Nature's Bakery
Chocolate Chip
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A soft‑baked, chocolate‑chip bar that’s vegan and nut‑free in ingredients, built on whole grains and dates, with 9g of blended plant protein (wheat, pea, fava, sunflower) and no high‑intensity sweeteners.
When to choose Nature's Bakery Chocolate Chip
Best as a gentle, carb‑forward snack or pre‑activity bite for anyone who wants cookie‑like comfort with some protein—especially vegans or nut‑avoiding households. Not for gluten‑free eaters.
What's in the Nature's Bakery bar?
Nature’s Bakery Chocolate Chip Protein Bar reads more like a soft‑baked granola‑cookie hybrid than a shake in bar form. Its protein is vegan and blended—wheat protein isolate upfront, then pea, fava, and sunflower proteins—so you get plant power with gluten in the mix.
Carbs land on the higher side for protein bars thanks to whole wheat flour and oats paired with date paste, cane sugar, and a little agave, while fat stays modest from canola oil and cocoa butter.
Translation: more quick energy and chocolate‑chip comfort (those chips are cocoa, cane sugar, cocoa butter, and vanilla) than a maxed‑out protein hit.
- Protein
- 9 g
- Fat
- 7 g
- Carbohydrates
- 25 g
- Sugar
- 12 g
- Calories
- 200
Protein
915LOWProtein here is a plant blend: wheat protein isolate (gluten) leads the way, rounded out by pea, fava bean, and sunflower proteins. Blending grains with legumes helps cover amino acids, but at 9g per bar it’s a lighter lift than many protein bars, and the isolates are highly refined. If you avoid gluten, note that the wheat protein is concentrated gluten rather than the trace you’d find in oats.
Fat
79MIDFat stays moderate at 7g, mainly from canola oil (rich in monounsaturated fats) and cocoa butter from the chocolate chips. Cocoa butter is saturated but heavy in stearic acid, which tends to be more neutral for LDL cholesterol, and the overall amount is modest. No tropical oils or nut butters here—the fat supports texture and flavor without taking over the macros.
Carbs
2520HIGHMost of the 25g of carbs come from whole grains (whole wheat flour and oats) plus fruit and sugars—date paste for chew and sweetness, joined by cane sugar and a touch of agave—with glycerin to help keep the bar soft. That mix skews toward quicker‑burning energy than a nut‑heavy bar, though grain fiber helps temper the rise a bit. Net takeaway: a clean‑ish foundation from grains and dates, clearly sweetened for taste and immediate fuel.
Sugar
124HIGHWith 12g of sugar, sweetness comes from both whole‑food and refined sources: date paste and chocolate chips on one side, cane sugar and a little agave on the other. There are no high‑intensity or artificial sweeteners; glycerin (a plant‑derived polyol) adds moisture and mild sweetness but isn’t counted as sugar. It sits on the higher end for protein bars, so timing it around activity can make the most of that quick energy.
Calories
200210MIDAt 200 calories—below the average protein bar—most energy comes from carbohydrates, with fat second and protein last (9g). It functions as a snack‑size boost (think pre‑walk, coffee break, or school pickup) rather than a full meal replacement. If you want a higher protein‑per‑calorie ratio, pair it with yogurt, milk, or a small shake.
Vitamins & Minerals
Iron lands around 10% of daily value, likely contributed by the whole grains, cocoa, and legume‑based proteins. Calcium is modest (about 6%), helped by the leavening (monocalcium phosphate) and grains, and vitamin D shows up only in small amounts. In short, a little mineral lift—especially iron—but this isn’t a fortified multivitamin bar.
Additives
A short list of helpers keeps the bar soft and stable: glycerin for moisture, gum acacia as a natural soluble fiber/stabilizer, and standard baking leavening (baking soda and monocalcium phosphate). The protein isolates are highly refined, but otherwise it reads like a baked snack more than a chemistry set. If you’re minimizing refined sweeteners, note the cane sugar and agave alongside the dates.
Ingredient List
Whole wheat grain
Sugarcane stalks
Canola seed
Dates
Oat grain
Wheat grain
Fats and oils
Cacao beans
Cocoa beans
Vanilla orchid beans
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Delicious, easy and quick to eat, very gentle on the stomach, and 37g of carbs per packet of 2 bars.”
“Nature's bakery fig bars are way better than fig newtons”
“Yep I love them. I eat at least one a day!”
Main Praise
Taste and texture lead the love list.
Trade coverage gushes about its soft‑baked feel, and that checks out with fans who call Nature’s Bakery bars “delicious” and “easy to eat,” with one cyclist noting they’re “very gentle on the stomach.
” The profile leans real-food familiar—whole wheat flour, oats, dates, and classic chocolate chips—without the high‑intensity sweeteners that can make some bars taste artificial. At 200 calories, it lands in that friendly snack zone you can pair with coffee or toss in a backpack.
The 9g of plant protein won’t replace a shake, but it adds staying power compared to a standard cookie, and the vegan, nut‑free ingredient list makes it widely shareable. Even Food Business News and Prepared Foods highlighted its family‑friendly angle and straightforward formula, which is rare praise in protein‑bar land.
Main Criticism
If you judge a protein bar by sheer protein density, 9g may feel underwhelming next to the many bars in the 15–20g range.
The 25g of carbs and 12g of sugar push it into quicker‑energy territory, which some athletes like mid‑ride—but a few cyclists reported cramping on very long, hard efforts, and another thought the fiber was a bit much for “perfect” fueling.
Texture is personal: one Redditor called the soft chew “weird,” and another mentioned reflux—reminders that even gentle‑on‑the‑stomach snacks won’t agree with everyone. It’s also a hard stop for gluten‑free folks: wheat protein isolate means concentrated gluten, not a trace amount.
Finally, the sweetness comes from dates plus cane sugar and a touch of agave, with glycerin (a plant‑derived syrup) to keep things moist—nice for flavor, but not for anyone strictly minimizing refined sweeteners.
The Middle Ground
So which is it—a protein bar that behaves like a cookie, or a cookie that moonlights as a protein bar? The truth sits in the middle.
Fans who want soft‑baked comfort with real chocolate chips and no buzzy aftertaste find this hits the spot; the ingredient choices make sense for that goal, and even a cyclist praising it for being “gentle on the stomach” lines up with the soft, bakery‑style build.
Critics looking for a heavy protein payload or ultra‑light sugar won’t be converted; this formula deliberately trades maximum protein for familiar grains, dates, and a pleasant chew. The GI gripes from endurance folks likely reflect timing and intensity—great for most efforts, less ideal for all‑out, long‑distance days.
And the gluten complaints? Fair, but also mismatched expectations—this bar is made with wheat on purpose.
In short: measure it by taste, friendliness, and snack utility, and it shines; measure it by protein‑per‑calorie bragging rights, and you’ll want to pair it with yogurt or a latte.
What's the bottom line?
Nature’s Bakery Chocolate Chip Protein Bar is a bakery‑style snack with a helpful protein assist, not a bodybuilder’s bar in disguise. It’s vegan and nut‑free in ingredients, leans on whole grains and dates, keeps the ingredient list approachable, and steers clear of high‑intensity sweeteners. The payoff is comfort and convenience you’ll actually look forward to eating.
If your goal is a satisfying, gentle pre‑walk or pre‑ride bite—or a school‑bag snack that feels like a treat—this is a smart pick. If you want a lean 20‑plus‑gram protein bomb or strict low‑sugar math, look elsewhere or plan a pairing. Use it for what it is: a soft‑baked chocolate‑chip bar that delivers quick energy and 9g of plant protein, with flavor that makes healthy-ish snacking feel easy.