There is a home video of me as a toddler that is equal parts adorable and frightening. I am sitting in a high chair and feeding myself Cheerios, one by one, while proceeding to viciously smash a separate pile of the cereal into a mound that resembles sawdust.
While I’m no longer playing with my food in adulthood, I’m certainly still enjoying the delectable crunch of O-shaped whole grains. They’re tasty, satiating, and serve as an excellent topper for yogurts and other breakfast dishes.
Cheerios are undoubtedly the world’s favorite brand, thanks to legacy and marketing, but there are a handful of other varieties available that are just as delicious, if not more so.
Brandon Salomon, executive sous chef of Evelyn’s at the Four Seasons Fort Lauderdale, often incorporates whole-grain cereals into his restaurant’s daily offerings.
“Incorporating whole grain cereals into breakfast options enhances the nutritional profile of the menu,” he says. “Offering dishes like the organic whole-grain oatmeal, which includes steel-cut oats, rolled oats, cracked red winter wheat, sunflower seeds, oat bran, flax seeds and pumpkin seeds, provide a hearty and nutritious start to the day.”
When it comes to store-bought brands in particular, Salomon offers a few shopping tips and advises buyers to consider the following:
- Ingredient list: “Ensure that a whole grain, such as ‘whole wheat’ or ‘whole oats,’ is listed as the first ingredient. This indicates that the cereal is primarily made from whole grains.”
- Added sugars: “Be cautious of cereals with high amounts of added sugars. Opt for those with minimal or no added sugars to maintain nutritional integrity.”
- Fiber content: “Choose cereals that provide at least three grams of fiber per serving, as fiber contributes to digestive health and prolonged satiety.”
- Artificial additives: “Avoid cereals containing artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, as these additives do not contribute to nutritional value.”
Keeping these in mind, I ventured to my nearest grocery store (and Amazon) to buy the first five options I could find. Here’s how they ranked.
5. Great Value Toasted O’s
Yikes. These really missed the mark with a cardboard-esque, stale aftertaste that almost made eating the box sound more appealing. While the Great Value brand often offers exceptional dupes for significantly cheaper prices, this earned a certified spot on the “Do Not Buy” list.
4. Cascadian Farm Purely O’s
These were just fine but I prefer my O-shaped cereal to be on the slightly sweeter side. Instead, these ventured into borderline too salty territory, which threw off my palate a bit before adding sliced fruit and a packet of stevia. Keep this in mind if you are savory breakfast-averse, as these will certainly require a bit of zhuzhing before they’re deemed 100% edible.
3. Cheerios
Cheerios has been getting a lot of bad publicity regarding its glyphosate content. While there is no definitive proof that this can cause serious health concerns, it’s something to keep in mind if you’re hyper-aware of the foods that go into your body. That said, they’re a classic a.m. staple. And familiarity often ranks supreme when it comes to starting the day as the brain and body awaken and demand the utmost in comfort and care.
2. 365 by Whole Foods Organic Morning O’s
I really enjoyed these and felt as if they were the most balanced of the bunch. They were subtly sweet and had zero trace of chemicals, which is a very low bar, but here we are. If you want them to be a bit more sugar-laden, opt for their honey and maple varieties, as well, which I can vouch are equally (if not more) delicious.
1. Nature’s Path Organic Heritage O’s
