Shredded Wheat and Weetabix are two of the most popular wheat-based breakfast cereals in the market.
Shredded Wheat is produced by the Post, while Weetabix is produced by Weetabix Limited.
Both cereals are packed with nutritious punch and have been breakfast table staples for decades.
However, when it comes to choosing one, which is more healthier?
Shredded Wheat or Weetabix?
That’s what I am going to find in this post, but here’s a quick and short answer.
Short answer: Shredded Wheat is more healthier than Weetabix because it is sugar-free, sodium-free, and contain more protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals.
Read on for a detailed comparison of Shredded Wheat and Weetabix in terms of ingredients and nutritional value.
Read also: Cocoa Pebbles vs Cocoa Krispies: Which Cereal Is Healthier?
Shredded Wheat vs Weetabix: Ingredients
Shredded Wheat ingredients
Shredded Wheat comes in three varieties – Original, Big biscuit, and Wheat ‘n bran.
The original and Big biscuit varieties keep it classic with only one ingredient, and that is whole-grain Wheat.
The Wheat’ n bran variety contains whole grain wheat and wheat bran.
All the varieties also contain BHT to preserve the freshness of the cereal. However, BHT is not added to the cereal but to the packaging material.
Yes, BHT is controversial, but it is permitted in small amounts.
Weetabix ingredients
Weetabix comes in different flavors, such as chocolate, banana, protein, and more.
However, for this post, I will only focus on Weetabix original flavor – the first love.
Weetabix also takes a similar approach to Shredded Wheat, starting with whole-grain Wheat at the top of the list.
However, it contains additional ingredients such as barley malt extract, cane sugar, and salt.
It is also fortified with Iron, Niacin (B3), and Thiamin (B1).
Note that the ingredients in the Weetabix sold in the UK vary slightly.
For example, Weetabix in the UK contains table sugar instead of cane sugar and is fortified with additional nutrients such as riboflavin and folic acid.
The verdict: which is better?
Both cereals used whole-grain Wheat as their foundation.
There are no sugary syrups, artificial additives, or other weird ingredients. So, both are good.
But I would consider Shredded Wheat slightly better than Weetabix as it does not contain added sugar. It is also free from malt barley extract, another type of sugar.
However, this doesn’t mean Weetabix is bad but Shredded Wheat is more clean.
Shredded Wheat vs Weetabix: Nutrition
Note that the nutritional information I’ve used is taken from pack nutrition tables on the official websites.
Calories
Shredded Wheat (original): 210 per serving (60g)
Weetabix (original): 180 per serving (53g)
When it comes to calories, Shredded Wheat and Weetabix are both relatively low-calorie options as far as breakfast cereals go.
Serving for serving, Weetabix edges out Shredded Wheat by 30 calories.
However, it’s also important to note where these calories come from.
Here’s the calorie breakdown in both cereals.
In Shredded Wheat, 28 calories come from protein, 32 from fiber, 136 from carbs, and the rest from fat.
Whereas, in Weetabix, 20 calories come from protein, 24 calories come from fiber, 8 calories from sugar,
Shredded Wheat has a slightly better calorie profile as it has more protein and fiber and no sugar.
Fat
Shredded Wheat (original): 1.5g per serving (60g)
Weetabix (original): 1g per serving (53g)
Shredded Wheat and Weetabix both are low-fat breakfast options. Plus, both are free from saturated fat and trans fat.
Sugar
Shredded Wheat (original): 0g per serving (60g)
Weetabix (original): 2g per serving (53g)
Shredded Wheat contains no added sugar at all. In contrast, Weetabix opts for added sugar, with 2g per serving.
However, 2g of sugar is still relatively low for a breakfast cereal.
So regardless of which option you choose, you won’t have to worry about sugar.
Protein
Shredded Wheat (original): 7g per serving (60g)
Weetabix (original): 5g per serving (53g)
Shredded Wheat packs a bit more punch of protein than Weetabix.
The protein content in Weetabix is also good, but Shredded Wheat’s wheat-only composition enables it to serve up more.
The good thing is both cereals come with plant-based protein making them suitable for vegans.
Fiber
Shredded Wheat (original): 8g per serving (60g)
Weetabix (original): 6g per serving (53g)
Fiber is a crucial part of breakfast, and both Shredded Wheat and Weetabix are good at it.
However, Shredded Wheat provides 25% more fiber than Weetabix.
Note that both cereals contain a mix of soluble and insoluble fiber.
Out of 8g of fiber in Shredded Wheat, 1g is soluble, and 7g is insoluble. In Weetabix, 2g is soluble, and 4g is insoluble.
In the end, the winner for optimal fiber depends on your needs.
For digestive bulk, Shredded Wheat’s insoluble fiber is better. But Weetabix provides a greater share of cholesterol and blood sugar reducing soluble fiber.
When choosing your breakfast fiber, think about the fiber features you want.
Sodium
Shredded Wheat (original): 0mg per serving (60g)
Weetabix (original): 190mg per serving (53g)
Shredded Wheat takes the no sodium approach with 0mg per serving.
In contrast, Weetabix contains 190mg of sodium per serving.
However, 190mg of sodium is still considered low.
But for those monitoring their salt intake, Shredded Wheat’s zero sodium approach aligns better with a low-sodium diet.
Vitamins & minerals
Both Shredded Wheat and Weetabix comes with vitamins and minerals.
However, when choosing one, Shredded Wheat is a better option as it contains more niacin and potassium than Weetabix.
Additionally, it comes with extra nutrients like zinc, magnesium, phosphorus and B vitamins like B2, B6 and B9.
Here’s the table showing the levels of vitamins and minerals in both cereals.
| Vitamins & minerals | Shredded Wheat(% daily value) | Weetabix(% daily value) |
|---|---|---|
| Iron | 10% | 40% |
| Zinc | 20% | NA |
| Vitamin B1 (thiamin) | 10% | 90% |
| Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) | 6% | NA |
| Vitamin B3 (niacin) | 20% | 15% |
| Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) | 6% | NA |
| Vitamin B9 (folate) | 6% | NA |
| Magnesium | 15% | NA |
| Phosphorus | 20% | NA |
| Potassium | 6% | 5% |
Final words: which one is better cereal?
After looking closely at the ingredients and nutrition, Shredded Wheat emerges as the healthier choice.
Here’s why:
- Shredded Wheat has no added sugar.
- Shredded Wheat has more protein and fiber.
- Shredded Wheat is better for a low-sodium diet.
- Shredded Wheat has more vitamins and minerals.
However, that doesn’t mean you cannot go with the Weetabix.
If Shredded Wheat is not available, there is no harm in going with Weetabix.
But, if both are within your reach, Shredded Wheat is better option than Weetabix.
Note that I have not compared the cereals based on taste and price because taste is subjective, and the prices of both cereals can vary.
I hope that this information will help you in choosing the best cereal as per your needs.
Read also: Golden Grahams Vs Cinnamon Toast Crunch: Which One Is Healthier?
