In a hurry this morning? Sure, you could plan ahead some breakfasts the night before, but when you’re coming home from a long day the last thing on anyone’s mind is more work. So, what’s the quick fix solution for breakfast on a busy morning? Cereal of course! There are dozens of brands out there to choose from, but don’t get overwhelmed! We’re here to break down the most popular cereal brands out there so that you can find your next favorite breakfast food.
1. Honeycomb
- 190 calories per cup
- 230 mg of sodium per cup
- 21 grams of sugar per cup
Honeycomb had been a pretty popular brand since it was first introduced. It might not have been the greatest thing in terms of health, but the taste and affordability of such a product were hard to resist. Plus, it had good amounts of fiber, vitamins, and iron per cup. It was discontinued in 2008 (RIP), but it will always hold a special place in our hearts.
2. Frosted Flakes
- 147 calories per cup
- 192 mg of sodium per cup
- 15.2 grams of sugar per cup
Here’s a cereal that’s still available for us to indulge in! Frosted Flakes is a good source of iron, potassium, and fiber, and protein. The good news is that if you’re interested in off-brand variations of this popular cereal, they’re not hard to find. They’re usually of the same name, but without Tony the Tiger on them you’ll know which ones are the faux brands.
3. Froot Loops
- 110 calories per cup
- 135 mg of sodium per cup
- 12 grams of sugar per cup
Froot Loops was pretty much the staple of our childhoods and it’s hard to resist a cereal that we can easily pack with us as a snack on the go. Despite the bad rap it’s received as being a sugary cereal, it also has three grams of fiber per cup and lots of vitamins like vitamin A, C, D, and iron. You can also buy the off-brand version, cleverly dubbed Fruit Spins…
4. Lucky Charms
- 110 calories per 3/4 cup
- 170 mg of sodium per 3/4 cup
- 10 grams of sugar per 3/4 cup
Lucky Charms is definitely one of those cereals that we all kind of know isn’t the best for us, but it’s not like the nutrition is going to stop us from plunging into a bowl of marshmallows. We shouldn’t neglect to mention that it has a few grams of dietary fiber, a good percentage of folic acid and some vitamins in there as well. Though, if you’re looking for the off-brand stuff you can turn to your friendly neighborhood Magic Treasures.
5. Trix
- 120 calories per cup
- 150 mg of sodium per cup
- 10 grams of sugar per cup
Y’all remember Trix? I mean, they tried to introduce some new kinds of cereals over the years, which were discontinued, but the original cereal is still alive and kickin’ it. It also has some vitamin A, C, calcium, and iron in there. Overall, though, it’s not exactly the greatest for you. And its off-brand counterpart, Freaky Fruits, isn’t much better.
6. Cinnamon Toast Crunch
- 130 calories per 3/4 cup
- 220 mg of sodium per 3/4 cup
- 10 grams of sugar per 3/4 cup
Realistically speaking, Cinnamon Toast Crunch is best reserved as a snack rather than a serious breakfast. It’s packed with sugar (though not as much as some of the other brands on this list) and high in sodium for not even a full cup. It has some riboflavin and B vitamins hidden in there as well, but you should try to avoid this cereal for breakfast every day. Cinnamon Crunch, the off-brand version, is barely any better.
7. Oreo O’s
- 120 calories per cup
- 150 mg of sodium per cup
- 13 grams of sugar per cup
You’re not wrong to want cookies for breakfast, or at the very least, something that tastes like cookies. But you should know the facts about this popular cereal, ie: it’s not good for you. It possesses iron and thiamin, sure, but that doesn’t negate the fact that this cereal is loaded with sugar and pretty high in sodium. I mean, what were we really expecting from a cereal based on our favorite cookies?
8. Rice Krispies
- 130 calories per cup
- 190 mg of sodium per cup
- 4 grams of sugar per cup
Rice Krispies is the cereal I grew up with, not gonna lie. So far, this one ranks one of the healthier ones for you on this list. It might be something your grandmother gravitates towards, but Rice Krispies is good for you in terms of all the iron, vitamins, and folic acid it contains. Its off-brand versions like Crisp Rice and Rice Crispers aren’t far off either.
9. Mini Wheats
- 190 calories per cup
- 0 mg of sodium per cup
- 11 grams of sugar per cup
Mini Wheats have been around for years and different flavors have been introduced throughout the years (such as blueberry) because people just can’t get enough. It has lots of folic acid, iron, and vitamins, and isn’t exactly the worst thing for as far as cereals go. The off-brand version, Frosted Shredded Wheat, sacrifices all the iron that the original offers, but the rest of the nutrition remains on par with its counterpart.
10. Kashi
- 180 calories per 1 1/4 cup
- 115 mg of sodium per 1 1/4 cup
- 8 grams of sugar per 1 1/4 cup
This popular brand has been popping up in stores in various forms. If you’re not eating Kashi cereal, you more than likely know someone who’s indulged in a Kashi nutrition bar. Ther cereal isn’t an exception to all the different flavors available, but the original Go Lean version isn’t particularly terrible for you and packs a whopping 12 grams of protein in 1 1/4 cup.
11. Cheerios
- 100 calories per cup
- 140 mg of sodium per cup
- 1 grams of sugar per cup
There was no way we could leave this one off the list! As far as popular cereal brands go, Cheerios have been a staple in homes for years. Not to mention, Cheerios have also been offering tons of flavors for consumers to indulge in and their original cereal is also really good for you. It has lots of folic acid, iron, and vitamins and a really low sugar count. Its off-brand version, Honey Nut Spins has 11 grams of sugar and higher sodium per 3/4 cup, so you should probably stick with the real thing.
12. Apple Jacks
- 110 calories per cup
- 150 mg of sodium per cup
- 10 grams of sugar per cup
Apple Jacks is one of those cereals that we’ve had on the shelves at home since we were kids. It may not have the most vitamins, iron, or protein among those delicious little apple-flavored circles but it’s pretty impossible not to indulge in this guy. Though, if you’re looking at its off-brand version, also known as Apple Blasts, there are ways more sugar in there. So, you’re probably better to stick with the original kind we all know and love.
13. Raisin Bran
- 190 calories per cup
- 210 mg of sodium per cup
- 18 grams of sugar per cup
Raisin Bran might sound like it’s a little unhealthy based on the above numbers, and it might not be the best thing for you, but there’s only one gram of fat per cup. It’s also packed with thiamin, riboflavin, and niacin (as well as a few vitamins). So, you don’t need to feel too bad if this is your preferred cereal of choice. The off-brand version of the same name contains way more sodium and a few more calories.
14. Special K
- 120 calories per cup
- 210 mg of sodium per cup
- 4 grams of sugar per cup
Okay, this might seem like another cereal your grandparents were obsessed with, but there’s a good reason for that. For a moment let’s forget about all the awesome flavors it comes in (there’s also a protein version) and focus more on the fact that it has tons of B vitamins (100%), iron (45%), and folic acid (100%). To get all those nutrients in one cup sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
15. Life
- 160 calories per cup
- 160 mg of sodium per cup
- 6 grams of sugar per cup
We end our list with Life, another one of the best cereals for your health! It has a good amount of iron, thiamin, and folic acid so you really can’t go wrong. Plus, with only 1.5 grams of fat per cup, you’re getting the best bang for your buck with Life.
These are some of the most popular cereal brands out there and who knows, maybe you just found your new favorite! Or stumbled onto an old classic…
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