Krave cereal is a popular breakfast manufactured by Kellogg’s company.
It was first introduced in the United Kingdom in 2010 before becoming available in other countries, including the United States.
The cereal is known for its sweet, chocolaty-filled center surrounded by a crunchy outer shell.
Today, it’s a staple in breakfast bowls for many people, especially for those who are chocolate lovers.
And while it is marketed as being made with whole grain and a good source of fiber, is Krave cereal really healthy?
Short answer: Krave cereal is high in sugar and low in fiber, which makes it less healthy. However, it is free from questionable ingredients and is low in sodium. Therefore, can be consumed in moderation.
Read on to find out more about Krave cereal, including it’s ingredients, sugar, protein, fiber content, and more.
I’ll also compare it with other popular chocolate-based breakfast cereals to see how it stacks up.
So let’s start.
Also read: Is Total Cereal Healthy? The Truth About This Breakfast
What are the ingredients in Krave cereal?
The Krave cereal is made up of Chocolate-flavored filling on the inside with a crunchy layer on the outside.
The chocolate-flavored filling that makes Krave so addictive has several ingredients. Sugar is the primary ingredient, followed by soybean oil, whey, cocoa, chocolate, soy lecithin, palm oil, and vanilla extract.
On the outside, the crunchy layer is made up of sugar, whole wheat flour, whole grain oat flour, and rice flour.
Whole wheat and whole grain oat flour are definitely positive ingredients, as they are rich in fiber and nutrients.
However, sugar is a concern again, as it is listed as the first ingredient in the crunchy outer layer.
So sugar is the main ingredient, whether it’s an inner chocolate-flavored filling or a crunchy outer layer.
Furthermore, it also contains other ingredients but in small quantities (less than 2%), such as;
- Brown sugar syrup
- Corn bran
- Oat fiber
- Salt
- Palm oil
- Natural flavor
- Beta-carotene (For color)
- Annatto extract (For color)
How many flavors are there of Krave cereal? At the time of writing this post, there are three flavors of Krave cereal – Chocolate, Double chocolate and Chocolate chip cookie dough.
Is Krave cereal high in sugar?
Krave cereal is high in sugar, with around 15 to 16g per serving, depending on the flavor.
Additionally, most of the sugar is added sugar derived from sugar and brown sugar syrup. Sugar makes up over 35% of the single serving.
While it’s not uncommon for cereals(especially chocolate based) to contain added sugars, it’s important to remember that consuming high amounts of added sugar can lead to health problems such as weight gain, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
According to American Heart Association, the daily sugar limit for men is 36g, while for women is 24g.
Consuming a serving of Krave cereal provides about 41% of the daily sugar limit for men and 62% for women. That’s significant.
If you choose Krave as your go-to breakfast cereal, it will become important for you to balance out it with low-sugar foods for the rest of the day.
Here is how Krave cereal sugar content stacks up against other breakfast cereals.
| Cereal | Sugar(g) |
|---|---|
| Krave cereal | 15 |
| Cheerios(chocolate) | 10 |
| Cocoa puffs | 12 |
| Cookie crisp | 12 |
| Lucky charms (chocolate) | 12 |
| Chocolate toast crunch | 12 |
| Cocoa pebbles | 19 |
| Chex cereal (chocolate) | 11 |
How much protein is in Krave cereal?
Krave cereal is not a good source of protein containing 2 to 3g per serving(41g), depending on the flavor.
However, less protein in Krave cereal is not a big issue as it is typically consumed with milk, which significantly boosts its protein content.
For example, consuming a serving of Krave cereal with 250ml of cow milk provides 9 to 10g of protein in total, which is decent.
If you want to increase your daily protein intake or want cereal to support your muscle-building diet, Krave cereal can be a good option.
But only when paired with milk.
Here is how Krave cereal protein content stacks up against other breakfast cereals.
| Cereal | Protein(g) |
|---|---|
| Krave cereal | 3 |
| Cheerios(chocolate) | 3 |
| Cocoa puffs | 1 |
| Cookie crisp | 2 |
| Lucky charms (chocolate) | 2 |
| Chocolate toast crunch | 2 |
| Cocoa pebbles | 2 |
| Chex cereal (chocolate) | 2 |
How much fiber is in Krave cereal?
Krave cereal is marketed as a good source of fiber mainly due to the ingredients like whole wheat flour and whole grain oat flour.
And you may also expect it to be high in fiber.
But on paper, Krave cereal is low in fiber, with just 2g per serving.
That’s not even 10% of the daily recommended fiber for adults.
Fiber is an essential part of any breakfast as it helps stay full for longer intervals and helps the digestive system run smoothly.
Moreover, fiber becomes even more crucial when you consume foods high in sugar. It helps slow down the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, preventing spikes in blood sugar levels.
Unfortunately, with such low fiber, Krave cereal may not be the best option.
Here is how Krave cereal fiber content stacks up against other breakfast cereals.
| Cereal | Fiber(g) |
|---|---|
| Krave cereal | 2 |
| Cheerios(chocolate) | 3 |
| Cocoa puffs | 2 |
| Cookie crisp | 2 |
| Lucky charms (chocolate) | 2 |
| Chocolate toast crunch | 3 |
| Cocoa pebbles | <1 |
| Chex cereal (chocolate) | 2 |
Is Krave cereal high in sodium?
Krave cereal is low in sodium, with 135 to 140mg per serving, depending on the flavor. That’s about 9% of the daily ideal sodium limit set by the American Heart Association.
Sodium is expected in breakfast cereals and is also an important part of the diet. However, too much of it can result in heart-related issues.
With Krave cereal, you don’t have to worry about sodium.
Here is how Krave cereal sodium content stacks up against other breakfast cereals.
| Cereal | Sodium(mg) |
|---|---|
| Krave cereal | 140 |
| Cheerios(chocolate) | 180 |
| Cocoa puffs | 150 |
| Cookie crisp | 190 |
| Lucky charms (chocolate) | 190 |
| Chocolate toast crunch | 180 |
| Cocoa pebbles | 310 |
| Chex cereal (chocolate) | 270 |
Is Krave cereal good for weight loss?
Krave cereal is not good for weight loss as it is high in sugar. It is also low in fiber, which means it may not keep you feeling full for long.
However, Krave cereal is low in calories, with 170 per serving. But that’s only without milk.
When paired with a cup of milk, the calories can increase to 240, which is also not much.
If you are active enough or can balance the daily sugar and calorie intake, you can consume Krave cereal in moderation.
Remember that weight loss depends not on only one food but on overall diet and lifestyle.
Is Krave cereal good for diabetics? Krave cereal is not an ideal breakfast option for diabetics as it is high in sugar and low in fiber.
Is Krave cereal gluten-free?
Krave cereal is not gluten-free as it contains wheat. It is also not suitable for those with soy allergy.
Is Krave cereal vegan?
Kellogg’s Krave cereal is not suitable for those who follow a vegan diet. It contains whey and vitamin D3 which may or may not be sourced from animal.
However, it’s suitable for vegetarians.
Final words
Krave cereal is not very healthy as it contains a high amount of sugar and is low in fiber, which are two important areas to look when choosing breakfast cereal.
However, it is low in sodium and does not contain any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. Moreover, when paired with milk, it provides a fair amount of protein.
Furthermore, Krave cereal is also a good source of several nutrients like iron, zinc and B vitamins such as Thiamine, Niacin, Pyridoxine, Folate, and Pantothenic acid.
It can be consumed in moderation as an occasional treat for those who love the chocolaty flavor.
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