The Healthiest Store-Bought Granolas You Can Buy, According to a Dietitian
Start your day with one of these oat-standing options.
If you've been to the grocery store recently, you may have noticed that the granola aisle can display upwards of 20 different brands (we actually counted!), and each one has two to three different flavors available. If you find the idea of scanning that many granola packages to be a bit daunting, fret not! We’ve picked out some of the healthiest granolas around, and listed them below for your reference.
Before you start shopping, however, there are certain things to keep in mind. If you've made granola at home, you already know that it generally contains nutrient-rich ingredients like whole grains, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, and usually a healthy-fat-containing oil to help it crisp up in the oven. Granola typically also features a sweetener. All of these ingredients are fairly high in calories, which means it is important to pay attention to the serving size on the package, especially when buying granola at the store. But remember: serving sizes vary greatly from package to package, and brand to brand. So, when reviewing the nutrition facts panel, check that you are comparing nutrients for the same serving size. Here are the ones to be aware of:
Protein
Whole grain oats form the basis of many granolas, and normally have a protein content of about 5 grams per 1/2-cup serving. When nuts and seeds are added, the protein content may increase by 1 to 2 grams. High-protein granolas with more than 10 grams of protein per serving usually contain protein concentrates made from soy or whey. Whey protein concentrate is less processed than whey protein isolate; the same is true for soy protein concentrate.
Fiber
Whole grains, nuts, seeds, cocoa powder, and fiber supplements (like soluble corn fiber) are all sources of fiber in granola. (You can find our favorite high-fiber granolas here.)
Iron
Since researchers have found that breakfast cereal is an important source of iron for many Americans, you'll want to compare the iron content on the labels of granola packages. Most granolas have only around 10 percent of the Daily Value (DV) for iron, which is the amount found naturally in oats, nuts, and pumpkin seeds, which are especially rich in the essential mineral. Fortified breakfast cereals are much higher in iron than granola (which is not usually fortified). But a few granolas have up to 40 percent of the DV for iron. Adolescents, young adults, and pregnant women generally need more iron in their diets.
Added Sugars
Added sugar totals can vary widely between brands of granolas. If the added sugar is zero, you will likely see low-calorie sweeteners in the ingredients list. If you choose to avoid low-calorie sweeteners, then the added sugars number will be higher, and the ingredients will include brown sugar, cane sugar, or others. Try to stay around 5 grams or less of added sugars per 1/3-cup serving. All of the granolas on our list hit this mark.
The 10 Healthiest Store-Bought Granolas You Can Buy
You can sprinkle granola on yogurt, use it as a topping for a bowl of oatmeal, or add it to a handful of nuts for a mid-day snack. No matter your favorite way to enjoy it, here are our top picks for the healthiest granolas:
If your parents made granola back in the day, they might have made it a lot like this vanilla-scented one. Whole grain oats, almonds, and brown sugar are the first three homey ingredients. It also contains a favorite ingredient of most home-bakers: real vanilla bean extract (a rarity in packaged foods because it’s pricey). With 5 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber per 1/2-cup serving, it’s perfect in a fruit and yogurt parfait.
Fun fact: in 1955, Special K introduced the first ever protein-based cereal. Today, this Special K Protein Granola packs 12 grams of protein along with 6 grams of fiber in a 1/2-cup serving. It’s got just the right amount of sweetness from real strawberries and crunchy oat clusters. Of all the granolas we reviewed, this option is one of the best sources of iron, containing 40 percent of the Daily Value per serving.
This extra crunchy granola lists 'real food' as its first four ingredients: sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds, and pecans. The fifth ingredient is erythritol, a zero-calorie sweetener. Whey protein crisps made from whey protein concentrate nudge the protein up to 11 grams per 1/2-cup serving; that same serving also has 3 grams of fiber.
With only eight simple ingredients, plus a sprinkle of salt, this autumn-scented granola contains real cinnamon and maple syrup. Sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and flaxseeds lend this Seed’nola its clever name — and contribute to 6 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber in a 1/2-cup serving. Whole grain oats round out this homey recipe.
This sweet and satisfying granola contains a triple-whammy of gut-healthy ingredients. First are the gut-activated cultures, or probiotics, that survive digestion; evidence backs their role in promoting a healthy and diverse gut microbiome and supporting regularity. Second, the granola contains prebiotics in the form of chicory root. Lastly, the 7 grams of gut-friendly dietary fiber in a 1/2-cup serving come from varied ingredients, including whole grain oats, almonds, real blueberries, and flaxseeds.
Whole grain oats are the first ingredient of this mineral-rich granola, followed by soy protein isolate, which helps pack around 13 grams of protein into a 1/2-cup serving. Despite the use of real honey and two other real sweeteners (sugar and refiner’s syrup), the total added sugar is way below our suggested limit. Pumpkin seeds and flaxseed contribute to the 4 grams of fiber per 1/2-cup serving, too.
Chocolate-flavored crunchy clusters, plus real chocolate chips, make up a bowl of this whole grain oats- and pea protein-based granola. A 1/2-cup serving has 12 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber. It’s fortified with 75 percent of the Daily Value for iron and 75 percent of the DV for vitamin B12, which is important for healthy cognition.
Peanut butter lovers rejoice because the first ingredient in this granola is roasted peanuts! Oats are next, followed by Catalina Cereal, which includes pea protein to bump up the overall protein content to about 10 grams per 1/2-cup serving. The same serving contains 6 grams of fiber from a combination of corn fiber, pea fiber, and the prebiotic, chicory root. High-oleic sunflower and canola oils and nuts contribute healthy fats.
Almonds, coconut, pecans, and sunflower and pumpkin seeds all make up this nutty grain-free granola. It also contains three fruits — bananas, dates, and strawberries — which are the only sweeteners found inside it. In addition to having zero grams of added sugar and being completely free of low-calorie sweeteners, this granola features an impressive 7 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber.
This granola uses two of our favorite sweeteners: date powder (made from whole dates, so it technically bypasses the "added sugar" classification) and allulose, a low-calorie sweetener. The 11 grams of protein per 1/2-cup serving come mainly from oats, almonds, and soy protein isolate, while the 7 grams of fiber come from chicory root.
Related Content:
