NuGo Nutrition
Orange Smoothie
TL:DR
In 2 Sentences
A rare citrus-forward protein bar: real orange oil and a yogurt-style coating deliver a creamsicle vibe over a crispy soy–rice base, with no sugar alcohols and a light calorie footprint.
When to choose NuGo Nutrition Orange Smoothie
Best for a mid-morning or pre-workout pick-me-up when you want something gluten-free, vegetarian, bright, and sweet—more snack than meal replacement.
What's in the NuGo Nutrition bar?
NuGo’s Orange Smoothie bar leans into creamsicle nostalgia: orange oil and vanilla set the citrus‑cream vibe, and a yogurt‑style coating brings tangy sweetness.
Under the hood, it’s a soy‑forward bar with a small assist from dairy proteins, very low in fat, lighter in calories, and on the higher end for carbs and sugars compared with many protein bars.
If you’re after quick energy with a modest 11 grams of protein rather than a meal replacement, this reads like a cereal‑and‑yogurt snack—bright, sweet, and decidedly dessert‑leaning.
- Protein
- 11 g
- Fat
- 3 g
- Carbohydrates
- 26 g
- Sugar
- 14 g
- Calories
- 170
Protein
1115LOWProtein comes primarily from soy protein and soy crisps, with a supporting cameo from the yogurt coating’s whey and nonfat milk. That plant‑plus‑dairy mix rounds out the amino acid profile, but at 11g it’s a snack‑level boost rather than a heavy hitter. Think solid for a light pick‑me‑up, not a full shake in bar form.
Fat
39LOWFat is very low (2.5g) and largely tied to palm kernel oil in the yogurt coating—a saturated plant fat chosen for structure and snap. There’s little contribution from heart‑healthy oils or nuts, so you get a light feel but not much satiety from fats. If you rely on fat to keep you full, you may want to pair this with something more substantial.
Carbs
2620HIGHMost of the 26g of carbs come from refined sweeteners—tapioca syrup, agave, and cane sugar—bound around rice crisps and oats. Expect fast energy and a sweeter bite; oats plus added acacia and soy fibers offer a bit of cushioning, but the syrups still tilt this toward quick‑burning fuel. It’s more “instant lift” than slow‑drip stamina.
Sugar
144HIGHSugar lands at 14g, driven by tapioca and agave syrups plus cane sugar in the coating; a bit of milk sugar (lactose) comes along with whey and nonfat milk. That sweetness is predominantly from refined sources rather than fruit, so it tastes dessert‑like and can spike energy for some. If you’re sensitive to swings, consider pairing it with something savory or fibrous.
Calories
170210LOWAt 170 calories, this is a lighter bar. Most of those calories come from carbohydrates, with a modest slice from protein and very little from fat—more akin to a cereal‑and‑yogurt snack than a meal replacement. Great when you want something light and sweet, less ideal if you need long‑lasting fuel.
Vitamins & Minerals
A vitamin‑mineral blend does the heavy lifting here: B‑complex (thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B6, folate, B12) along with vitamins C, E, and A, plus calcium carbonate. Any double‑digit % Daily Value you see is mostly from this fortification, not the base grains. The dairy ingredients contribute a small baseline of calcium and B12.
Additives
You’ll see soy lecithin (an emulsifier) and acacia gum (a soluble fiber/stabilizer) alongside a yogurt‑style confectionery coating—standard tools for texture, binding, and shelf life. They’re well‑established ingredients but make this more processed than a simple nut‑and‑fruit bar. The trade‑off is a clean bite, bright flavor, and consistent texture.
Ingredient List
Soybeans
Rice grain (Oryza sativa)
Cassava root
Cassava starch
Sugarcane stalks
Oil palm fruit
Cow's milk whey byproduct
Cow's milk
Cultured cow's milk
Soybeans
What are people saying?
Sources
Range
“Yeah they’re shockingly delicious tbh; the dark chocolate pretzel flavor is one of my favorite easy snacks.”
“I’m a big fan of the Nugo Dark protein bars; might not have as high of a protein content than some others but they use minimal ingredients and taste like a treat.”
“Nugo bars are criminally underrated for their taste. Their regular dark and dark pretzel flavors are absolutely orgasmic. The crunch is similar to that of kit kats... or at least what I remember them tasting like.”
Main Praise
Taste and texture carry the day.
Across the NuGo universe, fans and editors rave about the brand’s crunchy-meets-chewy bite—Bon Appétit even singled out the texture as best-in-class—and this flavor keeps that cereal-bar crunch alive under a creamy coating.
The Orange Smoothie twist is playful and refreshing; it’s not another chocolate-peanut-butter rerun.
Several reviewers love that NuGo bars feel like a treat without the chalky aftertaste that plagues some high-protein options, and this bar skips sugar alcohols or artificial sweeteners, which many people find more palatable.
Calories are on the lighter side, so it’s easy to fit in as a snack. Fortified B vitamins plus C, E, A, and calcium add a little micronutrient bonus to what is essentially a dessert-leaning bite with benefits.
Main Criticism
If you’re chasing big numbers, 11g of protein won’t scratch the 20-gram itch; even NuGo’s own Slim line gets called out as better on macros by Redditors.
Sweetness is a feature here, not a bug: 14g of sugar, mostly from syrups and the coating, reads more like a treat than a slow-burn fuel, which some buyers say they don’t need.
Quality can feel inconsistent—Amazon reviewers like Storm and others have reported occasional bars that taste waxy or a bit stale-dry, which dulls the otherwise pleasant crunch.
Finally, this flavor contains dairy and soy, so it’s not vegan or allergen-friendly; one Reddit user even flagged a limited recall on certain NuGo bars for undeclared milk in late 2024, a reminder to double-check labels if you avoid dairy.
The Middle Ground
The split is pretty clear: people come to NuGo for flavor and texture, and they get it; critics want more protein and less sweetness. Given the nutrition, this Orange Smoothie bar is best viewed as a bright, cereal-and-yogurt-style snack rather than a meal replacement or heavy post-lift recovery tool.
It’s quick energy with a modest protein assist, not a macro monster. If Reddit user “unknown” calling NuGo Dark bars “criminally underrated” set your expectations for a cocoa-laden crunch, note that this flavor is a different lane—less chocolate thunder, more citrus sunshine.
The occasional “waxy” note some reviewers mention tracks with the yogurt-style coating, which uses palm kernel oil for structure; it’s common in confections, though not everyone loves the mouthfeel. Where does the truth land?
This tastes good and goes down easy, but if your goals revolve around high protein and slow-release carbs, you’ll likely want to pair it with yogurt, nuts, or choose a higher-protein bar.
Open questions remain around batch-to-batch freshness, but when it’s on, it’s a charming change of pace.
What's the bottom line?
NuGo’s Orange Smoothie is the rare citrus-forward protein bar that actually delivers on the promise: bright orange, a gentle vanilla-creamy tang, and a satisfyingly crisp bite. At 170 calories with 11g of protein and 14g of sugar, it’s a sweet, gluten-free, vegetarian snack built for a lift between meals—not a meal replacement. No sugar alcohols, a straightforward ingredient list for this category, and a vitamin boost make it approachable for everyday snacking.
Reach for it when you want summery flavor and quick energy, not when you’re trying to stack 30 grams of protein in one go. If you’re sugar- or dairy-averse, look elsewhere in the NuGo lineup. For everyone else, this is a cheerful, crushable bar that scratches the “something sweet” itch while still offering a real protein bump—and that’s a win on a busy day.