Nice & Natural Whole Seed Cranberry & Raspberry Protein Bar Review

Welcome to the latest instalment of my 52 Bars in 52 Weeks Protein Bar Review Series. This week I looked at the Nice & Natural Whole Seed Cranberry & Raspberry Protein Bar – sold in a box of six at Woolies – the most affordable bar reviewed so far in this series.

The brand Nice & Natural is based in New Zealand makes snack food products that are free from artificial colors and flavors, aiming to balance great taste with great nutritional benefit.

Their product range includes various bars including nut bars, muesli bars, protein nut bars, whole seed bars. You can find them in your local supermarket. Bars aren't available for individual sale and must be purchased in a bulk pack.

At $1.30 per bar I was really interested to see how this Nice & Natural Whole Seed Cranberry & Raspberry Protein Bar compared to the protein bars available for individual sale.

Let's go.

Nice & Natural Whole Seed Cranberry & Raspberry Protein Bar First Impressions

Protein Bar Quick Details

Price

RRP: $6.50 for a box of 5 at Woolworths

Flavours available:

Dark chocolate and cacao, Salted caramel, and Cranberry & Raspberry

Protein Bar Packaging

It's obvious that most of the attention has gone into the design of the box rather than the bar itself. The packaging of the individual bars aren't allowed for individual sale so Nice & Natural needs to get our attention with the box.

The box has great contrast, an accurate representation of the bar iteself and a few key marketing messages. What I don't love is that despite the five star health rating (pretty rare among protein bars) that the brand has resorted to the shady '20%' protein messaging instead of 'grams'.

Most people are scanning for protein amounts and chasing around 20g for a high protein bar. This has far less than that.

While I understand the logic of focusing on the box, I also find it frustrating that the nutrition information panel and full ingredients list aren't printed on the bars themselves. This makes them risky to take for groups (without the box) because people are unable to quickly check if it's a product that's suitable for them. I'm glad allergy information is included but it feels a bit half-assed from a national brand.

It doesn't get more plain than this! A lot of wasted space.

Protein Bar Nutritional Claims

• Plant-based protein

• Source of fibre

• 5 star health rating

• Only 3.5g of sugar per bar

• 20% protein per bar

Not many bars have a five star health rating so this is awesome to see and is made very obvious with the higher contrast white font.

The source of fibre is also good but putting the gram amount would have displayed more confidence that the amount was worth celebrating. Not including it makes me question if it's actually a high amount – technically 1g would equal a 'source'. The bar includes 4.3g, which is really good, so it's an odd choice not to broadcast it.

The 3.5g sugar per bar is more targeted at everyday consumers aiming to reduce sugar in their diets. On the trail we use this rapidly and it's not something I go to great efforts to avoid.

Protein Bar Taste Test

Protein Bar Appearance

The bar is full of seeds and has a slight sheen on it. It looks healthy, colourful, and appealing.

Protein Bar Aroma

This Nice & Natural Protein Bar smells like a combination of fresh berries and scroggin. There's a hint of artificial strawberry in there too, but it comes and goes.

Protein Bar Texture

The bar sticks to your teeth initially as the outside is quite tacky, but it doesn't linger (you won't be picking seeds out of your teeth, promise!). The bar is quite crumbly and has a bubbly texture reminiscent of rice bubbles.

The crunch is soft and sticky, while still having decent density about it. There are occasional spots of increased resistance when you intercept a pepita or piece of a nut.

Protein Bar Flavour

A naturally sweet cranberry flavour is most dominant with nuttiness in the background. It's mild but quite well-balanced between the two. Occasionally you'll get a burst of sweet berry that quickly fades to a savoury flavour with a generally nutty aftertaste.

Overall it tastes quite healthy. While it's initially quite sweet, this fades quickly and is replaced by a savoury flavour. It's really interesting to have a bar that alternates so rapidly between savoury and sweet and I enjoyed it immensely.

