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Have you looked at the cereal aisle lately? There are actually a million possibilities, numerous of which claim to be healthier when they’re not. On leading of that, how do you know which healthier breakfast cereals really taste excellent? This guide will support you to come across the finest healthier cereals for you and your household — cereals that taste good, will preserve you complete and happy, and are really excellent for you as well!
We’ve all been there.
The cereal aisle.
Rows and rows of colorful boxes with labels like “whole grain” and “all natural” and “organic” – but which a single is really the healthiest? The excellent news is, there are really fairly a handful of healthier cereals created with wholesome components out there at most grocery shops!
Read on to come across my suggestions and tricks for locating the healthiest cereal, my leading 20 finest healthier cereal picks of 2022, and leading cereal FAQs.
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10 Tips On How To Find The Healthiest Cereals
When searching for the healthiest breakfast cereal, you want a cereal that has:
- No more than 150 calories per 3/4-1 cup serving (note: for Granola or Raisin Bran kind cereals which have a tendency to be denser, you want no more than ~200 calories for 1/2 cup serving)
- Less sugar: You want much less than 6 grams of sugar per serving (any more than that and you are venturing into dessert territory). Watch out for all of the components that do not sound like sugar on the nutritional label but really are – which includes: cane sugar, fruit juice, higher fructose corn syrup, barley malt, evaporated cane juice, maple syrup, honey, and sucrose.
- Lots of fiber: At least 4-5 grams of fiber per serving
- At least 3 grams of protein per serving
- No dried fruit added
- No soy protein isolate or soy protein added
- “Whole grain” or “bran” or “whole wheat” as the initial handful of components
- No weird components / preservatives that you can not pronounce
- Ideally organic components, specifically due to glyphosate identified in most non-organic cereals
- No artificial colors or flavors on the ingredient list.
What Is The Healthiest Cereal To Eat?
The finest healthier cereal is any cereal that is organic, higher in fiber (at least 5 grams per serving), low in sugar (below 6 grams per serving), below 200 calories per serving, and has no preservatives or artificial colors / flavors added.
Is Cereal Good For Weight Loss?
The answer right here is: it depends! Depends on the kind of cereal you are consuming and how regularly you are consuming it. If you are just obtaining cereal as soon as a day for breakfast, and you are selecting a higher fiber/reduced calorie/low sugar selection, then that can surely be aspect of a diet plan for weight loss. On the other hand, if you are loading up on sugary cereals numerous instances a day, that is really a recipe for weight acquire!
What Cereal Has No Sugar?
There are a handful of cereal brands that have no sugar added! All of the finest healthier cereals listed under are low in sugar, but cereals with no sugar incorporate: plain oatmeal / rolled oats, One Degree Foods Organic Sprouted O’s, Three Wishes Grain-Free Unsweetened Cereal, Nature’s Path Organic Puffed Kamut, and Uncle Sam Toasted Whole Wheat Berry Flakes & Flaxseed.
What Is The Least Healthy Cereal?
Most Kellogg’s breakfast cereals aimed at little ones (Lucky Charms, Golden Grahams, Froot Loops, and so on.) are super unhealthy since they’re higher in sugar (which leads to these sugar highs and crashes), low in fiber, and include artificial colors and flavors. Any cereal that has more than 8-9 grams of sugar per serving and consists of artificial colors, flavors or preservatives is going to be quite unhealthy for you!
The Top 20 Healthiest Breakfast Cereals
Healthiest O’s, Puffs, Crunchy Cereal, Oats, and Flakes
Forager Grain-Free Cereal
Forager Cereals may possibly be my leading choose for the finest healthier cereal on the industry today! They are one hundred% organic, grain-absolutely free, gluten-absolutely free, dairy-absolutely free, paleo, low-sugar, vegan and vegetarian friendly. With a super clean components list like navy beans and cassava root, their cereal is a single of the healthiest options you can make! They come in 3 flavors – plain, cinnamon and chocolate (I like cinnamon the finest, it reminds me of a healthier version of cinnamon toast crunch). This is absolutely my individual favored cereal, I consume it day-to-day. l1 cup has 110 calories, 4 grams fiber, 4 grams sugar, and 4 grams protein.
