Nature Valley

Nature Valley Protein Bar

Ranked #16 in Protein Bars

0 LP on the category ladder what's LP?

A cheap grocery-aisle bar with only 10g of protein and a candy profile, outclassed on every value metric by Kirkland and Pure Protein. Buy the Kirkland Signature Protein Bar instead.

Backed by one cited source so far - limited coverage

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Flagged as a product to avoid

4 of 5 research runs entered this as a product to avoid rather than a pick.

At 10g of protein it is a snack bar wearing a protein costume, and buyers lured by the shelf price get less than half the protein of a Kirkland or Pure Protein bar for similar money. Budget shoppers should buy the Kirkland Signature Protein Bar instead.
Flagged 17 September 2026

At 10g of protein it is a snack bar wearing a protein costume, and buyers lured by the shelf price get less than half the protein of a Kirkland or Pure Protein bar for similar money. Budget shoppers should buy the Kirkland Signature Protein Bar instead.
Flagged 17 September 2026
Listed among the most glyphosate-contaminated tested products in the Consumer Notice investigation, combined with a modest protein count for the category. There is no consensus case for it over RXBAR Original or Pure Protein at the same shelf position.
Flagged 16 September 2026
Delivers only ten grams of protein dressed up as a protein bar, while Kirkland and Pure Protein deliver two to three times the protein at comparable per-bar cost. Fine as a snack, wrong as a protein purchase.
Flagged 16 September 2026
ProteinBar.com's 2026 review scores it 4 out of 10 and cannot recommend it, calling the protein label misleading at only 10g, while a dietitian flags the line as low in protein and high in added sugar and Curex notes the fiber comes from chicory root rather than food. It fails the core job of the category outright.
Flagged 16 September 2026

Why the boards include products to avoid

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Pros & cons

✓ More affordable than many protein bars
✓ Tastes like candy, per an RD-reviewed guide
✓ A shelf staple shoppers reach for on brand trust
✓ Affordable snack for kids and adults
✓ Each bar tastes like candy

✗ Only 10g of protein per bar
✗ A snack bar wearing a protein costume
✗ Listed among the most glyphosate-contaminated tested products
✗ Modest protein count for the category
✗ Underdelivers as a protein purchase compared with rivals at similar cost

The sources behind this ranking

We searched the web and YouTube for what has been published about this product, then read the articles, video transcripts and comments we found.

1 mixed source

Proteinbar Article

They are healthier than candy bars but fall short of premium protein bars like Quest (21g protein, 1g sugar) or RXBAR (whole food ingredients).

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Frequently asked questions

It ranks #16 of 16 on our protein bars tier list, in F tier. That placement rests on one cited source.

Only 10g of protein per bar. A snack bar wearing a protein costume. Listed among the most glyphosate-contaminated tested products. Modest protein count for the category. Underdelivers as a protein purchase compared with rivals at similar cost.