Return to top
featured in… The Huffington Post CookingLight Reader's Digest Women's Health BuzzFeed Glamour Whole Foods Oprah Winfrey Network CNN Food Network Healthline Shape

Hello! I’m Anjali. I’m a board certified health coach, author, wife, mom and food lover from the SF Bay area (now living in Seattle, WA!); with a passion for delicious food and a desire to make healthy eating easy, tasty and fun! Learn more about me here and stay for a while!

Anjali Shah

Healthiest Breakfast Cereals

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.

Have you looked at the cereal aisle lately? There are seemingly a million types of cereal, many of which claim to be healthy but the nutrition facts panel suggests otherwise. I’m a cereal lover so I set out to find the healthiest cereals on the market today.

My comprehensive guide will help you to find the best healthy cereals to eat that taste great, will keep you full and satisfied, and are actually good for you and your family too! I’m a mom, health coach, and nutritionist, and I have taste-tested every single one of these cereals, so you can be sure that the cereals I’m recommending here are kid-tested and nutritionist-approved!

An overhead shot of a bowl of granola with milk and blueberries on the counter with small cups of granola and nuts.

I have always found browsing the cereal aisle in the grocery store to be super overwhelming. There are rows and rows of boxes claiming to be healthy with labels like “whole grain”, “all-natural” and “organic” – but which ones are actually the healthiest?

The good news is that there are plenty of healthy cereals made with wholesome ingredients at most grocery stores! So instead of providing the top 10 healthiest cereals, I rounded up twice as many recommendations to give you plenty of nutritious and delicious options! Read on for my tips and tricks for finding the healthiest cereal, my top 20 best healthy cereal brands, and healthy cereal FAQs.

Shots of cereal aisles on grocery stores.

The Top 20 Healthiest Breakfast Cereals

From the healthiest o’s, puffs, crunchy cereal, and flakes, to oats, granola, bran and raisin bran cereal, I have got you covered with this list of the healthiest cereals. I have even included quite a few grain free and gluten free cereals to try that are healthy for you too!

Three Wishes Unsweetened Protein Cereal

best healthy cereal - three wishes protein cereal box

Three Wishes is one of the tastiest high-protein cereals I’ve found. It’s also one of my top picks for the best healthy cereals because it has almost everything you’d want in a good-for-you cereal brand.

It’s grain-free, vegan, sugar-free, gluten-free, non-GMO, and paleo-friendly! It’s low in carbs and high in protein and fiber. This healthy cereal comes in 6 flavors (Cinnamon, Honey, Unsweetened, Cocoa, Fruity, and Frosted) giving you something for everyone!

Ingredients: The unsweetened option has just 4 simple ingredients: chickpeas, tapioca, pea protein, and salt. The flavored versions will have these ingredients plus: cane sugar, monk fruit, and natural flavors.

Nutritional Info: 3/4 cup has 120-130 calories, 3 grams fiber, 0 grams sugar (the flavored versions have only 3 grams of sugar), and 8 grams of protein.

Price: (Varies) $7.75 for an 8.6oz box (subscribe & save on Amazon), or $6.64 for an 8.6 ounce box at Thrive Market. Also available in most grocery stores.

Pros
Delicious flavor
High in plant protein and fiber
Non-GMO
Simple ingredients
Gluten-free
Grain-free
Paleo
Variety of flavors
Kid-Friendly
Vegetarian and vegan-friendly
Available in most grocery stores, easy to find
Cons
Not organic
Buy Now

Seven Sundays Sunflower Cereal

Bag of Seven Sundays Sunflower Cereal, cocoa flavor.

Seven Sundays as a brand overall is definitely one of the healthiest cereal for adults and kids! They are 100% grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, whole food based, low-sugar, paleo, vegan, and vegetarian friendly. With a super clean ingredients list like cassava and sunflower protein as the first two ingredients, their cereal is one of the healthiest choices you can make!

They come in 4 flavors – cinnamon, berry, chocolate, and maple. I personally love the cocoa and maple flavors the best, and I eat them daily.  

Ingredients: Cassava, Sunflower Protein, Dates, Cocoa Powder, Coconut Sugar, Coconut Oil, Vanilla Extract, Sea Salt

Nutritional Info: 1 cup has 170 calories, 3 grams fiber, 5 grams sugar (1 gram added sugar), and 5 grams protein.

Price: (Varies) $10.85 for an 8 ounce bag at Amazon, $8.69 for an 8 ounce bag at Whole Foods, $6.93 for an 8 ounce bag at Thrive Market. Also found in many grocery stores.

Pros
Allergen-friendly, gluten-free, grain-free, vegan
Only 1 gram added sugar per serving
Comes in 4 flavors
Delicious taste
Healthy non-GMO cereal
High in fiber and protein
Super clean ingredients
Certified B-Corp
Found in many grocery stores
Cons
On the pricier side
Not organic
Buy Now

Seven Sundays Oat Protein Cereal (Simply Honey)

Packages of Seven Sundays Oat Protein Cereal, Simply Honey flavor.

I love all of Seven Sundays cereal varieties, and this particular one is a great, healthier alternative to Honey Nut Cheerios. It tastes delicious and also comes in 3 other flavors (Maple Cinnamon, Super Fruity, and Chocolate Sea Salt).  

What I especially appreciate about Seven Sundays cereal is that it’s made from upcycled oat protein (from oat milk production), and other gluten-free flours like cassava and corn. It’s non-GMO, has no refined sugar, and has no artificial flavors. This is one of the best oat cereal brands because it’s perfectly sweet, crunchy, and packed with whole grains.

