What could be a better way to nourish your body than having a bowl of cereal? Right?
But while there are so many breakfast cereal brands in the superstore with healthy tags, it can be hard to choose the right one for yourself.
One of these breakfast cereals that I’ll be exploring in this post is Great grains cereal.
Great grains cereal is a popular breakfast cereal widely consumed among people. It is known for it’s hearty and wholesome ingredients, including whole grains, nuts, and real fruit.
And while it comes in various delicious flavors, is Great grains cereal healthy?
Short answer: Great grains cereal is not very healthy due to its moderate sugar content and use of processed ingredients. However, it is moderate source of protein and fiber and contains various vitamins and minerals. Therefore, it can be consumed in moderation.
Let’s dive deeper into Great grains cereal, including it’s ingredients, sugar, protein, fiber and much more. I’ ll also explore if it’s good for weight loss and better than other popular cereals.
So let’s start.
Also read: Is Total Cereal Healthy? The Truth About This Breakfast
What are the ingredients in Great grains cereal?
The exact ingredients in Great grains cereal vary depending on the flavor. However, some of the common ingredients that you would find across each flavor include:
Whole grain wheat: It is the main ingredient in Great grains cereal, which is packed with nutrients and provides many health benefits. It is also the main selling point of Great grains cereal.
Cane sugar: It is a sugar produced from sugar cane juice. It is less processed and is considered better than regular sugar.
Whole grain rolled oats: Every Great grains cereal flavor is packed with whole grain rolled oats, making them a moderate source of fiber and other nutrients.
Expeller pressed Canola oil: It is a vegetable oil derived from the seeds of the canola plant without the use of any chemicals or solvents. It is better than regular canola oil as it retains more natural flavor and nutrients.
Malted barley flour: It is flour made by sprouting barley grains and then drying and grinding them into a fine powder.
Rice syrup: It is a sugar produced from rice. It is often used as a sweetener in breakfast cereals or other foods.
Mollases: It is a dark thick syrup by-product of the sugar refining process. It is often used as a sweetener in food products.
BHT: It is an ingredient used to preserve the freshness of food. It prevents the growth of mold and other spoilage organisms.
Although some studies have linked it to cancer, it is only when consumed in large quantities.
Natural flavor: Great grains cereal uses natural flavors. However, what and how many flavors are used is not disclosed. This may raise concerns for individuals who have flavor sensitivities or allergies.
Vitamins and minerals: Every flavor of Great grains cereal contains vitamins and minerals such as vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12, iron, zinc, etc.
How much sugar is in Great grains cereal?
Great grains cereal is moderate in sugar, with 8 to 16g per serving depending on the flavor. The Crunchy Pecan flavor has the lowest sugar(8g per serving), while the Blueberry Nut Crunch flavor has the highest sugar(16g per serving).
The sugar in Great grains cereal comes from both natural sources and added sugars like cane sugar, rice syrup, and molasses.
Though, most Great grains cereal flavors contain the majority of added sugar.
According to American Heart Association, the daily sugar limit for men is 36g, while for women is 24g.
Consuming even the lowest sugary flavor(Crunchy pecan) can provide around 22% of the daily sugar limit for men and 33% for women, which can be considered significant.
Here is a table showing the sugar content of all the Great grains cereal flavors.
| Flavors | Added sugar(g) | Total sugar(g) |
|---|---|---|
| Raisins, dates & pecans | 4 | 13 |
| Red berry almond crunch | 13 | 14 |
| Cranberry almond crunch | 12 | 12 |
| Crunchy pecan | 5 | 8 |
| Banana nut crunch | 9 | 10 |
| Blueberry nut crunch | 13 | 16 |
How much fiber is in Great grains cereal?
The Great grains cereal is a moderate source of fiber, with 3 to 5g per serving, depending on the flavor. The blueberry nut crunch flavor has the lowest fiber(3g per serving), while the Crunchy pecan and Banana nut crunch flavor has the highest fiber(5g per serving).
Fiber is an essential part of a healthy breakfast as it promotes feelings of fullness. Therefore, people who eat cereal for breakfast typically expect it to be high in fiber.
Also read: Is Vector Cereal Healthy? The Truth About This Breakfast
Although Great Grains cereal is not very good in fiber, it can still contribute to satiety.
Additionally, compared to other popular breakfast cereals like Rice Krispies, Special K, Corn Flakes, Life, and Cheerios, Great Grains cereal contains more fiber.
Here is a table showing the fiber content of all the Great grains cereal flavor.
| Flavors | Fiber(g) |
|---|---|
| Raisins, dates & pecans | 4 |
| Red berry almond crunch | 4 |
| Cranberry almond crunch | 4 |
| Crunchy pecan | 5 |
| Banana nut crunch | 5 |
| Blueberry nut crunch | 3 |
How much protein is in Great grains cereal?
Great grains cereal is a moderate source of protein with 3 to 6g per serving, depending on the flavor. Banana nut crunch is the flavor with the highest protein(6g per serving).
All the protein in Great Grains cereal comes from grains rather than added protein sources.
Although the amount of protein in Great Grains cereal may not be particularly high, you can make it a high-protein breakfast option by pairing it with protein sources such as milk or yogurt.
For example, banana nut crunch flavor paired with 250ml of skim milk would provide 15.2g of protein. That’s not bad.
