Are you a cereal lover confused between the colorful allure of Fruity Pebbles and the rich, chocolatey goodness of Cocoa Pebbles? You aren’t alone.
Fruity Pebbles is a rice-based crispy cereal coated with fruit-flavored sugar. It comes in a variety of bright colors and fruit flavor.
On the other hand, Cocoa Pebbles is also a rice-based cereal but coated in chocolate-flavored goodness, coming in a rich brown color.
Both cereals are made by the Post company and taste super delicious.
However, when it comes to the healthiest choice, which one wins the battle? Fruity Pebbles or Cocoa Pebbles?
That’s what we’ll uncover in this post.
But if you’re in a hurry, here’s a short answer.
Short answer: Neither Fruity Pebbles nor Cocoa Pebbles is healthier. Both cereals are high in added sugar, low in protein and fiber, and contain artificial additives.
Read also: Wheat Thins Vs Triscuits: Which One Is More Healthier?
Fruity Pebbles vs Cocoa Pebbles: Ingredients
Ingredients in Fruity Pebbles
Fruity Pebbles is made with rice, sugar, canola oil, and salt as the primary ingredients.
Other ingredients you would find include:
- Natural & artificial flavor
- Artificial colors like Red 40, Yellow 6, Yellow 5, Blue 1, and Blue 2
- Turmeric oleoresin (for color)
- BHT and BHA (to preserve freshness)
In addition to these ingredients, Fruity Pebbles is fortified with various vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin A, C, B1, B3, B6, B12, iron, zinc, and more.
That’s it.
Ingredients in Cocoa Pebbles
Cocoa Pebbles has similar ingredients to Fruity Pebbles.
Cocoa Pebbles is made with rice, sugar, canola oil, and cocoa as the primary ingredients.
Other ingredients you would find include:
- Salt
- Caramel color
- Natural & artificial flavor
- BHT (to preserve freshness)
Moreover, just like Fruity Pebbles, Cocoa Pebbles is also fortified with various vitamins and mineral such as vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B6, iron, zinc, and more.
The verdict: which one is better?
Both cereals have similar base ingredients, like rice, sugar, and canola oil.
But neither of these cereals can be considered healthy for you as both contain a significant amount of added sugar and artificial flavor.
However, if I had to choose between the two, Cocoa Pebbles would be a slightly better choice because it doesn’t contain artificial colors, unlike Fruity Pebbles.
But if you are looking for a completely natural option, you will have to look for other cereal.
Fruity Pebbles vs Cocoa Pebbles: Nutrition
Calories
Fruity Pebbles: 140 calories per 36g
Cocoa Pebbles: 140 calories per 36g
When it comes to calories, both Fruity Pebbles and Cocoa Pebbles are identical, containing 140 calories per serving.
That’s an okay amount of calories if you are on a weight loss diet.
Sugar
Fruity Pebbles: 12g sugar per 36g
Cocoa Pebbles: 12g sugar per 36g
Sugar is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a breakfast cereal.
Fruity Pebbles and Cocoa Pebbles both contain 12g of sugar per 36g serving.
That’s about 33% of the daily added sugar limit for men and 48% for women, which is significant.
Moreover, the source of sugar in both cereals is the same, i.e., refined sugar.
If you are limiting sugar intake, neither of the cereals is good for you.
Fat
Fruity Pebbles: 1.5g fat per 36g
Cocoa Pebbles: 1.5g fat per 36g
Both the cereals are very low in fat, containing just 1.5g per serving.
This fat comes from canola oil, which is considered a heart-healthy oil.
What’s even better? Neither cereal contains any saturated fat or trans fat.
Protein
Fruity Pebbles: 1g protein per 36g
Cocoa Pebbles: 2g protein per 36g
Both Fruity Pebbles and Cocoa Pebbles are low in protein, providing just 1-2g per serving.
However, low protein isn’t a big drawback in cereals as they are typically consumed with milk, which increases the overall protein content.
But, having a protein-rich cereal for breakfast has benefits of its own, especially for those on a muscle-building diet.
Fiber
Fruity Pebbles: 0g fiber per 36g
Cocoa Pebbles: <1g fiber per 36g
Fruity Pebbles and Cocoa Pebbles don’t contain even 1g of fiber per serving.
That’s essentially no fiber at all.
Fiber is an important part of breakfast as it promotes healthy digestion and keeps you feeling full for a long time. It also negates the negative effects of sugar on the body.
However, with Pebbles cereal, you don’t receive any of these benefits.
Sodium
Fruity Pebbles: 190mg sodium per 36g
Cocoa Pebbles: 220mg sodium per 36g
Fruity Pebbles and Cocoa Pebbles are not very high in sodium.
Fruity Pebbles provide 12%, while Cocoa Pebbles provide 14% of the daily ideal sodium limit (1500mg) set by the American Heart Association.
That’s not very high!
However, if you are limiting sodium in your diet, you will need to monitor your consumption.
Vitamins and minerals
Fruity Pebbles and Cocoa Pebbles have been fortified with various vitamins and minerals.
These include vitamins like A, C, D, B1, B2, B3, B9, B12 and minerals like iron and zinc.
Here’s the table showing the levels of vitamins and minerals in both cereals.
| Vitamins & minerals | Fruity Pebbles(daily value) | Cocoa Pebbles(daily value) |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A | 50% | 50% |
| Vitamin C | 10% | – |
| Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) | 35% | 30% |
| Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | 40% | 40% |
| Vitamin B3 (niacinamide) | 40% | 30% |
| Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) | 25% | 25% |
| Vitamin B9 (folate) | 60% | 50% |
| Vitamin B12 | 80% | 80% |
| Vitamin D | 10% | 10% |
| Iron | 6% | 15% |
| Zinc | 15% | 15% |
Final words
Fruity Pebbles and Cocoa Pebbles are pretty similar in terms of both ingredients and nutritional value.
However, when it comes to choosing one that is healthier, neither Fruity Pebbles nor Cocoa Pebbles emerges as a winner.
Both cereals contain a ton of added sugar, low protein and fiber, and artificial additives.
Although both Fruity Pebbles and Cocoa Pebbles are good sources of vitamins and minerals, this isn’t enough to have them as your breakfast cereal.
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