Ingredients: Upcycled Oat protein, Upcycled Non-GMO Corn, Cassava Starch, Wildflower Honey, Coconut Oil, Sea Salt.

Nutritional Info: 1 cup has 150 calories, 3 grams fiber, 7 grams sugar, and 5 grams protein.

Price: (Varies) $9 for an 8 ounce package on Amazon (using subscribe & save), or $6.93 at Thrive Market. Also found in many grocery stores.

Pros
Non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free
Tastes great
Healthier alternative to Honey Nut Cheerios
Great source of whole grains, protein, and fiber
Kid-friendly
Found in many grocery stores, and also online
Cons
Higher in sugar (just under 6g/serving threshold)
Technically not organic
Buy Now

Awsum Snacks SuperCereal (Puffed Quinoa)

Awsum snacks quinoa super cereal package.

Awsumsnacks is the newest healthy cereal I’ve tried. I came across it when I was searching for a gluten-free, low sugar cereal option, and I was so excited when I found this! Their plain Supercereal is made exclusively with 100% Royal quinoa seeds, a nutrient-packed grain that’s high in protein, fiber, and contains all 9 essential amino acids.

They come in 3 flavors – cocoa, cinnamon and plain. I personally like the plain one the best because I just mix it with other cereals and it makes my breakfast more nutrient dense, while taking on the flavors of whatever I mix it with.

Ingredients: Organic quinoa seeds.

Nutritional Info: 1.5 cups has 100 calories, 2 grams fiber, 0 grams sugar, and 4 grams protein.

Price: $7.28 for a 6 ounce package on Amazon. 

Pros
Organic certified by NFC in 2024
Non-GMO
High in fiber, protein, and whole grains
Vegan and vegetarian-friendly
Kid-friendly
Gluten-free, grain-free
Sugar-free, soy-free, nut-free
Kosher
Great for mixing with other cereals or using in trail mix
Cons
Some people may find the plain version “too” plain, try the other flavors if that’s your experience!
On the pricier side
Buy Now

One Degree Foods Sprouted Rolled Oats

One degree foods rolled oats bag

Oatmeal is one of my favorite breakfasts to enjoy in the morning. And the great thing about oats is that you don’t have to have them warm — you can make overnight oats and enjoy them cold, just like you would with muesli in the morning!

Organic rolled oats are a lower glycemic option in comparison to their instant oat counterparts – which is beneficial in stabilizing blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Oats are one of the best healthy cereals to eat, because they are packed with nutrition and are rich in B vitamins, have a high fiber content, and host of essential minerals.

One Degree Foods is my favorite brand for rolled oats, because not only are they organic and non-GMO, their oats are sprouted which provides additional health benefits! Sprouted grains have more available vitamins & minerals than regular grains, less starch, and are easier to digest. These oats are also high in fiber and have some protein too!

Oats will always be my go-to for the best sugar-free cereal and least processed cereal option. 

Ingredients: Organic sprouted rolled oats

Nutritional Info: 1/3 cup uncooked has 140 calories, 4 grams fiber, 0 grams sugar, and 6 grams protein.

Price: $8.24 for a 24oz package on Amazon, or $7.59 for a 24 ounce package at Thrive Market.

Pros
No sugar
Gluten free, organic sprouted grains, non GMO
High in fiber and protein
Natural ingredients, and only 1 ingredient!
Versatile
Also great for healthy baking
Kid-friendly
Cons
Requires prep or cooking time
On the pricier side
Not available in all grocery stores
Buy Now

Nature’s Path Organic Old Fashioned Rolled Oats

rolled oats container - best healthy cereal

These are my favorite non-sprouted organic rolled oats, and I also love them because Nature’s Path is a brand that you can find in just about any grocery store, making it more available than One Degree Foods.

The first and only ingredient on the nutrition label for this healthy cereal brand is organic rolled oats. I love to top these whole-grain oats with sliced bananas, a handful of berries, or a drizzle of peanut butter for a filling and complete meal!

Ingredients: Organic whole grain rolled oats

Nutritional Info: 1 cup of cooked rolled oats has 150 calories, 3 g fat, 27 g carbs, 4 g fiber, 0-1 g sugar, and 5 g protein.

Price: $3.72 for an 18oz package on Amazon, also available in most grocery stores.

Pros
Organic and non GMO
More budget-friendly
High in fiber, best heart healthy cereal
No sugar
Vegan and Vegetarian-Friendly
Also great for healthy baking
Kid-friendly
Cons
Not certified gluten free
Requires prep or cooking time
Buy Now

Lovebird Organic Grain-Free Cereal

Box of Lovebird cinnamon cereal.

I absolutely love Lovebird cereal! They are made with super clean ingredients, nothing artificial and are 100% USDA organic, non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, grain-free, paleo, whole30, refined-sugar-free and common allergen friendly. Their primary ingredient is cassava, which is a sustainable root vegetable, a good source of prebiotic fiber, and high in resistant starch to help control blood sugar.

They come in 4 flavors: honey, cinnamon, cacao and unsweetened. This cereal tastes great, my kids love it, and I’ll use it as cereal, as a topping for oatmeal or smoothie bowls, in trail mix, or just as a snack on it’s own!

Ingredients: Organic cassava flour, organic coconut flour, organic coconut oil, sea salt (for the unsweetened, plain variety). Note — the different flavors will also include spices like cinnamon, organic coconut sugar and organic honey.

