General Mills’ Cheerios have dominated the cereal aisle of our stores since it was first introduced in 1941. The enduring popularity of the cereal is down to the fact that it’s gluten-free, has a low calorie and fat content, and is high in nutrients such as iron.
General Mills has also kept Cheerios so popular by regularly introducing new and exciting flavors over the years, including the likes of Apple Cinnamon Cheerios and Banana Nut Cheerios.
In the following article, we’ll examine the most prominent Cheerios flavors, explain their taste and ingredient list, and determine the nutritional value.
Sections
Cheerios Original
Cheerios Original often comes with the tagline ‘heart-healthy cereal’ attached, which is a claim that the cereal lives up to. The pure and distinct taste of Cheerios Original is the result of the product’s simple ingredients, which include: whole grain oats, salt, sugar, corn starch, and tripotassium phosphate. They contain no artificial colors or flavors.
The basic and easy-to-eat qualities of Cheerios Original make them a great breakfast choice for kids and adults alike.
A standard 39-gram serving contains 140 calories, 2.5 grams of total fat, 29 grams of total carbohydrates, 2 grams of sugar, 4 grams of dietary fiber, and 1 gram of soluble fiber.
Multi-Grain Cheerios
Another popular flavor, Multi-Grain combines five different whole grains – whole grain oats, whole grain rice, whole grain corn, whole grain millet, and whole-grain sorghum – to create a nutritious and tasty start to the day. A lot more effort goes into the production of this version of the cereal, with each whole grain first grown, milled, toasted, and sweetened.
The added sugars for the sweetening part take the product’s sugar count up to 8 grams per serving. This same serving size contains 150 calories, 1.5 total fat (less than Cheerios Original), and 4 grams of dietary fiber (more than Cheerios Original).
Fruity Cheerios
If you’re wondering which Cheerios flavor tastes the most like Trix or Fruity Pebbles, the answer is Fruity Cheerios. However, unlike some of the cereals it gets compared to, Fruity Cheerios does not contain any artificial colors or flavorings.
Instead, it uses 100% natural flavorings, such as pear puree and fruit juice, to create the unique taste of this variety. A bowl of Fruity Cheerios contains 140 calories, 1.5 total fat, 21 grams of carbohydrates, and 7 grams of protein.
Apple Cinnamon Cheerios
Apple Cinnamon has long been a classic alternative to the original, and many liken the taste to the season of fall. Some note that the apple taste overpowers that of the cinnamon, which some enjoy and others don’t. The basic Os remain much the same, made using 100% whole grain and featuring a range of vitamins and minerals, from iron to zinc.
In terms of where they get their taste from, apple puree concentrate and pure cinnamon are added to the mix. These additions bump the calories in a standard serving up to 150, the carbohydrates up to 30 grams, and the sugars up to 12 grams.
A variety of this flavor exists, simply titled Cinnamon Cheerios.
Honey Nut Cheerios
Honey Nut Cheerios is arguably the most popular variety of the original plain Cheerios. It has regularly been recognized as the most popular ready-to-eat cereal in the U.S., having outsold all other cereals in 2019. The hard honey glaze gives this cereal a crunchier – and more satisfying – crunch. This honey glaze also blends into the milk, giving it a sugary taste.
Additional ingredients in Honey Nut Cheerios include brown sugar syrup, canola oil, and natural almond flavor – enhancing the nutty aroma of the cereal.
Despite its sugary characteristics, Honey Nut Cheerios features just 140 calories per 37g serving. This serving size also contains 12 grams of added sugars, 2 grams of total fat, 30 grams of carbohydrates, and 3 grams of protein.
Cheerios Oat Crunch Cinnamon
General Mills recently branched Cheerios out by releasing Cheerios Oat Crunch Cinnamon. This new flavor consists of standard Cheerios mixed with chunks of whole-grain oat, creating an entirely different taste sensation. The consistency of the cereal has more crunch and resembles oatmeal.
With doses of honey and cinnamon, this cereal becomes one of the sweetest in the Cheerios range. Given the consistency change, this cereal is normally served in a standard cup of 54 grams. Within that serving, you’ll find 230 calories, 5 grams of total fat 42 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of dietary fiber, and 4 grams of protein.
Chocolate Cheerios
Turning your milk into a delicious chocolate flavor, Chocolate Cheerios are very popular amongst younger age groups. Although not as chocolatey as other cereals, such as Cocoa Puffs, they still put a sweet spin on the classic Cheerio taste. Strip back the chocolate layer and you’ll find standard whole grain Cheerios underneath, ensuring this variety remains just as nutritious.
The chocolate flavor is made using cocoa processed with alkali, unsweetened chocolate, and caramel flavor. A 1-cup serving of this variety features only 140 calories, alongside 2 grams of total fat, 28 grams of carbohydrates, 11 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheerios
General Mills uses no artificial colors or flavors to create the Chocolate Peanut Butter variety of Cheerios, instead, they use real cocoa and real peanut butter. As with most Cheerios varieties, Chocolate Peanut Butter comes with standard Cheerios underneath, with coatings found on top to achieve a unique flavor. Other flavors that are added to this variety include caramel.
On top of the standard 12 vitamins found in all Cheerio flavors, this variety contains 150 calories, 4.5 grams of total fat, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 3 grams of dietary fiber, and 1 gram of soluble fiber. There are also 4 grams of protein found in every cup.
Frosted Cheerios
The taste of Frosted Cheerios has been likened to that of Lucky Charms, giving you a healthy way of revisiting the taste of childhood. Although the initial taste is sugary, it’s hard to ignore the signature Cheerios taste found in this frosted cereal. The sugary coating adds a satisfying crunch and flavor to the cereal, without taking away too much from the nutritional value.
A cup of Frosted Cheerios features only 140 calories, 1.5 grams of fat, and 29 grams of carbohydrates, which is relatively low for a Cheerios flavor. It also features 3 grams of dietary fiber and 1 gram of soluble fiber.
Very Berry Cheerios
Very Berry Cheerios creates the taste illusion of fresh fruit and features several different real fruit powders. The powders it contains include strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, and cranberry.
Similar to most other flavors, Very Berry features 140 calories per serving, as well as 2 grams of fat, 29g of carbohydrates, 3 grams of dietary fiber, 1 gram of soluble fiber, 11 grams of sugar, and 3 grams of protein.
FAQs
Which flavors of Cheerios Cereal were limited edition?
Limited edition Cheerios flavors included Chocolate Strawberry Cheerios, Banana Nut Cheerios, Yogurt Burst Cheerios, and Pumpkin Spice Cheerios, among others.
Which flavor of Cheerios cereal is most healthy?
The most healthy Cheerios cereal variety is Multi-Grain Cheerios, as it contains a variety of grains. It also features a higher fiber and a lower total fat count than Cheerios Original.
Conclusion
General Mills has released several Cheerios flavors over the years, each of which has been healthy in its own way – some offer high fiber, while others offer real fruit flavors. The factors that tend to fluctuate the most are protein and fiber, but all varieties offer a steady calorie figure of around 140 in each serving.