It’s no secret that numerous brands of cereal contain added sugar. Many of these cereals have enough to be almost considered dessert than a nutritious breakfast.
But, what about the added sugar in Cheerios?
This article specifically discusses the amount of added sugar in Cheerios products. We also provide a comparison of the added sugar in Cheerios to other popular cereals.
You will have a clear understanding of the added sugar in Cheerios by the end of this article. Let’s get into it!
Cheerios & Added Sugar
All Cheerios cereals have added sugar. However, the amount of added sugar varies based on the variety.
The table below reflects the added and total sugars found in each Cheerios cereal. Original Cheerios has the least amount of added sugar at 1 gram per serving with Multi Grain coming in second with 8 grams.
| Serving Size | Added Sugars(g) | Total Sugars(g) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Cheerios | 1 1/2 Cup (39g) | 1g | 2g |
| Honey Nut | 1 Cup (36g) | 12g | 12g |
| Frosted | 1 Cup (36g) | 12g | 12g |
| Multi Grain | 1 1/3 Cup (39g) | 8g | 8g |
| Multi Grain With Real Strawberries | 1 1/3 Cup (39g) | 7g | 8g |
| Very Berry | 1 Cup (36g) | 11g | 11g |
| Strawberry Banana | 1 Cup (37g) | 11g | 11g |
| Honey Vanilla | 1 Cup (36g) | 9g | 9g |
| Pumpkin Spice | 1 Cup (36g) | 11g | 11g |
| Maple | 1 Cup (36g) | 11g | 11g |
| Honey Nut Cheerios Medley | 1 Cup (43g) | 12g | 12g |
| Cinnamon | 1 Cup (36g) | 11g | 11g |
| Chocolate Peanut Butter | 1 Cup (36g) | 9g | 9g |
| Chocolate | 1 Cup (36g) | 10g | 10g |
| Oat Crunch – Oats ‘N Honey | 1 Cup (54g) | 15g | 15g |
| Oat Crunch – Cinnamon | 1 Cup (54g) | 15g | 15g |
| Oat Crunch – Almond | 1 Cup (54g) | 14g | 15g |
| Blueberry | 1 Cup (36g) | 10g | 10g |
| Apple Cinnamon | 1 Cup (37g) | 12g | 12g |
Added Sugar: Cheerios Vs. Popular Cereals
In comparison to the other popular cereals featured below, Original Cheerios has the lowest amount of added sugar. However, the other varieties of Cheerios are much closer in comparison with the exception of Corn Flakes.
| Cereal | Serving Size | Added Sugars(g) | Total Sugars(g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original Cheerios | 1 1/2 Cup (39g) | 1g | 2g |
| Honey Bunches of Oats – Honey Roasted | 1 Cup (41g) | 8g | 9g |
| Special K With Red Berries | 1 Cup (39g) | 10g | 11g |
| Apple Jacks | 1 1/3 Cup (39g) | 13g | 13g |
| Kellogg’s Corn Flakes | 1 1/2 Cup | 4g | 4g |
| Kellogg’s Original Raisin Bran | 1 Cup (59g) | 9g | 17g |
| Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes | 1 Cup (37g) | 12g | 12g |
| Lucky Charms Original | 1 Cup (36g) | 12g | 12g |
| Cinnamon Toast Crunch | 1 Cup (41g) | 12g | 12g |
| Cap’n Crunch Original | 1 Cup (38g) | 17g | 17g |
Recommended Added Sugar Per Day
The American Heart Association (AHA) has established recommendations for the maximum amount of added sugar we should be consuming. They suggest that most adults and children not exceed the following added sugar on a daily basis:
- Men – 9 teaspoons or 36 grams
- Women – 6 teaspoons or 24 grams
- Children – 6 teaspoons or 24 grams
Another added sugar recommendation comes from the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2020-2025). They recommend less than 10% of total calories come from added sugars. On a 2,000-calorie diet, that translates into 50 grams or 12 teaspoons maximum of added sugar per day.
Don’t feel alone if you are over the above recommendations. According to Health Food America, 58% of Americans exceed the added sugar recommendation disclosed in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Undoubtedly even more Americans don’t meet the stricter AHA guidelines.
Final Thoughts
Original Cheerios is one of the solid choices down the cereal aisle if you don’t want to consume a lot of added sugar. However, you may wish to be cautious about overconsuming the other varieties. The added sugar in these cereals is on par with many sugary cereals.
Sources:
cheerios.com
U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 9th Edition. December 2020. Available at DietaryGuidelines.gov.
Overview. Healthy Food America. (n.d.). Retrieved December 5, 2022, from https://www.healthyfoodamerica.org/sugartoolkit_overview#:~:text=More%20than%20half%20of%20Americans,percent%20of%20their%20total%20calories.
Added sugar. The Nutrition Source. (2022, April 26). Retrieved December 5, 2022, from https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/carbohydrates/added-sugar-in-the-diet/