Nutritional Info: 3/4 cup has 100 calories, 4 grams fiber, 2-6 grams sugar depending on the flavor, 2 grams protein

Price: (Varies) $9.99 for a 7 ounce box on Amazon, $8.99 for a 7 ounce box at Thrive Market, and also available at some Costco locations and other grocery stores.

Pros
Gluten-free, grain-free
Tastes great, crunchy & delicious
Vegan and vegetarian-friendly
Natural prebiotics
Organic and non-GMO
Good source of fiber
Low in sugar
Cons
Not very high in protein
More expensive
Buy Now

Catalina Crunch Cereal

Bag of Catalina Crunch cereal on a white background.

Catalina Crunch’s cereal is a good option for anyone looking for a high-protein gluten-free cereal. It’s non-GMO, some of the ingredients are also organic, it’s gluten-free, vegan, keto-friendly, low-carb, and made from pea protein!

I love eating this as a healthy snack, mixing it with other cereals, or adding it to trail mix. It’s super versatile and I also use it as an easy way to get more vegan-friendly protein into my diet!

This cereal is 100% sugar-free, and is sweetened with monk fruit, which means it tastes great without spiking your blood sugar.

It comes in 8 different flavors and I’ve noticed that they keep releasing new flavors, so you’re guaranteed to get variety with this cereal! I’ve tried all of their flavors and I personally like the Cinnamon Toast one the best.

Ingredients: Catalina Flour (Organic Pea Protein, Potato Fiber, Non-gmo Corn Fiber, Chicory Fiber, Acacia Fiber, Guar Gum, Turmeric), Tapioca, Catalina Oil (Organic High Oleic Sunflower Oil, Avocado Oil), Baking Powder, Natural Flavors, Sea Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin E, Monk Fruit, Cinnamon

Nutritional Info: 0.5 cups has 110 calories, 9 grams fiber, 0 grams sugar, and 11 grams protein.

Price: (Varies) $5.99 for a 8 ounce package on Amazon with subscribe & save. Also available in many grocery stores.

Pros
Gluten-free, grain-free, paleo, keto
Non-GMO
Made with simple ingredients
Sugar-free
Rich in plant-protein and fiber
Vegan and vegetarian-friendly
Great for mixing and topping
Kid-friendly
Lots of flavor options
No artificial flavors or colors
Cons
Technically not organic, but does contain some organic ingredients
Sweetened with monk fruit (which some people may not prefer)
Buy Now

Nature’s Path Organic Puffed Kamut

puffed kamut cereal - healthiest cereal

This Nature’s Path cereal has just one ingredient – organic whole-grain Kamut Khorasan wheat. Free from artificial flavors, preservatives, and colors, it is certified USDA organic, vegan, and non-GMO.

I used it as a substitute for rice krispies since it’s more nutritious and has a cleaner ingredients list. It’s one of the lowest calorie cereals that you can’t really go wrong with!

Ingredients: Organic whole grain kamut khorasan wheat

Nutritional Info: 1 cup has 50 calories, 2 grams fiber, 0 grams sugar, and 2 grams protein.

Price: $3.41 for a 6oz bag.

Pros
Organic and Non-GMO
Made with 1 ingredient
Affordable
Low calorie
Great for mixing with other cereals or topping with fruit and nuts
Versatile
Cons
Can be bland
Not gluten-free (made with wheat)
Buy Now

Nature’s Path Flax Plus Flakes

nature's path flax plus bran flakes

I love this cereal as a great alternative to corn flakes or bran flakes! It’s the healthiest bran cereal option I’ve found that’s widely available in grocery stores. These flax-based flakes are hearty, filling, and packed with healthy fats thanks to the omega-3-rich flaxseeds. This cereal is organic, Non-GMO, vegan, kosher, and very slightly sweet.

Ingredients: Whole Wheat Flour, Wheat Bran, Evaporated Cane Juice, Flax, Oat Bran, Barley Malt Extract, Sea Salt, tocopherols (Natural Vitamin E)

Nutritional Info: 1 cup has 150 calories, 7g fiber, 5g sugar and 5g protein.

Price: $3.79 for a 13.25oz box on Amazon, also found in many grocery stores.

Pros
High in fiber and whole grains
Organic and non-GMO
Affordable
Rich in healthy fats
High in protein
More nutritious alternative to corn flakes
Cons
Has 5g added sugar but doesn’t taste very sweet
Buy Now

Cascadian Farm Organic Purely O’s

cascadian farms purely o's - healthiest breakfast cereals

This is my favorite healthy alternative to regular Cheerios! Regular Cheerios are not organic and are high in glyphosate residue (a pesticide).

But Cascadian Farms tastes just like regular Cheerios, and they are made with 100% organic and non-GMO ingredients which means you don’t have to worry about pesticide residue on your cereal! It’s crunchy and mild – and is also great for a toddler/kid finger food or cereal snack.

Ingredients: Whole grain oats, whole grain barley, wheat starch, malted barley extract, sea salt, calcium carbonate, oats, malted barley, vitamin e (mixed tocopherols) added to preserve freshness.

Nutritional Info: 1.5 cups has 140 calories, 4 grams fiber, 1 gram sugar, and 4 grams protein.

Price: $6.49 for a 8.6 ounce box on Amazon, also available in most grocery stores.

