Mini-pancake cereal and cookie cereal have taken social media by storm and although they’re kid-friendly and fun, regular ‘ol breakfast cereals for kids are probably much more realistic these days.
Although there’s more time to share family meals, and breakfast is back on the menu, most of us are still looking for quick and easy options.
In fact, Nielsen data reported by AdAge found over the two months ending April 25, sales of cereal increased 34%.
When it comes to finding a healthy cereal for your kids however, most are too high in sugar. An analysis by the Environmental Working Group found that 92 percent of cold cereals in the U.S. have added sugars.
While there are definitely those that are obvious sugar bombs (hello Funfetti cereal), seemingly healthy cereals can also be some of the worst offenders.
To help you save time, I’ve compiled a list of some of the best breakfast cereals for kids. Most are a good source of protein, fiber, are lower in sugar, and made with real, wholesome ingredients. Here are 7 to try.
1. BARBARA’S BAKERY ORIGINAL PUFFINS
Barbara’s Bakery is one of my favorite brands and their Original Puffins is one of the best breakfast cereals for kids.
Made with whole grains, this non-GMO cereal is a good source of fiber—6 grams per serving—and it has 3 grams of protein. I also like that it’s relatively low in sugar—6 grams.
2. PURELY ELIZABETH BANANA NUT BUTTER GRAIN-FREE GRANOLA
With its’ delicious combination of sweet and crunchy, granola is usually a kid-favorite, but many types are high in high in calories, saturated fat, trans fat, and added sugars.
The Purely Elizabeth line of organic, non-GMO, and gluten-free granolas is one of the best healthy granola brands.
While the amount of sugar varies between flavors, the Banana Nut Butter is lower in sugar—5 grams per serving. With 4 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber, it’s a good choice for your kids.
Related: How To Choose a Healthy Granola
3. KASHI 7 WHOLE GRAIN PUFFS CEREAL
Kashi is another one of my favorite brands because they prioritize wholesome, plant-based, and non-GMO ingredients and their cereals are satisfying and super-tasty.
When it comes to high-fiber, low-sugar cereals, their 7 Whole Grain Puffs Cereal makes the list.
4.FOOD FOR LIFE EZEKIEL 4:9 SPROUTED WHOLE GRAIN CEREAL
Food for Life is known for their Ezekiel 4:9 sprouted breads, but they also make some of the best cereals for kids.
I chose their Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Whole Grain Cereal because it has 6 grams of fiber and only 1 gram of sugar per serving.
Packed with plenty of plant-based foods like barley, lentils, millet and spelt, this cereal is also a good source of iron, zinc and selenium and it’s non-GMO.
5. NATURE’S PATH FLAX PLUS MULTIBRAN FLAKES
When it comes to the best breakfast cereals for kids, Nature’s Path are some of the best.
I particularly like their Flax Plus Multibran Flakes because it’s made with whole grains and flax seed which is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids, the healthy fats kids need in their diets.
With 7 grams of fiber, 5 grams of protein and 5 grams of sugar per serving, this is an excellent choice to start the day off with.
6. UNCLE SAM ORIGINAL WHEAT BERRY FLAKES
Uncle Sam Original Wheat Berry Flakes is an excellent choice for kids.
With only 4 simple ingredients including flaxseed, it also has10 grams of fiber, 8 grams of protein, and less than a gram of sugar per serving.
Serve it alone, or as a topping on yogurt or ice cream.
Related: 5 Ways To Make Ice Cream Healthy
7. LOVE GROWN ORIGINAL POWER O’S
If you’re looking to get more plant-based foods in your kids diet, check out the Love Grown brand.
While they have a line of kids’ cereals, it’s best to avoid those because they’re high in sugar.
Instead, their Original Power O’s, which are non-GMO and gluten-free, are a healthy, kid-friendly choice.
Made with navy beans, lentils and garbanzo beans, one serving has 5 grams of fiber, 6 grams of protein, and only one gram of sugar.