One Degree Foods Organic Sprouted O’s
This entire-grain cereal is the healthiest option to Cheerios that I have identified. It’s one hundred% organic vegan, and non-GMO, created with sprouted entire oat flour and sprouted chickpeas (garbanzo beans). Sprouting naturally unlocks stored vitamins and minerals and tends to make this cereal a lot easier to digest. 3/4 cup has 110 calories, 3 grams fiber, 2 grams sugar, and 3 grams protein.
Nature’s Path Organic Puffed Kamut
This Nature’s Path cereal has just a single ingredient – organic entire grain Kamut Khorasan wheat. Free from artificial flavors, preservatives and colors, Certified USDA Organic, vegan, and non-GMO. 1 cup has 50 calories, 2 grams fiber, grams sugar, and 2 grams protein.
Barbara’s Original Puffins
This is my leading choose amongst all of the Barbara’s Cereals line, it is also a single of the most preferred cereals I’ve identified for little ones that is really healthier! Non-GMO, crispy and slightly sweet. 3/4 cup has 90 calories, 5g fiber, 5g sugar and 2g protein. Enjoy it with low-fat milk, or your favored plant primarily based milk.
Kashi Heart to Heart, Warm Cinnamon
USDA Organic Certified. Very cinnamon-y, crunchy and packed with entire grains. 3/4 cup has 120 calories, 4g fiber, 5g sugar, and 3g protein.
Nature’s Path Flax Plus Flakes
The finest option to corn flakes or bran flakes! Organic, Non-GMO, slightly sweet. 1 cup has 150 calories, 7g fiber, 5g sugar and 5g protein.
Barbara’s Shredded Spoonfuls Multigrain
The finest option to shredded wheat (specifically frosted shredded wheat). Non-GMO, no higher fructose corn syrup (frosted shredded wheat does have HFCS), and sweetened with molasses alternatively of refined sugar. 3/4 cup has 120 calories, 4g fiber, 5g sugar, and 3g protein.
Cascadian Farm Organic Purely O’s
The finest option to standard Cheerios (which is not organic and has glyphosate residue!) This cereal is USDA Organic, crunchy and mild — great for a toddler/kid finger meals or cereal. 1.5 cups has 140 calories, 4g fiber,
Uncle Sam Toasted Whole Wheat Berry Flakes & Flaxseed
Only 4 components, Non-GMO, Vegan. 3/4 cup of this low sugar, higher-fiber cereal has 220 calories, 10g fiber, 0g sugar and 8g protein! This honestly would be my #1 choose but taste smart, it is quite bland. I suggest acquiring this and mixing it with a single of the cereals above (50-50) to bring a small more flavor to your breakfast bowl!
Three Wishes Unsweetened Protein Cereal
Three Wishes is a grain-absolutely free, vegan, sugar-absolutely free, gluten-absolutely free, higher protein, paleo friendly cereal! It’s unsweetened selection has just 4 easy components: chickpeas, tapioca, pea protein and salt. It’s low in carbs, higher in protein and higher in fiber: 1 cup consists of 146 calories, 3 grams fat, 20 grams carbs, 4 grams fiber, zero grams of sugar and 11 grams of protein!
Nature’s Path Organic Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
Oatmeal is absolutely a single of the finest healthier cereals out there. Organic rolled oats specifically are low glycemic compared to their immediate oats counterparts – which is effective in stabilizing blood sugar and cholesterol levels. It’s packed with nutrition and is wealthy in B vitamins, has a higher fiber content, and lots of necessary minerals. 1 cup of cooked rolled oats has 150 calories, 3 g fat, 27g carbs, 4g fiber, only 1 gram of sugar, and 5g protein. The initial and only ingredient on the nutrition label is organic rolled oats. Top these entire-grain oats with some sliced banana and peanut butter for a filling and comprehensive meal!
Healthiest Granola, Raisin Bran, and Gluten Free Cereal
This next set of cereals is focused on the healthiest granola, raisin bran and gluten absolutely free cereal possibilities!
KIND Granola Oats & Honey
This breakfast staple is gluten absolutely free, non-GMO, slightly sweet and the great topping for greek yogurt bowls or smoothie bowls. 1/3 of a cup has 120 calories, 2g fiber, 5g sugar and 2g protein.
Bear Naked Fit Vanilla Almond Crunch Granola
These crunchy clusters are non-GMO, with entire grain oats and hearty almonds. 1/4 cup has 120 calories, 2g fiber, 3g sugar and 3g protein. A good option for a low calorie, low sugar granola.