Pros
Organic and non-GMO
Great for toddlers and kids
Very low in sugar (1 gram per serving)
Made with whole grains
Healthiest cheerios alternative
High in fiber and protein
Cons
More expensive
Small box
Buy Now

Barbara’s Original Puffins

barbara's original puffins - healthiest breakfast cereals

This is my top pick among all of the Barbara’s Cereals line, and it is also one of the most popular cereals I’ve found for kids that’s actually healthy! It has simple ingredients, is non-GMO, crispy, and slightly sweet. Enjoy this healthy cold cereal with low-fat milk, or your favorite plant-based milk like unsweetened almond milk or oat milk.

Ingredients: Yellow corn flour, corn bran flour, unsulphured molasses, whole oat flour, expeller pressed high oleic oil (canola and/or sunflower), salt, baking soda, vitamin c (ascorbic acid), natural vitamin e (mixed tocopherols to maintain freshness)

Nutritional Info: 1 cup has 130 calories, 6g fiber, 6g sugar and 3g protein.

Price: (Varies) $6.70 for a 10 ounce box on Amazon, also found in most grocery stores.

 

Pros
High in fiber and protein
Non GMO
Lightly sweet flavor
Kid-friendly
Easy to find at most grocery stores
Cons
Not organic
Does include seed oils
Somewhat expensive
Buy Now

Barbara’s Shredded Spoonfuls Multigrain

barbara's shredded spoonfuls multigrain - healthiest breakfast cereals

I’ve used this healthy whole grain cereal as a great alternative to shredded wheat (especially frosted shredded wheat)! It is non-GMO, has no high fructose corn syrup (frosted shredded wheat does have high fructose corn syrup), is vegan-friendly, and is sweetened with molasses instead of refined sugar.

Ingredients: Whole oat flour (with added oat bran), yellow corn flour (with added corn bran), unsulphured molasses, whole wheat flour, salt, baking soda, natural vitamin e (mixed tocopherols to maintain freshness), vitamin c (ascorbic acid)

Nutritional Info: 1 cup has 140 calories, 5g fiber, 7g sugar, and 5g protein.

Price: $5.49 for a 14 ounce box on Amazon, price also varies in grocery stores.

Pros
Non-GMO
High in fiber and whole grains
More affordable
Tastes great
Vegan and vegetarian-friendly
Kid-friendly
Cons
Higher in sugar (but under 6g/serving threshold)
Buy Now

Uncle Sam Toasted Whole Wheat Berry Flakes & Flaxseed

uncle sam's healthy breakfast cereal

This cereal has only 4 ingredients and is non-GMO and vegan. This honestly would be my #1 pick taste-wise for a truly sugar-free cereal, but it’s not organic and it can be pretty bland. I recommend buying this and mixing it with one of the best healthy cereals above (50-50) to bring a little more flavor to your cereal bowl or add it to trail mix!

Ingredients: Whole grain wheat, flaxseed, barley malt, salt.

Nutritional Info: 3/4 cup of this low sugar, high-fiber cereal has 220 calories, 10g fiber, 0g sugar and 8g protein.

Price: $6.12 for a 10 ounce box on Amazon.

Pros
Non-GMO
Very high in fiber and protein
Only 4 ingredients
No sugar added
Great source of healthy fats
Vegetarian and vegan-friendly
Great for mixing
Cons
Not organic
Can have a bland taste
Buy Now

KIND Granola Oats & Honey

kind granola - healthiest breakfast cereals

I’m always on the lookout for lower sugar granola, because while granola is delicious, most brands are not healthy for you and are super high in sugar and calories! 

But this healthy low sugar cereal from KIND is gluten-free, non-GMO, slightly sweet, and the perfect topping for Greek yogurt or smoothie bowls. A fantastic option for anyone who loves granola but not all of the sugar that they are usually made with! 

Ingredients: Oats, tapioca syrup, brown rice, cane sugar, honey, millet, oat flour, coconut, canola oil, buckwheat, amaranth, molasses, quinoa, brown rice syrup, sea salt, Vitamin E (tocopherols to maintain freshness).

Nutritional Info: 1/3 of a cup has 110 calories, 2g fiber, 5g sugar and 2g protein.

Price: $7.90 for an 11 ounce package on Amazon, also found in many grocery stores.

Pros
Low-sugar
Non-GMO
Made with whole grains
Gluten-free
Great flavor
Versatile
Great for on-the-go breakfasts
Cons
More expensive
Calorically dense
Not organic
Buy Now

Bear Naked Fit Vanilla Almond Crunch Granola

bear naked fit granola healthiest breakfast cereals

These crunchy clusters are another one of my top picks for healthy granola! They’re non-GMO, made with whole grain oats and hearty almonds.

This cold low calorie cereal is also a great low-sugar granola – it has 45% less sugar than most leading granola brands!

I’ll add this into smoothies to thicken them up, use it as a topping for oatmeal, yogurt bowls, smoothie bowls, and more. My kids love it too!

Ingredients: Whole grain oats, brown rice syrup, almonds, cane sugar, oat bran, brown rice, ground flax seeds, natural flavors.

Nutritional Info: 1/4 cup has 120 calories, 2g fiber, 3g sugar and 3g protein.

Price: $7.99 for a 12 ounce bag on Amazon, also found in many grocery stores.

Pros
Non-GMO
Low sugar
Tastes great
Rich in whole grains
Healthy fats
Cons
More expensive
Not organic
Calorically dense
Not gluten-free
Buy Now

Purely Elizabeth Granola, Original Flavor

purely elizabeth granola

This granola is certified USDA organic, non-GMO, and made with a variety of ancient grains including quinoa, amaranth, and chia seeds (which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids). It is one of my favorite healthy breakfast cereals, because it’s sweetened with coconut sugar which is a lower glycemic sweetener – so your blood sugar remains more stable when you eat this. This is one of the best healthy cereal brands if you’re looking to get your granola fix.

It comes in over 8 flavors, and all of them taste amazing. My kids love it too!

Ingredients: Organic Gluten-Free Oats, Organic Coconut Palm Sugar, Organic Raw Virgin Coconut Oil, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Organic Puffed Amaranth, Organic Millet Flakes, Organic Quinoa Flakes, Organic Chia Seeds, Organic Cinnamon, Salt.

Nutritional Info: 1/3 of a cup has 130 calories, 2g fiber, 7g sugar, 3g protein.

Price: $5.67 for a 12 ounce bag on Amazon, also available in many grocery stores.

Pros
Organic and non-GMO
Gluten-free
More affordable
Great source of whole grains and ancient grains
Vegan and vegetarian-friendly
All natural ingredients
Cons
Calorically dense
Higher in sugar (7g)
Buy Now

Seven Sundays Blueberry Chia Buckwheat Muesli

Seven Sundays Blueberry Chia Buckwheat Muesli

Of course, Seven Sundays does it again with one of teh best healthy muesli brands I’ve found on the market today! This cereal is certified gluten-free, non-GMO, and made with wild blueberries, pumpkin seeds, and chia seeds for more protein. It has  half the sugar and twice the protein when compared to most other brands. I like to enjoy it cold or hot with milk or water, or even use it as a topping for yogurt or oatmeal!

Ingredients: Gluten-free oats, sorghum flakes, buckwheat groats, blueberries (blueberries, apple juice), unsweetened coconut chips (no sulfites), apples, organic honey, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, lemon extract

Nutritional Info: 1/2 cup has 240 calories, 6g fiber, 4g added sugar (7 grams total sugar) and 8g protein.

Price: (Varies) $15 for a 32 ounce bag (equates to $7.50 for a 16 ounce bag) on Amazon, $6.79 at Thrive Market, also available in some grocery stores. 

Pros
Gluten-free, non-GMO
Minimal added sugar
High in protein
More affordable
Good source of healthy fats
Great source of fiber
Non-GMO
Comes in 4 flavors
Cons
Calorically dense
Not organic
Buy Now

Ezekiel 4:9 Organic Sprouted Whole Grain Cereal, Original

Food For Life Ezekiel 4:9 Organic Sprouted Whole Grain Cereal, Original

Ezekiel makes some of the most nutritious cereal – it’s certified USDA organic, made with sprouted live grains, legumes, and seeds, and has absolutely no flour! This is one of the healthier options for boxed cereal. They have a few other flavors (Almond, Golden Flax, etc.) that are equally good for you!

I think this is a great option if you are watching your sugar intake. But just like the Uncle Sam cereal, I’ve thought this was a little on the bland side and works well when paired with another cereal 50-50. The texture of this cereal is also not for everyone – I’ve found it to be quite crunchy! 

Ingredients: Organic Sprouted Whole Wheat, Organic Malted Barley, Organic Sprouted Whole Barley, Organic Sprouted Whole Millet, Organic Sprouted Whole Lentils, Organic Sprouted Whole Soybeans, Organic Sprouted Whole Spelt, Filtered Water, Sea Salt.

Nutritional Info: 1/2 cup has 190 calories, 6g fiber, 0g sugar and 8g protein.

Price: $8.66 for a 16 ounce box on Amazon, also available in most grocery stores.

Pros
Organic and non-GMO
Nutrient-dense
Great source of fiber
No sugar
Vegan and vegetarian-friendly
Rich in plant-based protein
Great for mixing and topping
Cons
Somewhat bland taste
Calorically dense
Very crunchy texture
Buy Now

Nature’s Path Flax Plus Raisin Bran

natures path flax plus raisin bran - healthiest breakfast cereals

While dried fruit based cereals may not be the healthiest cold cereals to eat, this particular brand is a great alternative to traditional Kellogg’s Raisin Bran (which has tons of sugar – 18 grams per serving).

The Nature’s Path version on the other hand, is high in fiber and contains healthy fats from the flax seeds. This cereal has only 4.8 grams of added sugar (10.4 grams of total sugar) for each 1-cup serving. Now that’s a raisin bran I can get behind!

Ingredients: Organic whole wheat meal, organic raisins (coated with organic sunflower oil), organic wheat bran, organic cane sugar, organic flax seeds, organic oat bran, organic barley malt extract, sea salt, tocopherols (vitamin E).

Nutritional Info: 168 calories for 1 cup, 7.2 grams fiber, 10.4 grams sugar (only 4.8 grams added sugar) and 5 grams protein. (Note: 1.25 cups has 210 calories, 9 grams fiber, 13 grams sugar / 6 grams added sugar, and 6 grams protein).

Price: $4.33 for a 14 ounce box on Amazon, also available at many grocery stores.

Pros
Organic and non-GMO
Added omega-3 fatty acids
Low sugar Raisin Bran option
High in fiber
More affordable
Good source of plant protein
Cons
Higher in sugar (4.8g added/serving)
More calorically dense
Buy Now
Pouring milk into a white bowl of granola with berries.

