Nature Valley was established in 1973 when they first introduced a granola cereal. However, they knew their product couldn’t be eaten on-the-go, and they then developed the world’s first granola bar. Nearly 50 years later they offer a wide variety of bars, snacks, granola, and cereal in many different flavors. But with many of their bars being made from oats, does that make them gluten-free? Let’s find out!
Nature Valley has an entire line of gluten-free bars. Additionally, many of their bars are made from oats which are free of gluten. However, oats may come in contact with gluten-containing grains such as wheat, rye and barley at the farm. The best gluten-free alternatives include Munk Pack Keto Nut & Seed Bar and Ratio Crunchy Bar: Toasted Almond.
In this article we will dive into some of the most popular flavors of Nature Valley bars, discuss their ingredients, and nutritional information to determine if they are gluten-free. Let’s dig in!
Are Nature Valley Bars Healthy?
Made with real ingredients such as whole grain oats and with no artificial sweeteners, no artificial food coloring, and no high fructose corn syrup it is easy to assume that these bars are healthy. However, like many packaged treats we want to be mindful of the amount of total sugar in each serving. While sugar is not inherently bad, too much of it can lead to adverse health issues.
Most Nature Valley bars have anywhere from 7-11g of added sugar. Over-consuming sugar in your diet can lead to problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and insulin resistance. According to the American Heart Association the average adult female should consume about 24g of added sugar a day and the average adult male should consume around 36g of sugar a day. With 11g of added sugar it is easy to see how Nature Valley bars can add up and contribute to about half of the average woman’s allotted daily sugar values.
But enjoying a Nature Valley Bar every now and then can be fine when paired with a high nutrient-dense diet and an active lifestyle.
What Is Gluten?
In short, gluten is the protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and triticale. So any food that has wheat, rye, barley and triticale listed in the ingredients will have gluten.
Scientifically speaking, gluten is a protein made up of two smaller proteins: glutenin and gliadin. Typically found in most breads, when flour gets wet, like when water is added to create dough, glutenin and gliadin combine to make gluten. The gluten is activated by the water and by kneading the dough.
However, unless you have celiac disease or are diagnosed with a gluten sensitivity, gluten is not inherently bad for you. People with celiac disease will experience extreme symptoms from even just trace amounts of gluten, and people with a sensitivity, can have similar symptoms but just not as severe. It’s important to consult your doctor if you believe you have trouble tolerating gluten.
Gluten-Free Nature Valley Bars
Recently Nature Valley has released a line of completely gluten-free products. In an effort to help those who are avoiding gluten along with their mission of creating products that are healthy on-the-go snacks, they’ve created both protein and regular gluten-free bars for their customers. Find out what flavors are gluten-free below:
- Almond Dark Chocolate Nut Crisp Bars
- Salted Caramel Peanut Nut Crisp Bars
- Peanut Crunch Roasted Nut Crunch Bars
- Almond Crunch Roasted Nut Crunch Bars
- Almond Cashew Sea Salt Simple Nut Bars
- Roasted Peanut Honey Simple Nut Bars
- Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Protein Bars
- Peanut Almond Dark Chocolate Protein Bars
- Coconut Almond Protein Bars
- Salted Caramel Nut Protein Bars
Nature Valley Bars Nutritional Information
Oats ‘n Honey Crunchy Granola Bars
Oats ‘n Honey is one of Nature Valley’s most popular bars. Made from whole grain oats, it is knowing for crumbling in your mouth with every bite. According to the ingredients in this bar it is gluten-free.
The list of ingredients in this product are:
- Whole Grain Oats
- Sugar
- Canola Oil
- Rice Flour
- Honey
- Salt
- Brown Sugar Syrup
- Baking Soda
- Soy Lecithin
- Natural Flavor
Nutrition Facts (per 2 bars):
- Calories: 190
- Total fat: 7g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 1400mg
- Total sugar: 11g
- Total carbs: 29g
- Protein: 3g
Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate Protein Chewy Bars
Packed with protein, these chewy bars make a great snack before or after your next workout. Made with dark chocolate chips, roasted peanuts, and creamy peanut butter, these are sure to satisfy your sweet cravings. These bars are gluten-free.
The list of ingredients in this product are:
- Roasted Peanuts
- Soy Protein Isolate
- Chicory Root Extract
- Semisweet Chocolate Chips (sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, natural flavor)
- Vegetable Oils (palm, palm kernel, canola, peanut)
- Sugar
- Corn Syrup
- Whey Protein Concentrate
- Fructose
- Peanut Butter (peanuts, salt)
- Cocoa
- Vegetable Glycerin
- Rice Starch
- Soy Lecithin
- Salt
- Corn Starch
- Natural Flavor
Nutrition Facts (per 1 bar):
- Calories: 190
- Total fat: 12g
- Cholesterol: <5mg
- Sodium: 160mg
- Total sugar: 7g
- Total carbs: 15g
- Protein: 10g
Almond Crunch Roasted Nut Crunch
This product is listed under Nature Valley’s gluten-free section. It comes with a mix of flavorful nuts and seeds including almonds, peanuts, and sunflower seeds.
