18 Healthiest Cereals That Taste Great

By Emily Lemon On Feb 1, 2023

Dennis Gottlieb

CONVENIENT AND SATISFYING, cereal will always be a breakfast staple. But if you’re not careful, the added sugar—and calories from them—can pile up fast. Yes, much of the mainstream cereal on the market is a lot closer to candy than a nourishing way to fuel you as you start your day.

Choose wisely, however, and cereal can be nutritious enough to anchor a breakfast (or lunch, or dinner, or snack) of champions. Cereal can be a good source of protein, fiber, and, because most cereal is fortified, a decent source of vitamins and minerals.

“When hunting for a healthier cereal you need to look out for those that are higher in fiber and protein without a lot of added sugars or preservatives,” says Kara Landau, a New York City-based registered dietitian and founder at Uplift Food. “And definitely don’t be scared of fats if they come from good sources like nuts and seeds.”

Overwhelmed by the colossal number of choices while spinning your wheels down the cereal aisle? Grab any of these better-for-you that also happen to taste really delicious.

Your cereal buying guidelines are as follows:

• If the cereal is made from grains, it must list only whole ones—like oats or quinoa—in the ingredient list.

• No more than 10 grams of total sugar on the nutrition label.

• At least 3 grams of fiber in each serving.

• Ideally, the cereal delivers at least 3 grams of protein per serving.

Most of these healthy cereals hit those marks. Grab a spoon.

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This muesli, a Swiss-style cereal featuring a blend of oats, dried fruit and nuts, isn’t laced with added sugar which allows its nutritious contents to shine. For even more protein, dump it on a bowl of Greek yogurt.

Per 2/3 cup serving: 210 calories, 8 g protein, 43g carbs (6g sugar, 7g fiber), 3.5 g fat

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Wirtz says Life cereal is lightly sweetened and a good option for any person with a sweet tooth.

Per 1 cup serving: 160 calories, 4g protein, 33g carbs (3g fiber, 8g sugar) 2g fat

These are a good option if you like the classic old-fashioned flakes, says De Angelis. They’re made with whole grain wheat and wheat flour.

Per 1 cup serving: 50 calories, 4g of protein, 34g carbs (7g sugar, 5g fiber), 1.5g fat

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Barbara’s Peanut Butter Puffins

When you want to do nothing more than pour your cereal from a box and top it with moo juice this is a more wholesome option than anything being flogged by a cartoon character. Crunchy and not overly sweetened whole-grain oat and corn pillows are upgraded with delicious peanut butter.

And when they say peanut butter, they mean peanut butter. Add chopped nuts or seeds and a handful of berries to the bowl to make for a more well-rounded daybreak meal.

Per 3/4 cup serving: 110 calories, 3g protein, 23g carbs (6g sugar, 2g fiber), 2g fat

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Nature’s Path Sunrise Crunchy Cinnamon Cereal

“They have flaxseeds and have mix of whole grains,” says De Angelis, adding that it’s good for gut health.

Per 1 cup serving: 150 calories, 3g of protein, 35g of carbs (8g sugar, 4g fiber), 2g fat

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Bob’s Red Mill Quick Cooking Steel Cut Oats

Spooning up a bowl of oats is a good way to silence vending machine temptation. A study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition found that compared with eating typical boxed ready-to-eat cereal, consuming the same number of calories in the form of oatmeal results in greater feelings of fullness and desire to eat for up to 4 hours afterward.

You can thank the payload of soluble fiber in this breakfast stalwart for its hunger-crushing power. Hearty steel-cut is always going to be more satiating than the sugary instant stuff, but it’s required long cooking time in the morning can be a non-starter for most guys. This version is just as stick-to-your-ribs satisfying but will be on the table in less than 10 minutes.

Per 1/4 cup serving: 140 calories, 5g protein, 2 g carbs (0g sugar, 3g fiber), 3g fat

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Its ingredients list is straightforward: rolled oats, butter , organic cane sugar, organic pumpkin seeds, organic agave, organic flax seeds, vanilla, cinnamon. The flavor? Awesome.

Per 1/4 cup serving: 140 calories, 3g protein, 16g carbs (5g sugar, 2g fiber), 7g fat

Earnest Eats Coconut Warrior Protein + Probiotic Oatmeal Cup

This is a far cry from your standard oatmeal. Each portable just-add-water container is fortified with a warrior worthy whole-grain blend (oats, quinoa, and amaranth), muscle-building grass-fed whey protein and probiotics to help fertilize your gut with beneficial bugs. Almonds and sunflower seeds round everything out with heart-boosting unsaturated fats.

Per 1 cup serving: 260 calories. 16g protein, 26g carbs (1g sugar, 5g fiber), 11g fat

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Thumbs up for one of the most delicious, satisfyingly crunchy cereals making the list. Wirtz is a fan of this fiber-rich breakfast cereal. “This cereal is also fortified and rich in essential vitamins and minerals, including potassium and iron,” she says.

Per ½ cup serving: 200 calories, 6g protein, 47g carbs (7g fiber, 5g sugar), 1g fat

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KIND Dark Chocolate Whole Grain Clusters

Float these chocolaty chunks of protein-fortified whole-grains in your bowl and you’ll be forgiven for thinking you’re eating dessert for breakfast. Albeit one that plays by the nutritional rules. There is enough protein here to curb your appetite, and research shows that consuming more cereal grains like the buckwheat and millet you’ll find in each bag can help keep your waistline in check.

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Love Grown Power O’s Original

Huevos rancheros isn’t the only way to eat beans for breakfast. Instead of grains, these ingenious crunchy O’s are made with a trio of legumes: navy beans, lentils and chickpeas. And that’s a smart swap since few guys eat enough of these nutritional overachievers. The original flavor contains no added sugar and the cereal resists turning soggy when swimming in milk. And consider making this cereal part of your post-workout routine. Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin found that a bowlful of cereal and low-fat milk, which provides a winning combo of carbs and protein, can kickstart post-training muscle recovery. Now that sounds a lot more delicious than your typical protein bar.

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Patagonia Provisions Organic Tart Apple Hot Cereal Mix

You don’t have to be lost in the woods to reap the rewards of spooning up this fast-cooking delicious steamy mix of whole grains and freeze-dried apple. A recent study found that one surprising benefit of eating more high-fiber foods is that they can help lessen the chances of experiencing depression.

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Julian Bakery Espresso ProGranola

This guise of granola is everything that normal granola’s not: free of grains and added sugar to appease the paleo crowd, packed with protein courtesy of egg white powder, and brimming with hunger-smashing fiber. It even delivers a caffeine kick to perk up your mornings.

Per 1 cup serving: 184 calories, 24g protein, 34g carbs (0g sugar, 28g fiber), 7g fat

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Uncle Sam Skinner’s Raisin Bran with Whole Wheat Berry Flakes and Raisins

Kashi Organic Autumn Wheat

Organic Coconut Flakes Cereal

Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Whole Grain Cereal, Almond

Paul Kita
Paul is the Food & Nutrition Editor of Men’s Health.

Perri O. Blumberg
Perri is a New York City-born and -based writer; she holds a bachelor’s in psychology from Columbia University and is also a culinary school graduate of the plant-based Natural Gourmet Institute, which is now the Natural Gourmet Center at the Institute of Culinary Education.

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This article was originally posted here.