Nature’s Path Flax Plus Raisin Bran
While it is slightly greater in calories, this is a good option to standard Kellogg’s Raisin Bran (which has tons of sugar – 18g per serving). It is higher in fiber and consists of healthier fats from the flax seeds. The Nature’s Path version has 168 calories for 1 cup, 7.2g fiber, 10.4g sugar (only 4.8g added sugar) and 5g protein.
Purely Elizabeth Granola
USDA Organic, Non-GMO, Made with quinoa, amaranth and chia. A good healthier cereal selection if you are searching for a low sugar way to get your granola repair. 1/3 of a cup has 140 calories, 2g fiber, 6g sugar, 3g protein.
Ezekiel 4:9 Organic Sprouted Whole Grain Cereal, Original
USDA Organic, created with sprouted live grains, legumes, seeds and has completely no flour! 1/2 cup has 190 calories, 6g fiber, 0g sugar and 8g protein. This would be my leading granola choose, but just like the Uncle Sam cereal, it is a small on the bland side and performs nicely when paired with an additional cereal 50-50. They have a handful of other flavors (Almond, Golden Flax, and so on.) that are equally excellent for you!
Love Grown Original Power O’s
Non-GMO, Vegan, Gluten absolutely free and created with beans and lentils! 1 serving size (1 cup) has 130 calories, 4g fiber, 2g sugar and 6g protein.
Barbara’s Puffins Honey Rice
A good selection for a gluten-absolutely free cereal that also occurs to be Non-GMO and is created with entire grain brown rice and no artificial components. 3/4 cup has 120 calories, 3g fiber, 6g sugar, and 2g protein.
Healthy Cereal FAQs
Healthy entire grains, plant protein, and a smaller quantity of added sugar tends to make for a nutritious cereal. When attempting to come across the healthiest cereal, if you prioritize cereals that are low in sugar (much less than 6 grams per serving) and higher in fiber (4 grams or more per serving), you will most likely come across a excellent selection that will preserve you complete all the way till lunch!
And when in doubt, pick out organic, gluten absolutely free rolled oats and make oatmeal for breakfast – since that is assured to be healthier just about every time!
Note: If you are feeding an specifically picky eater, I suggest supplementing with an organic kids vitamin along with their breakfast to make sure they’re receiving all of the nutrients they want!
Raisin Bran is surely a preferred cereal, but however the most popular Raisin Bran cereal brands (created by Kellogg’s and Post) are not healthier for you. While the name “Raisin Bran” sounds healthier, it is really loaded with calories and sugar – since of the quantity of raisins incorporated in the cereal. Raisins are dried fruit, and dried fruit general is concentrated in sugar, due to the fact it does not have all of the water that its fresh fruit counterparts include.
One serving of Post’s Raisin Bran cereal (1.25 cups) consists of 210 calories and 20 grams of sugar. Kellogg’s is no improved – a single serving (1 cup) consists of 190 calories and 17 grams of sugar. That’s nearly the identical quantity of sugar in a can of Coke, or a standard sized Snickers Bar! For a healthier Raisin Bran kind cereal, attempt Nature’s Path Flax Plus Raisin Bran alternatively.
Granola normally runs into the identical difficulty as Raisin Bran – way as well substantially sugar and calories packed into a smaller serving! Making granola at house will outcome in a healthier granola due to the fact you can handle the quantity of sugar and fat added to the recipe (like this low calorie granola recipe that is super low in sugar!)
If you are searching for a pre-created/shop-purchased granola, stick to the identical guidelines as you would when searching for any healthier cereal (low in sugar, higher in fiber). I like KIND Granola, Bare Naked Fit Granola, and Purely Elizabeth Granola. Remember, with granola, portion size matters – you can go overboard even with the healthier granola brands if you consume more than 1 serving per day!
On the surface, Cheerios appear healthier: a single serving (1.5 cups) has 140 calories, 4 grams of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 5 grams of protein (and they are gluten-absolutely free). However, since Cheerios are not organic, they have been identified to include higher levels of the carcinogen glyphosate – so I wouldn’t suggest them!
Instead, attempt One Degree Foods Sprouted O’s or Cascadian Farms Purely O’s.
Check Out These Other Healthy Eating Guides!
I hope this list assists you to choose out a good and satisfying cereal – it is the great excuse to make a healthier begin to your day!
