As mom and wife I am always on the look out for “better-for-you” snacking options. I don’t mind my kids (or hubby) indulging in some candy, chips and other types of “junk foods” from time to time but it has to be within reason. After all, kids will be kids and they want to enjoy the same foods their peers are eating.
Ideally I would like my family to enjoy treats that are made with whole grains, real ingredients ideally things like protein, vitamins and minerals whenever possible.
Natural Valley has some new products on the market that not only please my family but also me, as a mom. One product I hide from my family so they didn’t eat them all up on me. 🙂
These products can be enjoyed as an on-the-go breakfast, along side a breakfast (such as eggs or oatmeal) or as a snack or after school meal.
Nature Valley Breakfast Biscuits are a great way to start the day and help make mornings easier and more delicious. Made with real blueberries and honey, Nature Valley Breakfast Biscuits provide a wonderful combination of convenience, great taste and breakfast satisfaction, offering more than 26 grams of whole grain in each four-biscuit serving. Available in two delicious varieties – Blueberry and Honey. SRP: $3.89.
There are a few breakfast bar-type products on the market. One brand (which I won’t mention) my kids used to ask me to buy all the time. They are good but they only give you two small biscuits per package. The Nature Valley breakfast biscuits have FOUR generously sized biscuits in each individually wrapped package.
I prefer my kids eat an actual breakfast such as eggs and toast or oatmeal. Sadly that is not always the case. Sometimes they run late or neglect to set the alarm and end up have to dash out of the house before they miss the bus. Having these on hand are great for such occasions.
These are the ones that I hide some of the packages from my family because I knew they would gobble them all up before I had a chance to. I did let my kids and husband enjoy some of the packages.
My daughter took these to school with her to hold her over until lunch time. She’s in high school and they start their day early. She has a late lunch and tells me that her tummy grumbles during class. To prevent this she likes to bring along a little something like a granola bar to hold her over until lunch time. She loved these biscuits, not only because they taste great (we had both varieties) but also because she said they held her over until lunch time.
My son is a teenager too and teenage boys are infamous for their voracious appetites. One package of these biscuits after school and an apple or orange was enough to hold him over until dinner time.
Both of my kids enjoyed these as snacks too (I purchased more of these after the samples I received).
Nature Valley Greek Yogurt Protein Bars are a delicious, protein snack option perfect for an active lifestyle, offering a great source of protein while you are on-the-go. Made with real fruit, crunchy peanut and almond pieces, the bars offer 10 grams of protein per serving. Available in two fruit varieties – Mixed Berry and Strawberry. SRP: $4.19.
Mmm…. these are GOOD! They have it all – a bit of crunch, sweetness from the fruit and yogurt and the creaminess of the yogurt. They are rich and satisfying. If you find yourself craving something sweet, don’t reach for cookies or cake – grab one of these yogurt bars instead. Calories wise they might be the same but cookies or cake are not going to provide you with 10 grams of protein.
These bars were gone quickly in my home. Both of my kids LOVE these (my husband doesn’t like yogurt and wouldn’t even try one – his loss. LOL). They enjoyed these as a snack, with their school lunch and alone side breakfast.
Unlike other fruity granola bars, I could actually taste the sweet fruity flavor, especially the strawberry flavored one.
I haven’t had a chance to look yet but I am hoping that Costco sells these in bulk packages. These come 5 bars per box. My kids would go through a box every other day.
Nature Valley Protein Granola in Cranberry Almond is a loose, bagged granola with energy from whole grain to keep you going. Made with natural ingredients, including real almonds and sweetened cranberry pieces, each serving contains 10 grams of protein and at least 22 grams of whole grain (48 grams of whole grain recommended daily). Also available in two additional varieties, Oats ‘n Honey and Oats ‘n Dark Chocolate, Nature Valley Protein Granola can be found in the granola aisle at retailers nationwide for an SRP of $4.49.
This is a very flexible product. It can be enjoyed “as is”, mixed in with other foods or enjoyed as a “topping”. My kids and I used it on top of oatmeal, yogurt, cereal and ice cream. Why top ice cream with candy when you can get the same sweetness and crunchiness, but with less fat and calories and 10 grams of protein. Especially with the Oats ‘n Dark Chocolate variety.
This is just as good “as is”. I would pour a little in my hand and munch on it whenever I was in the mood for a snack or treat. It’s crunch and sweet and it’s a great way to satisfy your urge to raid the fridge.
I haven’t tried it yet but there is a recipe for Individual Microwave Apple Crisps that uses the Cranberry Almond granola that looks and sounds SO GOOD.
There are several recipes on the Betty Crocker website that use the Nature Valley Protein Granola (both varieties) including cheesecake squares and no back Thumbprint Cookie.
For more information about these or other Nature Valley products visit www.NatureValley.com. You can also check out the brand on the various social media outlets.
Have you tried any of these products yet? If so, what did you think about it? I always love to hear from my readers.
Kimberly
*I received free product samples in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.
Jeanne says
All these sound really good. I am always looking for new snacks that are healthy. I leave early in the morning for work and don’t always have time for breakfast. The Breakfast Biscuits sound like something I would not only enjoy but also be great to have later in the morning at work.
Debbie Welchert says
These all look so good but I would really like to try the yogurt ones. They really look good. I would have to hide these from my grandchildren or I would never get any.
Maryann D. says
I do enjoy Nature Valley products. I have not tried the breakfast biscuits as of yet, but they would be great to bring to work in the AM and convenient too.
Birdiebee says
The Crunchy Granola Cranberry Almond looks wonderful. I will have to look for this at the grocer. Thanks for the review.