Are Cheerios Vegan?

Cheerios are one of the best cereals that many people love to eat. However, it has been reported that some people have allergies or intolerances to certain ingredients in these products. The main ingredient in Cheerios is wheat which can cause an allergic reaction for those sensitive to this food. If you want to know if Cheerios is vegan, read on and learn more about this cereal.

So, is Cheerios vegan? The sad answer is no– not all of their products are vegan. They do contain milk as well as eggs. They also use honey in some of their products. This means that Cheerios is not suitable for strict vegans.

However, other types of breakfast cereals available are completely free from animal-derived ingredients. These include Oat Bran, Grape Nuts, Fiber One, Nature Valley Granola Bars, Kashi GoLean Crunchy Cereal Bar, and others. So, if you’re looking for a healthier alternative to Cheerios, you may consider choosing another type of cereal instead.

If you still want to try Cheerios, there are several options available. You can buy organic versions of these cereals. Or, you can choose to make your own version at home by using only whole grains like oats, corn, buckwheat, quinoa, millet, amaranth, etc.

You can also find gluten-free versions of Cheerios available online. Some of these brands even offer dairy-free varieties.

What Are Cheerios?

Cheerios is a product from General Mills. It was first introduced in the 1930s and is now sold in over 50 countries worldwide. It’s made with oatmeal, wheat flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, and other natural controversial ingredients.

It comes in two different flavors: Original and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Both varieties come in boxes containing 28 pieces each. Each box costs $2.99.

The original flavor contains brown sugar, while the cinnamon toast crunch variety uses maple syrup.

The texture of honey nut Cheerios is similar to that of Corn Flakes. It’s very soft and easy to break apart into smaller pieces.

Cheerios Ingredients

Honey nut Cheerios is practically made of just three things: oats, wheat flour, and water. Other than that, they don’t contain any artificial colors, preservatives, sweeteners, or anything else.

They do contain milk though. In fact, they contain 1% milk. This is because the company wants to ensure that children who consume their cereal will get enough calcium.

Other than that, they don’t contain any other animal ingredient that could harm health.

Non-vegan Ingredients In Cheerios

Cheerios have been found to contain traces of egg whites, whey protein concentrate, soy lecithin, and casein. All of these controversial ingredients lists are derived from animals.

This doesn’t mean that everyone who eats honey nut Cheerios will develop an allergy to them. But, if you have an intolerance to any of these GMO-free ingredients, then it would be wise to avoid eating honey nut Cheerios altogether.

Other curious ingredients are listed below:

• Wheat flour (gluten)
• Oats (gluten)
• Sugar
• Salt
• Baking soda
• Milk
• Egg whites
• Casein
• Lecithin
• Soy lecithin
• Honey
• Maple syrup
• Brown sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Cinnamon
• Flavorings
• Artificial and natural flavors
• Water

Why Do Some Strict Vegans Eat Cheerios?

Despite how strict a vegan diet can be, many people still eat Cheerios daily. There are several reasons why this happens.

Some people enjoy the taste of Cheerios so much that they won’t feel right without having it every morning. Others might think Cheerios are healthy since they contain fiber and other nutrients in its limited ingredients.

Others believe Cheerios are a good source of carbohydrates which helps them stay energized throughout the day.

However, most, if not all,  vegans don’t eat cheese or cheesy Cheerios for ethical reasons. They believe that the production of Cheerios involves cruelty towards animals.

Vegan Alternatives To Cheerios

Now that Cheerios are not entirely vegan, what should you use instead? Here are some alternatives to consider if you are avoiding traces of animal ingredients:

One Degree Sprouted Oat O’s

Oat O’s is another brand of oatmeal produced by Kellogg’s. It has a slightly nutty flavor and is made with sprouted grain oats. You can buy it in boxes containing 24 pieces. The price per box is $3.49.

Kellogg’s makes a few other products as well. One of those is Rice Krispies Treats. These treats are made with rice, corn, and tapioca starch. They also contain no animal products whatsoever.

Kellogg’s also produces Frosted Mini-Wheats. These cereals are made using whole-grain wheat, bran, and oats. They’re available in boxes containing 12 pieces. The price per piece is $1.79.

Another product that is entirely free of animal products is Kashi GoLean Granola Cereal Bars. These bars are made with brown rice, millet, quinoa, amaranth, flaxseed, chia, sunflower, pumpkin, and sesame seeds. Each bar contains 30 grams of carbs and 4 grams of fat. They cost about $2.99 each.

You can always make your granola if you want to try something different. Mix all the dry healthy ingredients, such as oats, nuts, and dried fruits. Then, add honey or maple syrup to sweeten it up. Finally, bake it at low heat until it turns golden brown.

You can serve it over yogurt, ice cream, or even on top of pancakes. Check out our guide here if you want to learn more about veganism.

One Degree Sprouted Cacao O’s

Cacao O’s is another brand name for cacao nibs. These are roasted cocoa beans that are ground into a powder. They come in various flavors, including chocolate chip, peanut butter, refined sugar or organic sugar, and vanilla.

The best part about cacao nibs is that they’re entirely raw. This means that there aren’t any preservatives added to them. Most of the time, they’re processed in a way that removes their natural oils.

If you like chocolate but don’t want to consume milk ingredients, these are perfect. They have a mild chocolate flavor and are high in antioxidants.

They’re also very versatile. Mix them with milk, juice, or water to create delicious hot drinks. Or, you can sprinkle them onto cereal, salads, or desserts.

You can find them in bags containing 20 servings. The price per bag is $7.99.

Nature’s Path Berry Blast Cheetah Chomps

Nature’s Path created this cereal. It comes in three varieties: blueberry, strawberry, and raspberry. They are gluten-free and contain only 5 grams of sugar per serving.

Each serving contains 10 grams of fiber and 2 grams of protein. They’ve also fortified with vitamins A and D. These cereals are great because they taste just like regular Cheerios. However, they’re much healthier.

This company also offers several other products. For example, Nature’s Path Organic Apple Cinnamon Crunchy Granola is made from organic apples, cinnamon, and oats. It costs about $5.99 per box.

Other products include Nature’s Path Organic Blueberry Muffins, which are made with organic blueberries, oats, minor ingredients, and almond flour. They cost about $4.99 per muffin.

These muffins are baked instead of fried. That’s why they’re so healthy. You can eat them plain or spread some jam on them.

Barbara’s Organic Original Honest O’s

Lastly, Honest O’s is an organic oat cereal. They’re made with organic oats, almonds, pecans, and walnuts. They’re gluten-free, too.

Each serving has 3 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber. They’re also fortified with vitamins E and B6. Barbara also makes several other products, including cookies, crackers, and bread.

For example, Barbara’s Organic Whole Grain Cookies are made with whole grains, organic oats, and organic wheat germ. They cost about $3.49 per cookie.

If you’re looking for a snack that will keep you full for hours, then Barbara’s Organic Whole Grain Crackers are what you need. They’re made with whole-grain oats, barley, and rye. They cost about $1.99 per package.

Conclusion

To conclude, Cheerios is not the healthiest option for breakfast. It’s pretty bad. But if you’re willing to make a few changes, you’ll be able to enjoy a bowl of Cheerios without feeling guilty.

First, switch to non-dairy milk. Then, opt for almond milk instead of cow’s milk. Finally, swap the original Cheerios for one of the many alternatives.