What Are The Healthiest Cereals To Eat?

A good healthy cereal for adults and kids will have a short ingredient list, at least 4-5 grams of fiber, 3 grams of protein, and less than 6 grams of sugar per serving.

The best cereals I have found are made with organic, whole food ingredients and use “whole grain”, “bran”, “whole wheat” or grain-free sources. They are also minimally processed, so they don’t have soy, preservatives, artificial colors, or flavors. Healthy cereal brands will have a well-rounded nutritional value profile and be under 200 calories per ¾-1 cup serving.

What Ingredients Should You Avoid In Breakfast Cereals?

As a general rule of thumb, I recommend steering clear of artificial ingredients and food dyes, hydrogenated oils, extra sugar, GMOs, harmful chemicals like glyphosate (Source: CBS News), and additives/preservatives like BHT, BHA, or fortified vitamins. The healthiest breakfast cereal will not contain any of these ingredients.

What Are The Least Healthy Cereals?

Most general mills or Kellogg’s fortified breakfast cereals aimed at kids (Lucky Charms, Golden Grahams, Froot Loops, etc.) are super unhealthy because they’re high in sugar (which leads to those sugar highs and crashes), low in fiber, and contain artificial flavors and colors. Any cereal that has more than 8-9 grams of sugar per serving and contains artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives is likely to be pretty unhealthy for you (Source: NCBI).

Healthy Cereal FAQs

Is Raisin Bran Healthy?

Raisin Bran is certainly a popular cereal, but unfortunately, the most common Raisin Bran cereal brands (made by Kellogg’s and Post) are not healthy for you. The name sounds healthy, but it’s actually loaded with calories and sugar. Raisins are dried fruit which is concentrated in sugar since they don’t contain water like fresh fruit.

One serving size of Post’s Raisin Bran cereal (1.25 cups) contains 210 calories and 20 grams of sugar. One serving of Kellogg’s (1 cup) contains 190 calories and 17 grams of sugar. That’s almost the same amount of sugar in a can of Coke or a regular-sized Snickers Bar! For a healthy Raisin Bran-type cereal, I recommend trying Nature’s Path Flax Plus Raisin Bran instead.

What is the healthiest cereal to eat for breakfast?

The best healthy cereal to eat for breakfast is any cereal that is organic, high in fiber (at least 5 grams per serving), low in sugar (under 6 grams per serving), has protein (at least 3 grams per serving but ideally more), under 200 calories per serving, and has no preservatives or artificial colors/flavors added.

Which breakfast cereals are not ultra-processed?

The least processed breakfast cereals are the ones with single whole-food ingredients like plain rolled whole oats and kamut puffs. All of the cereals listed in this article are minimally processed compared to other highly processed cereal brands. 

Is Granola Healthy?

In my opinion, it depends! Granola typically runs into the same problem as Raisin Bran – way too much sugar and calories packed into a small serving!

Making granola at home will result in healthier granola since you can control the amount of sugar and fat added to the recipe (like this low calorie granola recipe that is super low in sugar!)

If you are looking for a pre-made/store-bought granola, follow the same rules as you would when looking for an actually healthy cereal (low in sugar, high in fiber). I like KIND Granola, Bare Naked Fit Granola, and Purely Elizabeth Granola. Remember portion size matters – you can go overboard even with the healthy granola brands if you eat more than 1 serving per day!

Is Grape Nuts Healthy?

Grape Nuts cereal is actually pretty healthy! It’s the best choice of conventional breakfast cereals that I’ve found. It’s non-GMO, has only 4 ingredients (whole grain wheat flour, malted barley flour, salt, dried yeast), and has 7 grams of fiber, 5 grams of sugar, and 6 grams of protein per serving.

The only downside to Grape Nuts is that it’s super calorie-dense and is not a granola (which is the only type of cereal I’d expect more calorie density). Grape Nuts has 400 calories for a 1-cup serving (200 calories for 1/2 cup), which is why I didn’t include it on my list of healthy cereals above!

What are the cereals without BHT?

None of the cereals in the above list contain BHT! BHT is an ingredient used to maintain freshness in many ultra-processed cereals. In is currently banned in Japan, Europe, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand due to it being classified as a carcinogen (Source: Science Direct).

While BHT is approved by the Federal Drug Administration for use in limited amounts in certain foods, it is controversial, and more research is needed to understand the potential long-term effects of consumption (Source NCBI). 

Is Weetabix ultra-processed?

Weetabix is technically less processed than other higher-processed cereals with greater amounts of added sugar, flavorings, chemicals, and dyes. It is made with 95% whole grain wheat, malted barley extract, sugar, salt, niacin, iron, riboflavin (B2), thiamin (B1), and folic acid. Weetabix cereal is a good source of whole grains, is high in fiber, and contains 4 grams of protein per serving

Are Cheerios Healthy?

On the surface, Cheerios look healthy: one serving (1.5 cups) has 140 calories, 4 grams of fiber, 2 grams of sugar, and 5 grams of protein (and they are gluten-free).

However, because Cheerios are not organic, they have been found to contain high levels of the carcinogen glyphosate – so I wouldn’t recommend them! Instead, try Cascadian Farms Purely O’s.

Can You Lose Weight By Eating Cereal?

If you’re trying to lose weight, you might wonder if cereal is healthy. The answer here is: it depends! I’ve found that it truly depends on the type of cereal you’re eating and how frequently you’re eating it.

