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Our Top Picks

Best Low-Calorie: Kellogg's Special K Protein Cereal at Amazon

"This cereal has 210 calories, 1.5 grams fat, 39 grams carbohydrates, 15 grams protein in a 1 1/3 cup portion."

Best High-Protein: Kashi GOLEAN Cereal at Walmart

"With 12 grams of protein and 13 grams of fiber, this cereal will keep you feeling full all morning long."

Best Instant Oatmeal: Quaker Instant Oatmeal at Amazon

"Made from only 100 percent natural and whole grain oats, it’s just 100 calories and 2 grams of fat per serving."

Best Budget: Barbara's Bakery Puffins Cereal at Amazon

"Only has 5 grams of sugar. It also contains 2 grams of protein."

Best Gluten-Free: Nature's Path Organic Cereal at Amazon

"Chock full of superfood ingredients like chia seeds, buckwheat, and hemp, making it an ultra-healthy option."

Best for Kids: Cascadian Farms Purely O's at Amazon

"Made with 100% whole grain oats and fortified with 11 essential vitamins and minerals."

Best Granola: 18 Rabbits Organic Gracious Granola at Amazon

"It’s also not packed with lots of added sugar or processed fillers."

Best Sugar-Free: Kashi 7 Whole Grain Puffs Cereal at Amazon

"Contains 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein...There are also 18 grams of whole grains per serving."

Our Top Picks

Best Low-Calorie: Kellogg's Special K Protein Cereal

If you’re looking for a satisfying breakfast to start your hectic day, you’ll love the great-tasting, lightly sweetened flakes in Kellogg’s Special K Protein Cereal. This cereal has 210 calories, 1.5 grams fat, 39 grams carbohydrates, 15 grams protein in a 1 1/3 cup portion. The mixture of crunchy rice, soy and wheat flakes also contains 9 grams of whole grains plus essential vitamins and minerals in each serving. Special K Protein is made with no high fructose corn syrup, no trans fat, and no cholesterol.

Whether you eat it plain, with milk or mixed in with yogurt, Special K Protein will curb your hunger and help you power through your day. With 8 grams of sugar, Special K does have more than the recommended amount for a cereal, but it could be worth it if you want cereal with lots of protein and whole grains.

Best High-Protein: Kashi GOLEAN Cereal

Kashi GoLean® Original Breakfast Cereal - 13.1oz — Courtesy of Target

Another great option for anyone looking to stay full after breakfast is Kashi GOLEAN original cereal. With 12 grams of protein and 13 grams of fiber, this cereal will keep you feeling full all morning long. It’s a lightly sweetened mix of crunchy fiber twigs, crispy soy protein grahams, and honey-toasted seven whole grains and sesame puffs. All that goodness packs an impressive 13 grams of protein and 10 grams of fiber.

Best Instant Oatmeal: Quaker Instant Oatmeal

This tried-and-true cereal is still a healthy and convenient favorite, especially for a quick, hot breakfast on cold winter mornings. Fans of Quaker Instant Oatmeal love its perfect consistency and great flavor. Made from only 100 percent natural and whole grain oats, it’s just 100 calories and 2 grams of fat per serving. You can add your favorite toppings such as cinnamon or dried fruit for more flavor or to make a heartier meal out of it.

Best Budget: Barbara's Bakery Puffins Cereal, Original, 10 Ounce (Pack of 6)

Barbara's Bakery Puffins Cereal in the original flavor offers lots of fiber and vitamin c, all packed into deliciously crunchy puffs. The Puffins cereal only has 5 grams of sugar. It also contains 2 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber. What's more, a portion of the profits from each box sold goes to the Puffin Project, an organization that focuses on protecting wild puffins.

If you want a more flavored option, Barbara's also makes this puffed cereal in cinnamon and honey rice flavors.

Best Gluten-Free: Nature's Path Organic Qi'a Gluten-Free Cereal

This cereal is chock full of superfood ingredients like chia seeds, buckwheat, and hemp, making it an ultra-healthy option as far as cereals go. if you have a gluten sensitivity or celiac disease and can't eat gluten, this Nature's Path cereal is a great gluten-free option.

It is also vegan and kosher so it meets a variety of lifestyles and dietary restrictions. Reviewers say this cereal makes them feel full and satiated after they eat it, without giving off the sluggish effect other cereals do.

Best for Kids: Cascadian Farms Purely O's

When promoting a kid-friendly cereal, consider a whole grain organic cereal, such as Cascadian Farms O's. Not only are they crunchy to chew and great by themselves or with your milk of choice they also have only 1 gram of sugar and 4 grams of fiber.

Best Granola: 18 Rabbits Organic Gracious Granola

While granola may seem like a healthy cereal option, you should choose carefully because many varieties are high in fat and sugar and it’s easy to go overboard. Unlike many other granola cereals, 18 Rabbits’ ingredient list is very short and full of ingredients that you can easily pronounce. It’s also not packed with lots of added sugar or processed fillers.

This organic cereal is made of whole rolled oats, coconut, maple syrup, and sunflower oil, along with other nutritious items such as chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds, and hazelnuts, depending on the variety. Although it only contains just 3 grams of sugar per serving, it will delight your taste buds whether you eat it plain, on top of yogurt, with fruit.

Best Sugar-Free: Kashi 7 Whole Grain Puffs Cereal

If you're really cutting down on your sugar intake, a cereal with zero sugar is the way to go. You can still enjoy a satisfying, easy-to-make breakfast without consuming more than your daily recommended amount of the sweet stuff.

The Kashi 7 Whole Grain Puffs cereal also contains 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein to keep you satiated until your next meal. There are also 18 grams of whole grains per serving and the cereal is free of GMOs, soy, and sodium.