Nature Valley Oats 'n Honey: Wholesome Look, 11g Sugar — Labelgrade C (64/100)
C 64 / 100 — Notable sugar load.
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Nature Valley Crunchy Oats ‘n Honey Granola Bars delivers 3g of protein and 190 calories per 2 BARS (USDA FDC 1635468). Per 100g that’s 7.1g of protein; per oz, 2g. The Labelgrade is C (64 / 100): Notable sugar load.
Why this Labelgrade
| Dimension | Grade | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Protein density | C | 61 / 100 | 7.1g per 100g — below the high-protein bar; not the right product for protein hunting |
| Ingredient quality | B- | 72 / 100 | 10 ingredients, recognizable, no significant additive flags |
| Saturated fat load | A- | 85 / 100 | 1g per serving (2.4g per 100g) — very low |
| Sodium load | D | 53 / 100 | 180mg per serving (121mg per oz) — meaningful per 100g |
| Sugar load | D | 42 / 100 | 11g sugar; USDA omits the added-sugar line, but the ingredients list a sweetener — scored as added, not naturally-occurring |
| Fiber | C | 64 / 100 | 2.02g per serving — modest fiber contribution |
| Overall | C | 64 / 100 | Weighted blend: protein 23% · ingredients 21% · saturated fat 18% · sodium 15% · sugar 15% · fiber 8% |
How it compares
| Product | Protein per serving | Per 100 g | Per oz | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nature Valley Crunchy Oats ‘n Honey Granola Bars (this product) | 3g | 7.1g | 2g | 190 |
| Larabar Cherry Pie Fruit & Nut Bar | 4g | 8.3g | 2.4g | 200 |
| Plain cooked chicken breast (benchmark) | — | 31g | 8.8g | ~165 |
The packaging says “wholesome.” The label says “11g of sugar.”
This is the gap worth being honest about. The kraft-paper wrapper, the field-of-grain photography, the word honey — everything about how this bar presents itself says “lightly sweetened oats.” The ingredient list tells a slightly different story: after whole grain oats comes sugar, then canola oil, and further down both honey and brown sugar syrup. Three of the first seven ingredients are sweeteners.
That’s why we score the 11g as added sugar, not the free-pass intrinsic kind. It’s not a scandal — 11g over two bars is in normal granola-bar territory — but it’s meaningfully more than the “made with whole grain” framing primes you to expect. If your mental model is “this is basically oatmeal,” recalibrate: it’s a sweetened oat snack, and the sweetening is doing real work on the texture and taste.
Where it earns its grade, and where it loses it
Credit where it’s due: whole grain oats are the genuine first ingredient, saturated fat is low (1g), and the list stays recognizable — no sugar alcohols, no artificial sweeteners, nothing exotic. That’s the foundation of the C (64/100) and the reason it grades above the candy-aisle alternatives.
What pulls it down is consistent and fixable-by-choosing-differently: 11g of added-type sugar, 180mg of sodium (high for something sweet), and just 3g of protein for 190 calories. None of those are disqualifying, but stacked together they make this a fine snack rather than a smart one. If you like the crunch, enjoy it as the treat it actually is. If you’re reaching for it as a healthy default, a no-added-sugar fruit-and-nut bar or plain oats you sweeten yourself will out-grade it on every dimension except convenience.
Scope
This page covers Nature Valley Crunchy Oats ‘n Honey Granola Bars, UPC 016000335301, as represented in USDA Branded Foods FDC 1635468. Nature Valley sells multiple variants in this product line — other sizes, flavors, or fat levels may have different macros and Labelgrade scores. Manufacturers periodically reformulate; always cross-reference the actual package label, especially if you have allergies or dietary restrictions.
Ingredients (from the USDA Branded Foods entry)
WHOLE GRAIN OATS, SUGAR, CANOLA OIL, RICE FLOUR, HONEY, SALT, BROWN SUGAR SYRUP, BAKING SODA, SOY LECITHIN, NATURAL FLAVOR.
Where to buy
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The Labelgrade score is independent of affiliate relationships. More.
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Quick Facts
Per serving · 2 BARS
See how this fits your day — protein calculator · macro calculator
Full nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Per Serving (2 BARS) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 190 |
| Protein | 3g |
| Total Fat | 7g |
| Saturated Fat | 1g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Total Carbohydrates | 29g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.02g |
| Total Sugars | 11g |
| Sodium | 180mg |
| Cholesterol | 0mg |
| Iron | 0.718mg |
Scope: This page applies specifically to Crunchy Oats 'n Honey Granola Bars · UPC 016000335301. Other sizes, flavors, or formulations may differ.
How this fits each diet
Each score is computed from the same USDA nutrition + ingredient data, against the published rules of each diet. They tell you "does this food fit this diet" — not whether the diet is right for you.
contains animal-derived ingredients
contains no listed meat or fish
no wheat, barley, rye, or malt detected in USDA ingredient list
Frequently Asked Questions
How much sugar is in Nature Valley Crunchy Oats 'n Honey?
11g per two-bar pouch. Despite the 'no added sugar' gap in the USDA entry, the ingredient list names sugar (second), honey, and brown sugar syrup, so we score it as added sugar — not the intrinsic fruit sugar you'd find in a date bar. For a snack that markets itself as wholesome, 11g is more than most people expect.
Are the oats actually whole grain?
Yes — whole grain oats are the first ingredient, and that's the real part of this bar's wholesome reputation. The catch is what follows: sugar, canola oil, rice flour, honey, and brown sugar syrup. Real oats, genuinely, but wrapped in sweetener and oil that the rustic packaging doesn't advertise.
How much protein does it have?
3g per pouch (7.1g per 100g) — a snack-level amount, not a protein source. At 63 calories per gram of protein it's one of the least protein-efficient bars we've graded. Eat it for the crunch and convenience, not the macros.
Why only a C if it's made with oats and honey?
The whole-grain oats and low saturated fat help, but three things hold it mid-pack: 11g of added-type sugar (D), 180mg sodium (D for a sweet snack), and thin 3g protein. It's not junk food — it's a sweeter-than-it-looks granola bar, and the C (64/100) reflects exactly that middle ground.
Is it healthier than a candy bar?
Marginally, and mostly because of the whole-grain oats and fiber. But with 11g of sugar and added oil, the gap is smaller than the packaging implies. A plain date-and-nut bar with no added sugar grades higher; so does plain oatmeal you sweeten yourself.
When was this data last verified?
2026-06-06, against USDA FoodData Central FDC 1635468. We re-verify top-traffic pages monthly and update within 7 days when a manufacturer reformulates.