As a 90s kid, I loved both Apple Jacks and Froot Loops.
The vibrant colors, taste and ring size shape, everything was so appealing about both of these cereals. As a result, I always started my morning with one of these cereals.
However, as I grew, I became health conscious and started only eating what would benefit my health.
Though Apple Jacks and Froot Loops are special in everyone’s heart, they’re not healthy. They are loaded with sugar and artificial ingredients.
However, when it comes to choosing, which one is slightly better for your health?
Apple Jacks or Froot Loops?
Short answer: Neither Apple Jacks nor Froot Loops is a healthy choice as both are high in sugar, low in protein and fiber and packed with processed and artificial ingredients.
Read on for a detailed comparison of Apple Jacks and Froot Loops in terms of their ingredients and nutritional value.
Read also: Honey Smacks vs Golden Crisp: Which Sweet Cereal is better?
Apple Jacks vs Froot Loops: Ingredients
Ingredients in Apple Jacks
Apple Jacks cereal comes in various flavors, such as apple & cinnamon, marshmallows and slime.
Therefore, exact ingredients can vary depending on the flavor.
In general, Apple Jacks is made with corn flour blend(whole grain yellow corn flour, degerminated yellow corn flour ), sugar, wheat flour, marshmallows, whole grain oat flour and modified food starch as the main ingredients.
It also contain other ingredients in small quantities (around 2%), such as:
- Vegetable oils (hydrogenated coconut, soybean and/or cottonseed)
- Oat fiber
- Salt
- Soluble corn fiber
- Degerminated yellow corn flour
- Natural flavor
- Artificial flavor (in marshmallow flavor)
- Artificial colors (red 40, yellow 5, blue 1 and yellow 6)
- BHT for freshness
Apart from these ingredients, Apple Jacks is fortified with vitamins and minerals such as vitamins B, C, D and iron.
Ingredients in Froot Loops
Froot Loops cereal comes in various flavors, such as regular and marshmallows.
Therefore, exact ingredients can vary depending on the flavor.
In general, Froot Loops is also made with corn flour blend(whole grain yellow corn flour, degerminated yellow corn flour ), sugar, wheat flour, whole grain oat flour and modified food starch as the main ingredients.
It also contains other ingredients in small quantities (around 2%), such as:
- Vegetable oils (hydrogenated coconut, soybean and/or cottonseed)
- Oat fiber
- Maltodextrin
- Salt
- Soluble corn fiber
- Natural flavor
- Artificial colors (red 40, yellow 5, blue 1 and yellow 6)
- BHT for freshness
Moreover, like Apple Jacks, Froot Loops is fortified with vitamins and minerals such as B, C, D and iron.
The verdict: Which one is better?
If you look closely, both cereals contain similar ingredients, and offer essential vitamins and minerals.
However, neither cereal can be considered a healthy, natural breakfast option.
That’s because both are packed with highly processed ingredients such as sugar, vegetable oils, artificial colors, and BHT.
So, ingredients-wise, I won’t pick any of them.
Apple Jacks vs Froot Loops: Nutrition
Sugar
Apple Jacks: 13-17g per serving (39g)
Froot Loops: 12-16g per serving (39g)
Both Apple Jacks and Froot Loops have listed sugar as the second main ingredient, and they are actually high in it.
Apple Jacks contain 13-17g of sugar per serving, while Froot Loops contain 12-16g of sugar per serving.
That’s about four teaspoons of sugar.
Moreover, all of the sugar in both cereals is added.
If you are looking to cut down on sugar (like me😊), none of the breakfast cereal is good for you.
Calories
Apple Jacks: 140-150 per serving (39g)
Froot Loops: 140-150 per serving (39g)
Apple Jacks and froot loops are similar in calorie content.
Both contain 140 to 150 calories per serving(39g), which is not much.
But it’s important to note that most of these calories in both cereals come from sugar and carbs, not protein or fiber.
Fat
Apple Jacks: 1-1.5g per serving (39g)
Froot Loops: 1-1.5g per serving (39g)
Apple Jacks and Froot Loops are low-fat breakfast options with similar fat content.
Carbohydrates
Apple Jacks: 33-35g per serving (39g)
Froot Loops: 34g per serving (39g)
When it comes to carbs, Apple Jacks and Froot Loops are similar.
In fact, carbs are the main nutrient you’ll get from a bowl of Apple Jacks or Froot Loops.
However, these all are not complex carbs.
While some carbohydrates are from whole grains yellow corn flour, most come from refined grains like degerminated yellow corn flour and sugar.
If you want to regulate your blood sugar levels, none of these cereals is right for you.
Protein
Apple Jacks: 2g per serving (39g)
Froot Loops: 2g per serving (39g)
Apple Jacks and Froot Loops are low in protein, containing just 2g per serving.
Such a low-protein cereal is not the best way to start your day.
However, the low protein doesn’t need to be a big concern if you pair these cereals with milk.
For example, a single serving (39g) of Apple Jacks or froot loops with 250ml of cow milk can bump up the protein to 9-11g, which is decent.
Fiber
Apple Jacks: 2-3g per serving (39g)
Froot Loops: 2g per serving (39g)
When it comes to fiber, both Apple Jacks and froot loops fail to deliver a good dose.
A serving of Froot Loops provides only 2g of fiber, while Apple Jacks is almost similar, with most flavors containing 2g and the slime flavor containing 3g.
That’s around 8 to 12% of the daily recommended fiber for adults.
Fiber is crucial for keeping you feeling full. Without it, you’ll likely reach for snacks sooner than you should be.
That’s unnecessary eating, which leads to weight gain.
Sodium
Apple Jacks: 170-210mg per serving (39g)
Froot Loops: 170-210mg per serving (39g)
When it comes to sodium, both Apple Jacks and Froot Loops are similar.
A single serving(39g) provides 11 to 14% of the daily ideal sodium limit (1500mg) set by the American Heart Association.
Sodium is an essential part of the diet, but consuming it in excess can result in heart-related issues.
However, Apple Jacks and Froot Loops are not high in sodium and can be consumed (till one serving) even by those following a low-sodium diet.
Vitamins and minerals
Apple Jacks and Froot Loops have been fortified with similar amount of vitamins and minerals.
These include vitamins like B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, B12, D3, and mineral like iron.
However, Froot Loops has one extra vitamin that Apple Jacks does not – vitamin C.
Here’s the table showing the levels of vitamins and minerals in both cereals.
| Vitamins & minerals | Apple Jacks(daily value) | Froot Loops(daily value) |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin C | NA | 20-25% |
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) | 15-20% | 15-20% |
| Vitamin B3 (niacinamide) | 15-20% | 15-20% |
| Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) | 15-20% | 15-20% |
| Vitamin B9 (folate) | 15-20% | 15-20% |
| Vitamin B12 | 15-20% | 15-20% |
| Vitamin D | 8-10% | 8-10% |
Final words: Which one is healthier?
Apple Jacks and Froot Loops are pretty similar in terms of both ingredients and nutritional value.
It seems like Kellogg’s took basically the same recipe and simply altered the shapes and flavors to create Apple Jacks and Froot Loops.
However, when it comes to choosing one that is healthier, neither Apple Jacks nor Froot Loops emerges as a winner.
Both cereals contain a ton of added sugar, minimal protein and fiber, and many processed and artificial additives.
Though both the cereals are good source of vitamin B and D.
But this isn’t enough.
If you really want to start your day healthily, look for other breakfast cereal options. There are plenty of options available.
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