Do you savor a warm dish of oats every morning? Are overnight oats being prepared for breakfast? Although it’s frequently a nutritious meal, some pre packaged oats could not actually be that way.
Labels like gluten-free, collagen, protein, and vegan are used by companies to appear healthier than they actually are. Foods may be vegan or gluten-free without a doubt, but they may also have other additives that make them unappealing. So, which do you think are the popular oatmeal brands that we need to avoid and why?
Toby Amidor, a Wall Street Journal best-selling author of Diabetes Create Your Plate Meal Prep Cookbook and award-winning nutrition expert, and Lisa Young, author of Finally Full, Finally Slim & The Portion Teller Plan, were our two registered dietitians who helped us determine which brands of oatmeal to steer clear of. Here is what they advise regarding certain oatmeal brands:
Purely Elizabeth Collagen Protein Oat Cup – Blueberry Walnut
This collagen-infused oat cup is an excellent illustration of appearing to be a wise decision. However, Young highlights a few issues.
It wouldn’t be her first option because she prefers not to have collagen in her oatmeal, she explains. Young dislikes powders and prefers to obtain nutrients from entire meals, adding that the oatmeal is over 200 calories and the dried blueberries have extra sugar.
- Calories: 230kcal
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Protein: 9g
- Fat: 5g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Cholesterol: 0g
- Sodium: 135mg
- Fiber: 5g
- Sugar: 9g
Quaker Instant Oatmeal Maple & Brown Sugar – 10ct
With 12 grams of sugar and 260 milligrams of sodium, this oatmeal has too much salt and sugar, according to Young.
Amidor concurs, saying, “There are many other brands out there with less added sugar. There are 12 grams of added sugar in this instant oatmeal, which can be utilized occasionally when in a bind, but really there are alternative options.”
- Calories: 160kcal
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Protein: 4g
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Cholesterol: 0g
- Sodium: 260mg
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 12g
KIND Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Almond – 1.5oz/6ct
Snack bars from KIND are popular and often a healthy option. Oatmeal is another matter, though.
Young continues, “I’d avoid this option as it contains chocolate and more than two teaspoons of added sugar.”
- Calories: 170kcal
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Protein: 5g
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Cholesterol: 0g
- Sodium: 125mg
- Fiber: 4g
- Sugar: 9g
Lucky Charms Instant Oatmeal, 6 ct, 8.4 oz
The new Lucky Charms quick oatmeal may excite aficionados of oatmeal, but the additional sugar raises questions regarding this product.
This instant oatmeal would not be my first option, according to Young, and it also has too much added sugar (3 teaspoons!). The second and third ingredients are sugar and cornstarch. She points out that cornstarch is a very refined and processed carb that has no nutrients. It’s not worth it for the nostalgia.
- Calories: 140kcal
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Protein: 3g
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 115mg
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 12g
Kroger Apple & Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal
Our two dietitians concur that you should avoid this oatmeal from Kroger. The sugar content is the primary cause.
- Calories: 170kcal
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Protein: 3g
- Fat: 1.5g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 21g
MUSH Gluten-Free Vegan Vanilla Ready-to-Eat Overnight Oats – 20oz/4ct
A wonderful illustration of something that appears nutritious but could be deceptive is the Mush Overnight Oats. What could go wrong with labels like “gluten-free” and “vegan”?
“Although oats are unquestionably nutritious, if someone is trying to control their calorie intake or supplement the oats with another item, like fruit, the calories in this part are high compared to many other brands on the market at 220 per serving,” says Amidor.
She also notes that the calcium and vitamin D level is lower than cow milk because it uses almond milk. Americans often don’t get enough of these two nutrients, therefore this is a worry.
- Calories: 220kcal
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Protein: 6g
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 105mg
- Fiber: 6g
- Sugar: 10g
Umpqua Oats Oatmeal Cup, Maple Pecan, 2.58 oz, Single Cup
There are other alternatives available with comparable (or lower) amounts of added sugar and fewer calories. According to Amidor, Umpqua Oats Oatmeal Cup has one of the highest calorie counts on the market at 280 calories per serving.
- Calories: 280kcal
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Protein: 9g
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 0.82g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fiber: 5g
- Sugar: 11g
GreenWise Instant Oatmeal Maple And Brown Sugar
Although Greenwise instant oatmeal appears appealing when it comes to its nutritional quality, the quantity of sugar is alarming.
You can find better options with less added sugar on the market, according to Amidor, who points out that this instant oatmeal contains 12 grams of added sugar.
- Calories: 150kcal
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Protein: 4g
- Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 95mg
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 12g
What Do Our Dietitians Recommend?
Now that we have learned all the brands that we need to avoid, of course we never missed to ask our dietitians what they recommend for oatmeals. Young and Amidor stated that it’s always best to choose gut-friendly and all-natural oatmeal brands that provide you with extra protein and fiber throughout the day.
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Last update on 2024-11-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
