Nature Valley
Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A rare combo of widely loved taste and everyday practicality: real peanuts and chocolate chips, no artificial sweeteners, gluten-free, and a budget-friendly way to add 10 grams of protein without the chalky texture many bars have.
When to choose Nature Valley Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate
Best for snackers who want a satisfying 3 p. m.
bite, a pre-commute holdover, or a lunchbox-friendly treat with a protein boost—not for those chasing a 20-gram post-workout bar. Great if you prefer crunchy-chewy over fudge-like textures and you’re fine with peanuts, milk, and soy.
What's in the Nature Valley bar?
Peanut butter and dark chocolate do the flavor heavy lifting here—roasted peanuts, peanut butter, and real semisweet chocolate chips—while a soy-and-whey blend supplies the protein. This bar leans higher in fat than many protein bars (thanks to peanuts, cocoa butter, and a touch of palm/canola oil), with modest protein and moderate carbs.
Chicory root fiber and a few syrups/texturizers shape the chew and sweetness, so expect candy-bar taste with a steadier finish.
- Protein
- 10 g
- Fat
- 12 g
- Carbohydrates
- 15 g
- Sugar
- 7 g
- Calories
- 200
Protein
1015LOWProtein comes primarily from soy protein isolate, backed by whey protein concentrate and a smaller lift from the peanuts. It’s a plant–dairy blend: soy isolate is a highly refined, complete plant protein, while whey is a very high‑quality dairy protein with excellent amino acid availability. With 10 grams per bar, it’s more of a protein‑boosted snack than a heavy hitter.
Fat
129HIGHMost of the fat comes from roasted peanuts and peanut butter (rich in monounsaturated fats), joined by cocoa butter from the chocolate and a blend of vegetable oils (palm/palm kernel, canola, peanut). It’s a mixed profile: plenty of heart‑friendly unsaturated fats from peanuts and canola, plus more saturated fats from palm and cocoa that help the bar stay firm. The higher fat helps with fullness and slows carb absorption.
Carbs
1520LOWThe carbs are a split personality: chicory root extract adds soluble, prebiotic fiber, while the rest lean refined—table sugar, corn syrup, fructose, and a little rice/corn starch, plus chocolate chips. That means some quick energy alongside fiber and fat from peanuts to blunt sharp spikes; those sensitive to FODMAPs may notice the chicory fiber.
Sugar
74MIDThe 7 grams of sugar largely come from the semisweet chocolate chips and added sweeteners like sugar, corn syrup, and fructose. Additional sweetness and softness come from chicory root fiber and vegetable glycerin—highly refined ingredients that add body without registering as much ‘sugar’ on the label. No artificial sweeteners here; the sweetness reads classic and chocolate‑forward.
Calories
200210MIDAt 200 calories, the balance tilts toward fat calories from peanuts, chocolate, and the added oils, with smaller shares from quick carbs and the 10 grams of protein. That makeup makes it satisfying for a mid‑afternoon snack rather than a meal replacement. The fat and fiber help the energy last.
Vitamins & Minerals
There aren’t any standout micronutrients above 10% Daily Value. You do get a small bump of iron, likely from the cocoa, and trace calcium and potassium from peanuts and dairy, plus a modest amount of sodium from salt and peanut butter. Treat it as a tasty protein snack, not a vitamin delivery system.
Additives
To hold everything together, the bar uses a few refined helpers: soy lecithin keeps fats and chocolate smooth, vegetable glycerin holds moisture, chicory root extract adds soluble fiber and body, and rice/corn starches add structure. These are common in shelf‑stable bars and generally safe, but they do make this more ‘engineered’ than a short‑ingredient‑list nut bar. If you’re sensitive to fermentable fibers, note the chicory.
Ingredient List
Groundnut plant seeds
Defatted soybean flakes
Chicory roots
Sugarcane and sugar beet
Roasted cacao nibs from cocoa beans
Cocoa beans
Soybeans
Oil palm fruit
Rapeseed
Cow's milk whey
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
The biggest win is taste and texture.
Across Amazon and Reddit, people keep coming back because it doesn’t eat like a typical protein bar—think crunchy peanuts, chocolate that actually tastes like chocolate, and none of that chalky, powdery finish.
Value is the other standout: a registered-dietitian roundup named this line a best-value pick for its balanced macros relative to price, and plenty of shoppers agree it’s an easy, affordable staple.
It’s also reliably satisfying for a snack, thanks to the peanut richness and a bit of fiber, with many reviewers noting it keeps them steady until their next meal. Another quiet plus: no artificial sweeteners, which means the sweetness tastes classic and avoids the lingering aftertaste some people dislike.
And for folks who are gluten-free, this protein line (including Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate) is a welcome option that doesn’t rely on oats.
Main Criticism
If your goal is maximum protein per bite, this isn’t it.
At 10 grams, it’s a protein-boosted snack, not a heavy hitter, and critics point out the fat (largely from peanuts, oils, and cocoa butter) can overshadow the protein by the numbers.
Others argue it leans too close to a candy bar because it uses refined sweeteners and palm-derived fats, even if the total sugar stays moderate. A small subset reports digestive upset—likely from chicory root fiber, a fermentable prebiotic that can bother sensitive stomachs.
Texture isn’t universally adored either; a few reviewers find certain batches or flavors a bit dry.
The Middle Ground
So is it a candy bar with a halo or a sensible snack with good PR? The truth sits in the middle.
It absolutely leans dessert-adjacent in flavor—peanuts and real chocolate chips will do that—yet the macros are more thoughtful than a candy bar: 10 grams of protein, moderate sugar, and ingredients designed for chew and staying power.
A Redditor joked they should be called “fat bars,” and, sure, the fat is notable, but most of it comes with the territory of peanuts (plus some added oils) and does help with fullness.
On the flip side, if you’re comparing it to a 20-gram whey bar, you’ll wish it had more protein—fair critique, and there are stronger gym-focused options. The chicory root fiber explains why some people feel great (steady, satisfied) while others feel gassy; that’s a FODMAP tolerance issue, not a moral failing of the bar.
And the absence of artificial sweeteners will be a plus to some and a missed opportunity for sugar reduction to others. In short, expectations are everything: snack first, protein second, and you’ll likely be pleased.
What's the bottom line?
Nature Valley’s Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Protein bar is the snack you actually want to eat that also happens to bring 10 grams of protein along for the ride. It’s tasty, familiar, and dependable for those in-between moments—less of a post-lift refuel and more of a steady, satisfy-your-brain-and-belly bite. The macros skew balanced for a snack, not a meal replacement, and the ingredient list blends real-food anchors (peanuts, chocolate) with some refined helpers to hold it all together.
Choose it for flavor, value, and convenience—especially if you’re gluten-free and tired of chalky bars. Skip it if you need 20 grams of protein in one go, avoid peanuts/soy/dairy, or know chicory fiber doesn’t sit well with you. Call it a candy-bar cousin if you must; we’d call it a practical, crowd-pleasing snack that earns its spot in a desk drawer or gym bag.