Which Healthy Cereals Can Start Your Day Right?
In an ideal world, we’d all have the time to sit down to a healthy, balanced breakfast feast before starting each day. But, let’s get real! Most days, that ain’t gonna happen! Instead of running out the door empty, or going to work via the drive-thru, cereal is a convenient option. But, the problem with most cereals is that even if they’re marketed as ‘healthy’, nutritionally speaking, they’re not the best way to start your day. So, to help you busy bees make a healthy choice, here’s our analysis of some of the best healthy cereals around.
The Good: Healthy Cereals
The Muesli Classic
Ingredients: Rolled Oats, Raw Nut Mix (Almond, Cashew, Walnut, Hazelnut, Brazil), Raw Seed Mix (Sunflower, Sesame, Linseed, Pepita/Pumpkin), Coconut.
Calories/100g: 524cals
Sugars/100g: 1.6g
Protein/100g: 15.5g
Price/100g: $2.45
Freedom Foods Cereal: Active Balance Buckwheat and Quinoa
Ingredients: Gluten Free Flour Mix [Whole Grain Buckwheat (25%), Rice Flour, Maize Flour, Quinoa Flour (2%)], Pepitas (15%), Resistant Dextrin (Prebiotic Fibre), Chickpea Hulls, Psyllium Husk, Golden Syrup, Emulsifier (Sunflower Lecithin), Salt.
Calories/100g: 372cals
Sugars/100g: 4.8g
Protein/100g: 9.8g
Price/100g: $1.71
Lowan Wholegrain Rolled Oats
Ingredients: Wholegrain oats.
Calories/100g: 385cals
Sugars/100g: 0.7g
Protein/100g: 10.5g
Price/100g: $0.40
Brookfarm Nutty Granola Maple Vanilla
Ingredients: Rolled oats, coconut (10%), nuts (9%) (macadamias, almonds, pecans), organic milled golden flaxseed (7%), organic tapioca, pumpkin kernels, puffed rice, honey, macadamia oil, maple syrup (4%), sunflower kernels, oat bran, natural vanilla extract (2%), cinnamon.
Calories/100g: 459cals
Sugars/100g: 8.6g
Protein/100g: 14.3g
Price/100g: $2.88
Carman’s Original Fruit Free Muesli
Ingredients: Whole Grain Oats, Nuts (Almonds 9%, Pecans 1%), Golden Syrup, Seeds (Sunflower Seeds, Pepitas 3%, Sesame Seeds), Sunflower Oil, Oat Flour, Cinnamon.
Calories/100g: 451cals
Sugars/100g: 8g
Protein/100g: 19.2g
Price/100g: $1.14
The Not-So-Good: Cereals to Avoid
Carman’s Deluxe Gluten Free Muesli
Ingredients: Dried Fruit 24% (Sultanas, Raisins, Dates), Rice Flakes 21% (Rice Flour, Fructose, Salt, Emulsifier [471]), Seeds 20% (Sunflower Seeds, Pepitas), Puffed Rice (Rice Flour, Rice Bran), Honey 8%, Sunflower Oil, Nuts 3% (Almonds, Hazelnuts, Pecans), Psyllium Husks, Cinnamon, Natural Vanilla Flavour, Antioxidant (307b, Soy).
Calories/100g: 457cals
Sugars/100g: 20g
Protein/100g: 9.9g
Price/100g: $1.63
Kellogg’s Just Right Original
Ingredients: Whole grain cereals (66%)(whole wheat, rolled oats), sultanas (17%), sugar, triticale (6%), apricot piece (3.5%)(concentrated apricot puree, concentrated apple puree, invert sugar, humectant [glycerol], sugar, wheat fibre, gelling agent [pectin], acidity regulator [296], natural flavour, colour [paprika, lutein]), barley malt extract, natural flavour, salt, honey, mineral (iron), vitamins (niacin, riboflavin, folate, thiamin).
Calories/100g: 351cals
Sugars/100g: 28.7g
Protein/100g: 8.6g
Price/100g: $0.95
Sanitarium Weet-bix Bites Wildberry
Ingredients: Wholegrain wheat (68%), sugar, berry purees (3%) (strawberry, blackcurrant, raspberry and blueberry), invert sugar, humectant (glycerol), honey, minerals (calcium, iron), salt, wheat fibre, flavours, barley malt extract, gelling agent (pectin), acid (malic), vitamins (niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, folate).
Calories/100g: 350cals
Sugars/100g: 22.2g
Protein/100g: 9.3g
Price/100g: $0.80
Five:am Organic Apple Crumble Granola
Ingredients: Organic wholegrain rolled oats(40%),organic oat bran, organic rice syrup, organic raw sugar,organic oat flour, organic apples (4%), organic canola oil,organic puffed spelt(3.5%),pecans(1.7%), chia seeds (1.1%), natural flavour (vanilla), corn starch, cinnamon, salt,antioxidant (vitamin E (soy)).
Calories/100g: 391cals
Sugars/100g: 16.6g
Protein/100g: 8.8g
Price/100g: $1.53
Uncle Toby’s O&G Granola Apple Coconut & Quinoa
Ingredients: Wholegrain Cereals (56%) [Oats, Wheat, Quinoa (1%)], Sugar, Soy, Apple Slices (5.5%) [Preservative (221)], Glucose, Sunflower Oil, Honey, Coconut (1.5%) [Preservative (220)], Wheat Bran, Wheat Starch, Outer Vanilla Bean, Cinnamon, Salt, Vitamin E (Soy), Wheat Germ.
Calories/100g: 414cals
Sugars/100g: 22.3g
Protein/100g: 11.6g
Price/100g: $1.33
Our Bowlful…
Were you surprised by any of the so called ‘healthy’ breakfast cereal options? If so, you’re not alone! What makes cereals so tasty is usually all that hidden sugar.
When choosing a cereal to eat on those rushed mornings, simply select one from our healthy cereals list. With less than 10 grams of sugar per 100 grams, enough protein to keep you going and shorter ingredient lists, they’re the best way to start your day.
And, just because it’s not listed here, doesn’t mean that it’s not still healthy. Look for an ingredient list you understand, minimal added sugar, plenty of protein and some healthy fats. Try to steer clear of highly processed options that contain lots of numbers, refined sugar and/or canola oil.
Stick to these guidelines and choose those healthy cereals that make you feel good!