Rating out of 5 (0= terrible, 5= amazing) 4.5/5

I only deducted half a point because the stickiness of the bar is a bit annoying. If that was fixed, I'd have zero complaints.

Protein Bar Nutritional Analysis

Ingredients List

Sunflower Seeds (44%), Glucose Syrup, Soy Protein Crisp (Soy Protein Isolate, Tapioca Starch, Salt), Inulin, Pumpkin Seeds (10%), Dried Cranberry Pieces (7%) (Cranberry, Sugar, Sunflower Oil), Natural Flavour, Glycerine, Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid), Sunflower Oil, Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin), Salt.

Contains: Soy

May contain: Milk, Sesame, Sulphites, Peanuts, Gluten, Tree Nuts, Wheat

• Protein sources: Soy Protein Crisp (Soy Protein Isolate), Sunflower Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds

• Fibre source: Inulin, Sunflower Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds.

• Carbs source: Glucose Syrup, Dried Cranberry Pieces (Cranberry, Sugar)

• Fat source: Sunflower Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Oil

• Artificial ingredients: Glycerine, Acidity Regulator (Citric Acid), Emulsifier (Soy Lecithin)

Nutrition Information Panel

Protein

The 6.8g of protein per 30g bar comes from soy protein isolate and a combination of seeds. The pairing of plant-based proteins offers a complete amino acid profile when paired appropriately, but the protein content per serving is quite low for hikers, who need higher protein intake for muscle recovery.

Carbohydrates

The bar contains 8g of carbs per serving, mainly from glucose syrup and dried cranberries. These provide quick energy and include added sugars, which will give an energy boost on the trail.

Fat

At 8.3g per bar, the fats mainly come from sunflower and pumpkin seeds, which is a healthy mix of unsaturated fats for long-lasting energy. The low saturated fat content is another positive.

Sodium

With only 50mg per bar, sodium is very low, which is great for off the trail, less ideal for on the trail as it's a micronutrient that you'll be sweating out. Make sure to also consume electrolytes to replenish this.

Key Takeaways Nice & Natural Whole Seed Cranberry & Raspberry Protein Bar

This is a really affordable snack and a cheap way to get some high quality protein for the trail. While the amount is small in comparison to other protein bars on the market, this is healthy enough that you could have more than one in a day if you wanted. Outside of hiking, it's an excellent snack for day-to-day too.

Protein Bar (30g)

• Cost per box: $3.90

• Cost per bar: $1.30

• Cost per 100g: $4.33

• Cost per gram of protein: $0.19

Flavour

4.5/5

Consumption Recommendation

This bar is a fine option for short hikes or as a snack between meals on longer hikes due to its balanced mix of protein, fats, and fibre. But for longer hikes requiring sustained energy and repeated recovery, the low protein isn't ideal.

Pairing it with a higher-protein and higher carbohydrate snack or meal would help, but there are bars out there with both that don't require carrying extra weight.

Protein Bar FAQs

What is glycerin?

Glycerin is safe and beneficial in moderation but may cause digestive issues if consumed in excessive amounts. In protein bars, its inclusion helps retain moisture and improve texture, which isn't inherently harmful unless you're sensitive to sugar alcohols or consuming large quantities regularly.

When's the best time for hikers to eat protein bars for performance and why?

High protein bars like this are ideal for pre-hike fuel or post-hike muscle recovery. The protein and fibre help stabilise blood sugar, providing sustained energy on tough trails or a protein boost right after a strenuous climb.

Why is dark chocolate more bitter than milk chocolate?

Dark chocolate is more bitter than milk chocolate because it has a higher cocoa content, no milk solids, and typically fewer added sugars to counteract the natural bitter taste.

Where can I find more protein bar reviews?

Follow @thehikersnutritionist on Instagram for regular protein bar reviews and flavour comparisons. Otherwise, stay tuned to this website for a new protein bar review every single week.

Disclaimer

I purchased this Nice & Natural Protein Bar from Woolworths. My opinions are my own.