If you’re choosing low-sugar cereals that have high fiber, lower calories, and are a good source of protein, then eating one bowl of cereal per day can certainly be part of a diet for weight loss (Source: Insider). On the other hand, if you’re loading up on sugary cereals multiple times a day, that can be a recipe for weight gain!

What Cereal Has No Sugar?

There are a few healthier cereal brands that I love, that have no sugar added! All of the best healthy cereals listed below are low in sugar, but cereals with no sugar include plain oatmeal / rolled oats, Three Wishes Grain-Free Unsweetened Cereal, Lovebird Organic Unsweetened Cereal, Nature’s Path Organic Puffed Kamut, Awsum Snacks Quinoa Cereal, and Uncle Sam Toasted Whole Wheat Berry Flakes & Flaxseed.

I hope this list of delicious healthy cereals helps you to pick out a great and satisfying cereal – it’s the perfect excuse to make a healthy start to your day! Also, check out some of my delicious healthy eating guides!

More Healthy Breakfast Recipes

Love this healthy eating guide? Please leave a 5-star rating 🌟 in the recipe below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page!

You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more delicious, healthy, family-friendly food, and if you have any questions, I’m here to help!

80 responses to “Healthiest Breakfast Cereals”

  1. Thank you for the information- is there a website or location where I can purchase trial sizes to sample some of these- I hate to purchase a full box and then my son dosen’t like it.

    • Hi Tanny! Unfortunately, I don’t know of any websites that sell samples of cereals! You could try writing to some of these companies directly or messaging them on Instagram to see if they might send you some complimentary samples to try though!

    • Hi! I have mixed feelings about this cereal – on the positive side it’s organic, has simple ingredients, and is high in fiber and protein. However, one serving (31 biscuits) has 9 grams of sugar – which is a lot for cereal. I like aiming for cereals that have 6-7 grams of sugar or less per serving, because usually one serving isn’t quite enough for a filling breakfast – most people end up using about 1.5 servings of cereal for breakfast. Hope that helps, let me know if you have any other questions!

    • Steel cut oats and quinoa are both great for breakfast! They’re not listed here because I was focusing more on packaged cereals in this post, vs. unprocessed whole grains (where oats and quinoa would fit in). Hope that helps!

      • Hi Clyde! I omitted Post Original Shredded Wheat because it recently tested positive for glyphosate – along with most of the non-organic, commercially made cereals. It is low in sugar, but the glyphosate makes it problematic. Hope that helps explain!

    • Post Wheat N Bran. Only 1.5 grams of fat, 0 Cholesterol, 0 sodium, 8 grams of dietary fiber, 0 sugar, 0 added sugar. Calories a little high 210 per serving per 1 1/3 cup. And 49 grams of carbs. First ingredients Whole grain wheat, wheat bran. I’m a diabetic I have 3/4 cup in the morning which cut down on calories and carbs. The main thing I look for is added sugars added sugars I do not choose anything with added sugars.

      • Hi Wade! Post Wheat N Bran is good from a fiber & sugar standpoint, but Post has had issues with glyphosate being detected in their cereal, which is why I didn’t add them to my list. Thanks!

  2. Hi Anjali,
    Thank for for the wonderful information! Have you done any research on the “Quaker Oats Old Fashioned Oatmeal” sold at Costco? Just wondering if it is a healthy choice for kiddos at breakfast?
    Thank you!!!!

    • Hi Jessie! Great question! The Quaker Oats Old Fashioned Oatmeal (the plain variety) has good ingredients in that it’s 100% oats and has no other ingredients added. But my main concern with quaker oats is the levels of glyphosate / pesticide residue that ends up in the oats because they are not organic. So for that reason I wouldn’t recommend buying quaker oats – instead I’d look for organic rolled oats (any brand would work, as long as it’s plain organic oats). Hope that helps!

  3. Hello –

    I’d be very much interested in hearing your thoughts on the nutritional aspects of muesli.

    Thanks.

    • Hi Mike! Muesli can be healthy, but the store bought versions often have sugar added, or too many dried fruits added, which drives up the sugar content. Homemade muesli made from whole grains, oats, nuts, and a very small amount of dried fruit with no sugar added can be healthy. Hope that helps!

  4. Post shredded wheat biscuits are quite healthy. 2 biscuits are 170 calories and have 7grams of fiber and 0 grams of sugar. Ingredients list says whole grain wheat and BHT for freshness. Old Fashioned Quaker Oats are good as well. 1/2 cup dry has 150 calories 4 grams of fiber and 1g of total sugar. Ingredients are whole grain oats. Nothing else.

    • Hi Pat! Thanks for reaching out! While Post shredded wheat does have some good qualities (no sugar, high fiber, relatively low calorie, only one ingredient). The BHT basically makes this cereal totally unhealthy. BHT is a preservative that’s banned in Europe due to its likely nature as a carcinogen (more details here). Old Fashioned Quaker Oats have a similar problem as shredded wheat — on the surface they look good (low sugar, high fiber, low calorie, one ingredient), but because their oats are not organic, they use glyphosate (a very toxic pesticide) on their wheat crops – and Old Fashioned Quaker Oats were one of the cereals with the highest concentration of detectable glyphosate (more details here). Based on that – I excluded both of these cereals from my list. Hope that helps!

  5. As cited by you under Kellog’s Raisin Bran that it has high sugar due to high proportion of raisins, but does removing those Raisins to reduce sugar be a good tweak?

    I mean to say the existing Raisin Bran products can be modified to achieve low sugar instead of buying an expensive product with no taste. Please confirm my assessment.

    • Hi Harry! I do think removing the raisins from Raisin Bran would be a good tweak. I don’t know how the sugar content breaks down between raisins & the flakes, but removing the raisins would reduce the sugar for sure!

  6. I’m looking for organic Raisin Bran with lowest sugar, also affordable. Nature’s Path Organic Flax Plus Raisin Bran Cereal fits that criteria as per you, but it has 6g of added sugar, when compared to Great Value’s Raisin Bran it is very similar. How is the Nature Path’s option better?

    https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/592b068a-30e4-49fe-bfb2-45fb144d50ae_1.0edc655cf62eb1c54b2aa22261ef6365.jpeg

    Secondly, can you suggest an affordable and organic Raisin Bran cereal with close to zero-sugar?

    • Hi Harry! There are three reasons why I prefer Nature’s Path over the Great Value version. 1) Nature’s Path has only 13 grams of total sugar and 6 grams of added sugar, vs. Great Value having 22 grams of total sugar and 7 grams of added sugar per serving. My guess is that Great Value uses way more raisins than Nature’s Path. And even though the added sugar is similar, the total sugar matters too – since it’s the equivalent of eating a ton of raisins which are still very high on the glycemic index. 2) Nature’s Path has more fiber and protein per serving than Great Value 3) Nature’s Path is organic and Great Value is not. Non organic cereals are made from ingredients that are sprayed with pesticides (notably, glyphosate – which is a carcinogen), and those pesticides do end up being detectable on the cereal.
      To your second question, unfortunately there is no Raisin Bran cereal with zero sugar on the market today! That’s because raisins, inherently, are high in sugar since they are just dried grapes. Hope that helps, let me know if you have any other questions!

      • Hello Anjali,

        Thanks for your response. Great Value does have Bran cereal without Raisins in Walmart. They are not easy to find since they keep very few stock due to low popularity, but advantage here is they have the least sugar in the Bran cereal category.
        Lastly, I agree Great Value does not have organic cereal. I wished the Bran cereal would have been organic and non-GMO!

  7. Gosh, it’s hard to beat FiberOne but too am very concerned about glyphosate. 18 g of fiber and zero sugar & it tastes out of this world!

    • Fiber One is great from a fiber standpoint, but you are right about the glyphosate! It also has added sucralose which really isn’t good (that’s how it keeps the 0 grams of sugar stat). I’d recommend an organic fiber cereal from your local grocery store if you need something super high in fiber! Hope that helps!

  8. I eat Publix Greenwise corn flakes. They have 150 calories per 1 and 1/4 cup serving. They are organic have only three ingredients: organic milled corn, organic cane sugar, and se salt, they contain 1 gram of fiber, 3 grams of protein, and only 3 grams of sugar.

  9. Hi Anjali,

    We are using “Nature’s Path Organic Granola Cereal” for quite sometime. Appreciate your inputs on this?

    Thanks!

    • Hi Srikanth! It’s not bad for a granola (since most granolas are pretty high in sugar and calories), but it’s also not great — it’s sort of in the middle. 1 serving of the granola cereal is only 1/3 of a cup which is pretty small. 1/3 of a cup has 140 calories and 6 grams of added sugar. But if you compare that to regular cereal and make it an apples to apples comparison, it’s high in calories and higher in sugar than the other cereals on my list. For example, 1 cup of the granola has 420 calories and 18 grams of added sugar — vs. 1 cup of Kashi Heart to Heart has 160 calories and 6.6 grams of sugar. Hope that helps!

    • Hi Jessie! Plain Cheerios have some good things going for them: whole grains / contains fiber, very low sugar, low in calories. My only issue with Cheerios is that because they are not organic, the toxic pesticide glyphosate is used on the wheat / oats that go into Cheerios. In 2020, the EWG found that levels of glyphosate in Cheerios were 729 ppb and in Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch the levels reached 833 ppb. The EWG considers 160 ppb to be the highest level safe for children’s food. (source) — that’s my main reason for not recommending Cheerios! Hope that helps!

  10. Hi! Could you please give me a review on Kellogg’s All Bran Natural Nutri Fiber Cereal? I’ve been eating this one and I’d like to consider your opinion. Thanks!

    • Hi Kate! What do you mean by “instant cereal”? Do you mean instant oatmeal? If so, I don’t recommend instant oats at all because they are high-glycemic. Instead, I recommend rolled oats or steel cut oats and cooking them in the microwave or on the stovetop!

  11. I eat Red River breakfast cereal which has steel cut wheat, steel cut cracked rye, and whole flax. I recently read that most wheat now grown has been modified and is not good for you. Your opinion, please.
    Thanks, Frank

    • Hi Frank! The ingredients in Red River cereal actually look good! But yes, to your point, most wheat that is not organic either has GMOs or glyphosate residue — so I always recommend buying non-GMO wheat (and ideally, organic wheat). But that’s not always possible, and in those instances a cereal like Red River is still a good option since it has 100% whole grains and no added sugar!

    • I just phoned the red river questions phone line in Canada and the person reassured me that it is definitely NOT GMO. She said their management is definitely looking to add this to the label as well. Can this verbal answer be trusted?

      • That is really helpful to know and thank you for looking into that! I think it’s about as good of an answer you can get – especially if they are planning to update their labeling to indicate that.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


Subscribe to newsletter

Copyright 2024 The Picky Eater®, LLC. All rights reserved.