Here we discuss the primary similarities and differences between two extremely popular breakfast cereals, Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios. Once you read our comparison of the products, please vote for your favorite in the poll at the end of this article.
Appearance
Cheerios (pictured left) have a rougher, grainy texture compared to the glazed or shiny surface of the Honey Nut Cheerios (pictured right).
Taste
Cheerios taste much healthier compared to Honey Nut Cheerios. The 100% whole grain oats with a slight sweetness is what you taste when eating Cheerios. The sweet flavors of honey and sugar with a mild nutty flavor are the primary flavors of Honey Nut Cheerios.
Release Years
Cheerios – This cereal was first produced in 1941. It was called CherriOats at the time. The original name was reportedly already used by a competitor. General Mills was required to change the name because of the dispute. In 1945, CherriOats was renamed to Cheerios.
Honey Nut Cheerios – As you likely expected, Honey Nut Cheerios came out after Cheerios. They first hit store shelves in 1979 as the third variation of Cheerios. The second variation was Cinnamon Nut Cheerios that were test marketed in 1976.
Popularity
Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios are two of the most popular cereals in the United States. According to a 2018 article by Kiplinger, Cheerios was the leading U.S. cereal based on sales. Sales were $435.9 million according to IRI retail sales data for the 52 weeks ending August 18, 2018. Honey Nut Cheerios came in second with sales of $421.7 million.
Price Comparisons
Below is a sampling of what you might pay at various stores for Cheerios vs Honey Nut Cheerios. As the table shows, where you purchase the cereals and whether they are on sale play a major factor in what you pay. We’d say that if you can buy the below sizes of Cheerios for under about $2.00, you will be getting a good deal.
| Store | Cheerios (8.9 oz. Boz) | Honey Nut Cheerios (10.8 oz. Box) |
|---|---|---|
| Walmart | $2.98 | $2.98 |
| Target | $3.29 | $3.29 |
| Kroger | $2.29 | $2.29 |
| Whole Foods | $2.99 | $2.99 |
| CVS | $1.99* | not available |
| Safeway | $2.50* | $2.50* |
| Meijer | $1.50* | $3.29 |
| Albertsons | $3.59 | $4.29 |
| Wegmans | not available | $2.50* |
| Food 4 Less | $2.29* | $2.29* |
| Weis | $3.49 | $3.49 |
| King Soopers | $1.99* | $1.99* |
| Average Price | $2.62 | $2.90 |
Nutrition
Here are the nutrition facts found on the boxes for the dry cereals. Of course, the nutrition changes if milk is used and will vary based on the quantity and the type of milk poured into the bowl.
Two notable differences are the sugars and iron in regard to nutrition. Honey Nut Cheerios has 12 grams of sugars compared to Cheerios that has 2 grams. Furthermore, Cheerios has 70% DV of iron versus 20% for Honey Nut Cheerios.
| Cheerios | Honey Nut Cheerios | |
|---|---|---|
| Serving Size | 1.5 cup (39g) | 1 Cup (37g) |
| Calories | 140 | 140 |
| Total Fat | 2.5g | 2g |
| Saturated Fat | 0.5g | 0g |
| Trans Fat | 0g | 0g |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 0.5g |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 1g | 0.5g |
| Cholesterol | 0mg | 0mg |
| Sodium | 190mg | 210mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 29g | 30g |
| Dietary Fiber | 4g | 3g |
| Soluble Fiber | 1g | less than 1g |
| Total Sugars | 2g | 12g |
| incl. Added Sugar | 2g | 12g |
| Protein | 5g | 3g |
| Vitamin D | 10% | 10% |
| Calcium | 10% | 10% |
| Iron | 70% | 20% |
| Potassium | 6% | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 10% | 10% |
| Vitamin C | 10% | 10% |
| Thiamin | 20% | 20% |
| Niacin | 10% | 10% |
| Vitamin B6 | 20% | 20% |
| Folate (45mcg folic acid) | 20% | 20% |
| Vitamin B12 | 20% | 20% |
| Phosphorus | 10% | 8% |
| Magnesium | 15% | 8% |
| Zinc | 20% | 20% |
Ingredients
Below you will find the ingredients for each cereal. While Cheerios simply has sugar as a sweetener, Honey Nut Cheerios has sugar, honey, and brown sugar syrup. Additionally, Honey Nut Cheerios contains natural almond flavor to give it a nutty flavor.
Cheerios – Whole Grain Oats, Corn Starch, Sugar, Salt, Tripotassium Phosphate. Vitamin E (Mixed Tocopherols) Added To Preserve Freshness. Vitamins And Minerals: Calcium Carbonate, Iron And Zinc (Mineral Nutrients), Vitamin C (Sodium Ascorbate), A B Vitamin (Niacinamide), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Vitamin A (Palmitate), Vitamin B1 (Thiamin Mononitrate), A B Vitamin (Folic Acid), Vitamin B12, Vitamin D3.
Honey Nut Cheerios – Whole Grain Oats, Sugar, Corn Starch, Honey, Brown Sugar Syrup, Salt, Tripotassium Phosphate, Canola Oil, Natural Almond Flavor. Vitamin E (Mixed Tocopherols) Added To Preserve Freshness. Vitamins And Minerals: Calcium Carbonate, Vitamin C (Sodium Ascorbate), Iron And Zinc (Mineral Nutrients), A B Vitamin (Niacinamide), Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine Hydrochloride), Vitamin B1 (Thiamin Mononitrate), Vitamin A (Palmitate), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), A B Vitamin (Folic Acid), Vitamin B12, Vitamin D3.
Poll: Cheerios vs Honey Nut Cheerios
Please vote for your favorite between Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios in our poll.
