Finding a healthy hot cereal starts out simple: Look for whole grains. Most hot cereals are. (Exceptions: grits, Cream of Rice, and Cream of Wheat typically are refined.)
“Protein from real food,” “20+ superfoods,” “No B.S.,“ promise some bars. Fact: No bar can replace real superfoods like crunchy vegetables, nuts, seeds, and fresh or frozen fruit.
The healthiest standbys don’t change much. They’re mostly unsweetened shredded wheat, whole wheat or bran flakes, and fruit-and-nut muesli. All have little or no added sugar and plenty of whole grains. Pretty simple stuff.
It’s hot, whole grain, and sticks to your ribs. It’s cheap and less processed than most cereals. It starts out free of added sugars and plays well with nuts, spices, and fruit.
Can’t find a grab-and-go breakfast that's not virtually all carbs? Kashi GO Protein Waffles to the rescue.
Companies are tossing protein into everything from chips to ice cream. That doesn’t turn junk food into health food, of course. But Kashi’s frozen waffles look good even before you get to protein.
It takes an avid label reader—and maybe a magnifying glass—to find an honest-to-goodness whole-grain cereal and sidestep most of the added sugar. That’s all in our guide to the best cereals.
What’s new—and what’s good—at Starbucks, Panera, and other coffee shops? Here’s how to pick or customize your way to better sandwiches, boxes, bowls, bites, beverages, and more. Our examples are from chains, but the advice should hold up pretty much anywhere.
Remember when hot cereal mostly meant oats?
Now it’s also quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat, bulgur, kamut, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, almond butter, you name it. Even cold “overnight” oats are hot.
And labels sport a flurry of hearts or claims about protein, probiotics, fiber, vitamins, and more. Confused? Here’s how to find the best hot cereals.
