Dietitians Say These Are the Healthiest Cereals You Can Have for Breakfast (2024)

We updated this article in March 2023 to add more information about each featured product, based on extensive research done by our team.

Eating a hearty meal in the morning sets you up for the day. But not all breakfasts are created equally. Consider choosing one of the best healthy cereals on the market to help you make smarter choices in the a.m.—and to save you from a sugar crash later on in the day.

The good news is there are plenty of crunchy, whole-grain cereal alternatives you can enjoy daily, without consuming too much of the sweet stuff—and you don’t have to sacrifice taste. The Prevention Test Kitchen staff grabbed some spoons and dug into the healthiest options out there to find the most delicious healthy cereal brands.

Meet the experts: Kristen Smith, R.D., Atlanta-based dietitian, founder of 360 Degree Family Nutrition, and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; Bonnie Taub-Dix, R.D.N., creator of BetterThanDieting.com and author of Read It Before You Eat It - Taking You from Label to Table.

Naturally, the first place you should look on the nutrition label is the carbs category, says Bonnie Taub-Dix, R.D.N., creator of BetterThanDieting.com and author of Read It Before You Eat It - Taking You from Label to Table. “These days, popular diets bash carbs, so people think if this is a high number, they shouldn’t have it,” she says. “But really, you need to think about portion size and the type of carb.” It’s also important to consider protein, fat, and other nutritional info before pouring yourself a bowl.

In fact, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) updated what it means for food to be “healthy.” It even laid out the following as a parameter for cereal: “Cereal would need to contain ¾ ounces of whole grains and contain no more than 1 gram of saturated fat, 230 milligrams of sodium, and 2.5 grams of added sugars.”

We’re breaking down the nutrition information of each of the below healthy cereals, so you can spend more time eating than researching.

Our top picks

For a hearty bowl of grains, check out this list of the best healthy cereals.

A supermarket staple for more than fifty years, this cereal is still worthy of a permanent spot on your pantry shelf. With whole-grain oats as the first ingredient, you get the nutrients you need to kick-start your day. Enjoy by the handful or add fresh berries for a boost of additional fiber and antioxidants.

There is only one ingredient in this cereal: organic whole-grain rolled oats. And that is all you need for a hearty meal, complete with fiber and protein. Stir in a sprinkle of ground cinnamon or a spoonful of nut butter to kick up the flavor after cooking oats on the stovetop. Or, opt for one of these delicious overnight oats recipes that can be prepped the night before.

A classic amongst British households, Weetabix is beloved for a reason. In three biscuits you get 5 g of protein and 6 g of fiber. Though the cereal does have a whopping 43 g of carbohydrates, only 2 g of sugar is added.

Looking for a cereal that you can enjoy hot or cold? This delicious and hearty muesli from Bob’s Red Mill can be heated over a stovetop for a heartwarming breakfast, or you can enjoy it cold Swiss-style with some yogurt, and grated apple. This muesli mix features sliced almonds, raisins, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, cranberries, blueberries, cherries, coconut flakes, hemp seeds, and flax seeds, so you’ll get a variety of textures and tastes in every bite.

A close call with 3 g of added sugar, this grain-free cereal is still a healthy cereal in our books if you’re craving something a bit more nostalgic. This gluten-free, protein-packed option delivers decadent cocoa flavor that is reminiscent of the childhood favorite. You can scale the serving size down to 1/2 cup to meet the FDA’s “healthy” guidelines.

Nature’s Path prides itself in creating sustainable, organic food products, and it hit the mark with this healthy cereal. In addition to whole wheat, this cereal contains other hearty grains like spelt, barley, and millet. It also has a crunchy, flaky texture that makes for a satisfying bowl, as does the fiber and protein.

Taub-Dix suggests taking a serving of granola and eating it with an equal serving of plain cereal, like Cheerios. That way you get the volume without overdoing it on sugar or calories. Nature’s Path Organic makes a smart choice for granola because it has no added sugar and is sweetened with date powder. Plus, there are tart freeze-dried berries in every bite. It’s important to note that this exceeds the FDA’s updated “healthy” guidelines with more than 2.5 g of added sugar.

These puffy and crispy buds make a great substitute for white rice crisps in homemade Rice Krispies treats, but are also a satisfying breakfast when served with berries and the milk of your choice (which amp up the protein and fiber). Each bowlful has 20% of your daily recommended value of vitamin E and 50% of your daily recommended metabolism-boosting manganese.

A whopping 8g of protein makes this cereal filling, especially when paired with 6g of fiber. And it’s a great breakfast year-round, with the brand noting it can be served hot or cold. Add in some fresh fruit to really make this breakfast pop.

If you’re looking for a cereal to fit into your keto diet, this one has no saturated fat and is low in carbohydrates. And with 11g of protein and 9g of fiber, it helps keep you fuller, longer. Sprinkle it atop some yogurt or enjoy it the classic way in a bowl with milk. There are many tasty flavors to choose from, reminiscent of some of your favorite cereal classics (note: not the same taste).

For more than 70 years, Prevention has been a leading provider of trustworthy health information, empowering readers with practical strategies to improve their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our editors interview medical experts to help guide our health-focused product selections. Additionally, Prevention also examines hundreds of reviews—and often conducts personal testing done by our staff—to help you make informed decisions.