Here is a table showing the protein content of all Great grains cereal flavors.
| Flavors | Protein(g) | With milk(g) |
|---|---|---|
| Raisins, dates & pecans | 4 | 13.2 |
| Red berry almond crunch | 4 | 13.2 |
| Cranberry almond crunch | 5 | 14.2 |
| Crunchy pecan | 5 | 14.2 |
| Banana nut crunch | 6 | 15.2 |
| Blueberry nut crunch | 4 | 13.2 |
How much sodium is in Great grains cereal?
Great grains cereal is a moderate source of sodium containing 140 to 240mg per serving, depending on the flavor. Raisins, dates & pecans is the flavor with the least sodium, while Banana nut crunch has the highest sodium.
As per the American Heart Association, the ideal daily sodium intake limit for adults is 1500mg.
If you follow a low-sodium diet, Great grains cereal can be a good option in moderation.
Here is a table showing the sodium content of all Great grains cereal flavors.
| Flavors | Sodium(mg) |
|---|---|
| Raisins, dates & pecans | 140 |
| Red berry almond crunch | 210 |
| Cranberry almond crunch | 200 |
| Crunchy pecan | 160 |
| Banana nut crunch | 240 |
| Blueberry nut crunch | 200 |
Is Great grains cereal a good source of iron?
Great grains cereal is an excellent source of iron with most flavors containing over 10mg of Iron per serving.
Banana nut crunch flavor is the highest, with 16.5mg of iron per serving. That’s equivalent to 200% of the daily recommended iron for men and 100% for women.
Also read: Are Coco Pops Healthy? The Truth About This Breakfast Cereal
Here is a table showing the iron content of all the Great grains cereal flavors.
| Flavors | Iron(mg) |
|---|---|
| Raisins, dates & pecans | 10.8 |
| Red berry almond crunch | 2.7 |
| Cranberry almond crunch | 4.5 |
| Crunchy pecan | 16.2 |
| Banana nut crunch | 16.5 |
| Blueberry nut crunch | 2.7 |
Is Great grains cereal good for weight loss?
Great grains cereal is not the perfect food for weight loss as it contains moderate sugar with most of it added. However, due to its moderate protein and fiber content, it can be consumed in moderation as a part of a weight loss diet.
It also has moderate calories, with 200-230 per serving. And when combined with 250ml of skim milk, the calorie count of Great grains cereal can increase to 350, which is significant for those seeking to lose weight.
If you want to incorporate Great Grains cereal into your weight loss diet, the best flavor is Crunchy Pecans. It contains the least sugar (8g) and 5g of protein and fiber.
Remember that weight loss doesn’t depend on only one specific food but on your overall diet and lifestyle.
Is Great grains cereal processed food?
Great grains cereal is a processed food as it includes processed ingredients like cane sugar, salt, rice syrup, molasses and vegetable oil.
However, it is better than those breakfast cereals that contain highly processed ingredients such as high fructose corn syrup, maltodextrin, artificial sweeteners, colors, and flavors.
Furthermore, Great Grains cereal has numerous vitamins and minerals, which makes it a nutritious cereal option despite being processed.
Is Great grains cereal vegan?
Great grains cereal is not vegan-friendly as it contains cane sugar and vitamin D3.
While cane sugar itself is vegan, strict vegans avoid it because of the way it is processed. Cane sugar is filtered through bone char made from the bones of animals.
In addition, cane sugar in Great grains cereal is not labelled as organic or unrefined, which adds to the uncertainty of its vegan status.
Moreover, Great grains cereal contains added vitamin D3, which is usually sourced from animals. However, it can also be derived from lichen, a type of algae that is vegan-friendly.
But because the source of vitamin D3 in Great Grains cereal is not specified, it is likely, not vegan-friendly.
Is Great grains cereal gluten-free?
Great grains contain whole-grain wheat as the main ingredient. Therefore, it’s not gluten-free.
Is Great grains cereal better than other Cereals?
With so many other cereal options available, it can be hard to decide if Great grains cereal is worth the choice.
Let’s compare it to some of the popular cereal brands.
Great grains cereal vs Total cereal: Great grains cereal contains more protein and fiber, whereas Total cereal contains slightly less sugar and a higher level of vitamins.
Choosing one here entirely depend on personal preferences.
Great grains cereal vs Cheerios (original): While Great Grains cereal contains more fiber, it is less healthy than Cheerios because Cheerios contain less sugar and more calcium.
Great grains cereal vs Special K(original): Great Grains cereal has more fiber, while Special K has slightly more protein.
However, Special K has less sugar and fewer calories, making it healthier than Great grains cereal.
Great grains cereal vs Shredded wheat(original): Great grains cereal is less healthy than Shredded wheat.
Shredded wheat contains more fiber and protein and has no sugar and sodium.
Great grains cereal vs Raisin bran(original): Great grains cereal is healthy than Raisin bran as it contains slightly less sugar and more fiber.
Note that whichever cereal options you choose, always check the nutrition and ingredient labels.
Final words
Great Grains cereal is a moderately healthy breakfast option as it contains moderate amount of fiber, protein, and sodium, as well as a high amount of iron.
However, it cannot be considered a very healthy due to its moderate sugar content and use of processed ingredients like cane sugar, rice syrup, and vegetable oils.
However, it is better than many other breakfast cereals and can be a part of a breakfast in moderation.
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