal perspective on food and healing.

The Future of Snacking Is Conscious

As a bridge between enjoyment and purpose, Five Plus Protein seems like a breath of fresh air.

Their Protein LAST Bars aren’t trying to be a gimmick. They’re designed to integrate seamlessly into your life, to nourish you during your busiest moments, to remind you that you deserve foods that serve your vitality.

As the brand expands its lineup, it stays grounded in its mission: “To offer non-GMO, gluten-free, plant-based protein supplements that prioritize digestibility, no added sugar, and anti-inflammatory properties, along with taste and palatability.”

Because the future of wellness isn’t about chasing youth. It’s about cultivating longevity, vibrancy, and self-respect.

Eat Intentionally, Live Fully, Age Well

The Five Plus Protein philosophy is less about restriction and more about permission, permission to enjoy food that feels good and is good. To snack without sacrifice. To nourish from a place of knowledge and kindness toward your body.

Whether you’re drawn to the comforting embrace of Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip or the zesty awakening of Lemon Ginger, each bar is a small act of self-care, a bite-sized manifesto for mindful living.

Because aging well isn’t just about the years we gain, it’s about the energy we keep. And in that sense, every Five Plus Protein bar is more than food. It’s fuel for your future self.