Nature Valley
Berry Blend
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A rare fruit‑forward protein bar: real berry pieces and powders with a yogurt‑like note and nutty crunch, in a gluten‑free format. It tastes like a parfait you can eat one‑handed.
When to choose Nature Valley Berry Blend
Best for berry‑lovers who want a lighter, grab‑and‑go protein boost between meals. A smart gluten‑free snack for commutes, pre‑walk nibbling, or mid‑morning holdovers—not a meal replacement.
What's in the Nature Valley bar?
Nature Valley’s Berry Blend Protein Bar leans on soy protein isolate backed by whey and real berries to deliver a smoothie‑style snack in a tidy wrapper. What’s unusual here: the protein is modest while fats land higher, thanks to peanuts and almonds joined by a little palm kernel and seed oils.
Carbs come less from grains and more from sugars and berry pieces/powders, with chicory root extract adding some fiber for balance. If you like a berry‑and‑yogurt flavor profile—think blueberries, cranberries, plus strawberry and raspberry powders—this bar reads exactly that way.
- Protein
- 10 g
- Fat
- 10 g
- Carbohydrates
- 16 g
- Sugar
- 8 g
- Calories
- 190
Protein
1015LOWThe protein lift comes primarily from soy protein isolate, with a supporting cast of whey protein isolate and dairy from yogurt powder and nonfat milk. That mix supplies a complete amino acid profile and typically digests well, though it does introduce both soy and milk allergens. At 10g, it’s a lighter, snack‑level boost rather than a heavy-duty recovery bar.
Fat
109MIDMost of the fat is naturally packaged in the roasted peanuts and almonds—predominantly unsaturated and satisfying. The recipe also uses palm kernel oil (a more saturated fat) plus refined canola and sunflower oils to keep coatings stable and the bar soft. Net effect: nut‑forward fats with a helping hand from processed oils, which nudges saturated fat up.
Carbs
1620MIDThese are not grain‑based carbs; they’re driven by added sugar, corn syrup, and fructose, with natural sugars from blueberries and cranberries layered in. Chicory root extract (a soluble fiber from chicory) and small amounts of starch and glycerin help bind the bar and can take a little edge off the sugar rush. Expect quicker energy up front more than long, slow release.
Sugar
84HIGHSweetness is traditional here: table sugar, corn syrup, and fructose provide the bulk, with naturally occurring sugars from the berry pieces and powders. There are no intense artificial sweeteners; a bit of vegetable glycerin helps with moisture and gentle sweetness. The result tastes dessert‑leaning, so those sensitive to sugar swings may want to pair it with extra protein or nuts.
Calories
190210MIDAt 190 calories, this sits on the lighter side for a bar. Most of those calories come from fats in the nuts and added oils, with a moderate contribution from sugars/starches and a smaller share from protein. In practice, it works well as a mid‑morning or pre‑walk snack rather than a meal replacement.
Vitamins & Minerals
No standout fortification—nothing tops 10% of daily value. You do get small amounts of calcium from the dairy ingredients and a little iron and potassium from nuts and berries, but the bar’s appeal is flavor and convenience, not micronutrient density.
Additives
A few refined helpers keep everything cohesive: soy lecithin emulsifies oils, vegetable glycerin locks in chew, and chicory root extract adds fiber and body so less sugar is needed for texture. Palm kernel, canola, and sunflower oils are used for stability and mouthfeel—common in snack bars but more processed than kitchen‑cupboard fats. Overall, it’s a tidy list for the category, though clearly engineered for texture.
Ingredient List
Cow's milk whey
Cow's milk
Cow's milk cream
Soybeans
Canola seed
Blueberries
Strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa)
Cranberries
Sunflower seeds
Raspberries
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“My family loves these bars. They are the least chalky and weird texture tasting bar we've had. So glad I grabbed a few more boxes when they were on sale.”
“I was looking for protein bars that had the fewest calories and lowest sugar per bar for the same purpose. I spent around 20 minutes in Target a couple of months ago comparing virtually everything and landed on the Nature Valley Protein Salted Caramel Nut bars. I thought for sure one of the more expensive brands was going to "win", but pleasantly surprised. I like the taste too. They have 10g protein and 200 calories.”
“Nature valley has a protein bar that’s chocolate and nuts. It’s not as much protein but I love crunchy things and that just hits the spot. Same calories as a Quest bar.”
Main Praise
Fans keep coming back for the taste and texture: bright berry flavor, a creamy yogurt undertone, and a nutty crunch that reads more snack than supplement. Several Redditors call Nature Valley’s protein line the least chalky of the bunch, with one shopper choosing it over pricier bars after a thorough Target aisle showdown.
On Amazon, buyers say it’s the rare bar their non‑bar‑people actually ask for, and that it carries them smoothly to their next break. The 190‑calorie footprint makes it easy to stash anywhere without turning it into a meal.
It’s labeled gluten‑free, which celiac commenters appreciate as a safe option that isn’t oat‑based.
Main Criticism
The flip side is performance and formula. With 10g protein, it won’t cover heavy training recovery needs, and some nutrition‑minded reviewers call it more candy bar than protein bar.
A few balk at the fat‑to‑protein ratio and the use of palm kernel oil, while others note the sweetness leans dessert‑like thanks to sugar, corn syrup, and fructose. Sensitive stomachs occasionally report gas or bloating—chicory root extract (a prebiotic fiber) can do that for some, and the dairy may bother those who are lactose sensitive.
Taste isn’t universal either; a minority find certain flavors dry or a bit artificial.
The Middle Ground
Here’s where the truth lands: this is a nut‑and‑berry snack bar with a helpful protein assist, not a gym‑rat bar.
Calling it a “fat bar” misses that most fats here come from peanuts and almonds, which are largely unsaturated and help 190 calories feel satisfying; yes, palm kernel oil nudges saturated fat up, but it’s a stability choice you’ll see across mainstream bars.
The “candy bar” critique isn’t baseless—added sugars are part of the sweetness—but you’re also not dealing with intense artificial sweeteners or a chemistry‑set ingredient list. Reddit’s “least chalky” praise and Byrdie’s “best value” nod make sense: it tastes good, it’s affordable, and it’s easy to eat.
Eat This, Not That! has a point too—if you want 20g of protein in one go, you’ll need a different tool.
If your digestion is finicky, start with half a bar and water; chicory’s prebiotic fiber is a friend to some guts and a frenemy to others. Net‑net, Berry Blend sits in a useful middle ground: more wholesome than a candy bar, more snackable than a performance bar.
What's the bottom line?
Nature Valley’s Berry Blend Protein Bar is a fruit‑forward, gluten‑free snack with 10g of complete protein from soy and whey. It nails flavor and chew—think berry‑and‑yogurt parfait with a nutty backbone—without the chalkiness that turns people off many bars. The tradeoffs are clear: sweetness comes from traditional sugars, and the texture is supported by processed oils, including palm kernel.
If you want a tasty, budget‑friendly, berry‑centric bar to bridge the gap to your next meal, this is an easy win. If you need a serious post‑workout dose, or you avoid soy, dairy, or prebiotic fibers like chicory, look elsewhere. Used for what it is—a convenient, satisfying snack—it’s a delightfully reliable pocket parfait.