The list of ingredients in this product are:
- Roasted Almonds
- Roasted Peanuts
- Sugar
- Sunflower Seeds
- Corn Syrup
- Yellow Corn Flour
- Salt
- Corn Oil
- Calcium Carbonate
- Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols) Added to Retain Freshness
Nutrition Facts (per 1 bar):
- Calories: 190
- Total fat: 13g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 180mg
- Total sugar: 8g
- Total carbs: 14g
- Protein: 6g
Healthy Alternatives To Nature Valley Bars
Munk Pack Keto Nut & Seed Bar: Sea Salt Dark Chocolate
Salty and sweet this keto friendly snack is packed with healthy fats from nuts and seeds. These low sugar bars are both gluten-free and vegan!
The list of ingredients in this product are:
- Almonds
- Allulose
- Peanuts
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Soluble Tapioca Fiber
- Sunflower Seeds
- Palm Oil
- Rice Flour
- Coconut Oil
- Alkalized Cocoa Powder
- Sea Salt
- Unsweetened Chocolate
- Natural Flavor
- Sunflower Lecithin
- Mixed Tocopherols (Vitamin E) For freshness
- Monk Fruit Extract
Nutrition Facts (per 1 bar):
- Calories: 150
- Total fat: 12g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 120mg
- Total sugar: 1g
- Total carbs: 14g
- Protein: 5g
Ratio Keto Friendly Toasted Almond Crunchy Bar
This crunchy keto friendly bar is bursting with flavor from the almonds and pumpkin seeds. This gluten-free snack is packed with protein making it great for on-the-go and in between meals.
The list of ingredients in this product are:
- Almonds
- Pumpkin Seeds
- Soy Protein Isolate
- Coconut Oil
- Erythritol
- Whey Protein Isolate
- Chicory Root Extract
- Cinnamon
- Sea Salt
- Stevia Extract
- Natural Flavor
- Almond Extract
Nutrition Facts (per 1 bar):
- Calories: 220
- Total fat: 17g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 170mg
- Total sugar: 1g
- Total carbs: 9g
- Protein: 12g
Highkey Breakfast Biscuits: Banana Bread
Perfect for when you’re rushing out the door, or don’t want to make breakfast, these gluten-free biscuits are made with a mix of bananas, chia seeds, and pumpkin seeds. Each biscuit is individually wrapped and is a low-carb treat for your early or late mornings.
The list of ingredients in this product are:
- Allulose
- Sunflower Seeds
- Almond Flour
- Sweetener blend (Erythritol, Stevia Extract, Monk Fruit Extract)
- Resistant Cassava Fiber
- Dried Coconut
- Almonds
- Glycerin
- Chia Seeds
- Flax Seeds
- Coconut Oil
- Dried Bananas
- Pumpkin Seed Kernels
- Sunflower Lecithin
- Water
- Natural Flavors
- Spices
- Salt
Nutrition Facts (per 1 biscuit):
- Calories: 200
- Total fat: 16g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 55mg
- Total sugar: 2g
- Total carbs: 24g
- Protein: 5g
Final Thoughts
Nature Valley make for a great on-the-go snack and with many of their products being gluten-free they are a great choice. However if you’re looking for lower sugar content, higher protein, lower carb, and healthy fats their are plenty of gluten-free options on the market that can satisfy your needs.
While gluten is not inherently bad for you if you have celiac disease or have an intolerance to gluten it is always important to check the food labels before purchasing a product. If you follow a gluten-free diet for personal choices these brands can help you achieve your health and wellness goals without having to sacrifice taste or cutting out snacks all together. As always, everything in moderation is key so be sure to enjoys these snacks with a well-balanced diet and a healthy amount of movement in your routine!
Related Questions
Are Nature Valley Bars A Good Source Of Fiber?
Most Nature Valley Bars have about 2g of fiber in them, and while this is good, sticking to fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, and legumes is a much better way to get good healthy sources of fiber.
Are Nature Valley Bars Vegan?
No, most of Nature Valley’s bars are not vegan. It’s always important to read the ingredients list to make sure it doesn’t contain any animal product or byproduct such as milk, eggs, or whey.
Do Nature Valley Bars Contain Preservatives?
No, Nature Valley Bars do not contain preservatives, but as stated on their website it is important to always check the labels as they’re always updating the nutritional information.