You can tell a lot about a person by what they snack on. Some people are candy-bar loyalists, the “I deserve this” type who think chocolate counts as a food group. Others are kale crusaders, blending green sludge and calling it breakfast. And then there are the seekers, the ones who genuinely try to do the right thing, who read ingredient labels like they’re decoding ancient scrolls, who just want a snack that loves them back.

If that sounds like you, you’re about to fall in love with Five Plus Protein. This isn’t just another “healthy snack brand” trying to pass off cardboard with sprinkles as a lifestyle choice. Five Plus Protein is a movement, built on integrity, purpose, and a deep understanding of what it really means to age well. Behind it all? Co-founder Lynda Montesano, a woman who’s turning her personal health battles into a legacy of nourishment, one bar at a time.

The Beginning of Something Better

Five Plus Protein was born out of frustration, but also a spark of genius. CEO Joel Montesano, a Navy veteran and lifelong fitness enthusiast, had been through the protein bar gauntlet: sugary, bloating, “healthy” impostors that were either candy in disguise or tasted like compressed dust. He wanted something that didn’t cause blood sugar crashes, inflammation, or regret. So, in May 2023, he decided to make it himself. But Joel didn’t do it alone. He invited his wife, Lynda, and longtime friend Bridget Grover to join him. Together, they weren’t just making a protein bar. They were setting out to build trust. And that, not flavor, not macros, not clever packaging, is what legacy brands are built on.

Food as Medicine: Lynda’s Mission

Lynda Montesano isn’t your typical wellness founder. She’s not preaching from an ivory tower of kale chips and morning affirmations. She’s been in the trenches. Lynda lives with Lupus, an autoimmune disease that can turn even the simplest meal into a minefield. For years, she wrestled with food intolerances, inflammation, and the constant fatigue that comes from battling your own body. Most people would’ve just resigned themselves to a restricted diet and called it a day. Not Lynda. Instead, she asked the question that would become the heartbeat of Five Plus Protein: “What if food could actually heal?” That curiosity led her on a mission, not just to make food tolerable, but to make it therapeutic. And not in a “take your medicine” way, but in a “this tastes incredible and my body feels amazing” way.

The Dream Team: Science, Soul, and Synergy

To bring Five Plus Protein to life, the trio partnered with YouBar, a California-based food science team specializing in custom functional foods. The first creation? The Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip LAST Protein Bar — their proof of concept masterpiece that debuted in September 2024. This wasn’t your average protein bar. It was a reinvention of the genre — smooth, creamy, decadent, and impossibly clean. Made with pea protein, natural peanut butter, fiber, MCT oil, and a blend of stevia and monk fruit, it checked every box:

• No added sugar
• Vegan
• Gluten-free
• Non-GMO
• Anti-inflammatory
• Delicious

Then came the encore: the Café Mocha Latte LAST Protein Bar, launched in May 2025 — a bar so sophisticated it could have its own espresso machine. Packed with pea and almond protein, cashew butter, cocoa powder, cacao nibs, coffee fruit extract, and that perfect caffeine kick (equal to a cup of coffee), it’s the kind of bar that makes your morning commute feel like a café moment. But here’s the thing: while the products are brilliant, they’re really just the byproduct of something bigger — the philosophy that drives the brand.

Building Trust: The Secret Ingredient

Every legacy brand has a heartbeat — something beyond products and profits that keeps it alive. For Five Plus Protein, that heartbeat is trust. Trust that what’s on the label is actually what’s in the bar. Trust that the food you’re eating won’t inflame, spike, or sabotage your health. Trust that the people behind the brand actually walk the talk. It’s rare in wellness these days, a space overflowing with buzzwords and bandwagon trends. But that’s exactly why Five Plus Protein stands out. Their mission isn’t about chasing the next big thing. It’s about staying grounded in what the body truly needs: clean, nourishing, digestible ingredients that support long-term wellness.

Bridget Grover, the company’s COO, puts it best: “The food we put in our bodies has a direct impact on our health.” And coming from someone with a background as a Physician Assistant, college professor, and certified personal trainer, that’s not a tagline — it’s a professional truth. Bridget’s understanding of nutrition from both medical and real-world perspectives keeps the company grounded. Together, Lynda and Bridget embody what’s missing from most wellness brands today: authenticity, empathy, and lived experience. They’re not just founders; they’re caretakers of a mission.

Legacy in the Making

Let’s talk about “legacy” for a second. It’s a word that gets tossed around like glitter — pretty, but vague. Legacy isn’t about being remembered; it’s about what you leave behind that continues to nourish others. For Lynda, that legacy isn’t built on slogans or social media trends. It’s built on impact — on helping people rediscover food as medicine, on reminding the world that aging well isn’t about fighting time, it’s about feeding yourself with intention, grace, and wisdom. Five Plus Protein is quietly shaping that narrative. Their products aren’t just bars — they’re blueprints for better living. They represent a mindset shift:

• From “diet culture” to “wellness culture”
• From deprivation to nourishment
• From counting calories to counting blessings

Beyond the Bar: A Philosophy of Wellness

If you’ve ever tried to overhaul your diet, you know how exhausting it can be. One minute, carbs are the enemy. Next, dairy’s the villain. Five Plus Protein simplifies that chaos. Their philosophy is refreshingly straightforward: Feed your body what it can actually use. That means:

• No added sugar
• No inflammatory junk
• No digestive sabotage

Just real, plant-based nutrition that supports longevity. Their focus on anti-inflammatory ingredients like cacao, cinnamon, and turmeric isn’t just trendy — it’s rooted in science and lived experience. For people like Lynda and countless others navigating autoimmune conditions, sensitivities, or modern stress, these bars aren’t just snacks — they’re safety. They’re reliability. They’re self-care you can unwrap anywhere.

The Future of Five Plus Protein

Every great brand starts with one product — but the real test is what happens next. Five Plus Protein has already proven it can make game-changing bars that tick every nutritional and ethical box. More importantly, it’s proven it can create trust. With each new launch, the company reinforces its commitment to real wellness — not as a fad, but as a lifelong journey. Their tagline, “Aging Well,” isn’t about wrinkles or workouts. It’s about vitality, about making choices today that your future self will thank you for. And if early success is any indicator, this brand isn’t just building products — it’s building legacy.

• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip LAST Bar: smooth, rich, and protein-packed for all-day fuel.
• Café Mocha Latte LAST Bar: energizing, indulgent, and coffee-lover approved.

Why It Matters

In a world where “healthy” has become a marketing term, Five Plus Protein is a reminder that integrity still matters. That wellness isn’t about restriction — it’s about respect for your body. That true leadership in health doesn’t come from influencers — it comes from people like Lynda and Bridget, women who’ve lived the struggle, learned the science, and created something better. The next time you unwrap a Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip LAST Bar or sip your coffee with a Café Mocha Latte LAST Bar in hand, remember — you’re not just eating a protein bar. You’re participating in a story. A story of resilience, joy, and two women (and one visionary husband) who decided that “good enough” wasn’t good enough.

This is how legacy brands are built — one bite, one belief, one better choice at a time. Five Plus Protein isn’t here to join the protein bar aisle. They’re here to reinvent it. And judging by their blend of compassion, consciousness, and heart, this legacy is only just beginning.