There are quite a few reasons to love granola. It can be dense, crunchy, filling and it works well as a snack to tide you over between meals. Heck, if you sprinkle it on top of Greek yogurt, it becomes a meal. You can eat straight from the bag like popcorn or enjoy as you would cereal with your favorite kind of milk. But we know that while there are many granola brands to choose from, and the contents inside the packaging aren’t always the same.
Granola can be high in calories and sugar yet low on taste and nutrients. Some granola brands lean towards packing it with dried fruits and nuts and others with chocolates or other forms of sweets. And while we don’t want to label food good or bad, we would suggest eating the sugary versions in moderation.
Furthermore, granola can be a part of a healthy diet. So if what you want is a nutrient-dense treat, then check out our list because we have rounded up some of the best granola brands that are worth a try based on taste and content.
1. Nature’s Path Pumpkin Seed + Flax Granola
BEST OVERALL
Nature’s Path Pumpkin Seed + Flax Granola is made with omega-3 heart-healthy flax seeds, five grams of fiber, and six grams of plant-based protein. Plus, it contains organic ingredients and has no artificial colors, flavors and preservatives. It taste good straight out of the box or enjoyed as you would cereal. Use it to create your own trail mix by adding in dried fruits such as raisins, apricots, and dried cranberries.
We want to go on the record and simply state that toffee doesn’t get the love it deserves. We aren’t saying eat it every day, but it does work well as a treat and in moderation. Maybe Bear Naked realized that, and that is why the brand whipped together this tasty creation. But unlike regular granola, the carb count is balanced out by its 10 grams of protein. The great thing about having delicious ingredients is that you won’t need more than a handful to get and keep you satisfied. In addition to heavenly toffee, it also contains ingredients like whole grain oats, peanut butter, pea protein, quinoa and pumpkin seeds. The serving size is 2/3 cups which is pretty hefty, but it provides you with 3 grams of fiber, some potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, and immunity-boosting zinc. And oh! It’s organic too!
The Kind brand is well known for its bars, — the dark chocolate cherry cashew is amazing — and if you’ve never tried them, you should. Until then, if you are looking for a crunchy and yummy granola, Kind Healthy Grains Strawberry Probiotic Clusters is a good option. It contains strawberries, oats, buckwheat, millet, amaranth and quinoa, plus probiotics. It is kosher, non-GMO, and is free of trans fat and gluten.
Image Courtesy of Kind
4. Purely Elizabeth Honey Almond Probiotic Granola
BEST PROBIOTIC
Your gut health is essential when it comes to your overall health, so eating to support it is essential. Purely Elizabeth Honey Almond Probiotic Granola is made with ingredients such as chia seeds, quinoa, organic sunflower seeds, almonds and all-important probiotics. This mix is perfect for those days when you have no idea what to have for breakfast. Simply grab a handful and stir it into a bowl of thick Greek yogurt like Ellenos. Add in mixed berries, and you are good to go. The granola and yogurt protein combined with carbs makes for an outstanding balance to take you through lunch feeling satiated.
There is something delicious about the mix of sweet and salty, and clearly, there are many who think so as you can find that mix in popcorn, ice creams and Love’s Crunch Salted Caramel Pretzel Granola. It contains crunchy pretzel pieces, caramel-flavored puffs, Himalayan pink salt and dark chocolate which has awesome health benefits. In fact, a prospective study found that people who ate higher amounts of chocolate had a lowered risk of heart disease and stroke. Love Crunch is also organic, non-GMO, and vegan.
6. Bob’s Red Mill Homestyle Granola Lemon Blueberry
BEST HOMESTYLE
If you have attempted to make granola at home, you know that it can be a tricky feat, it never quite gets that clumped finish. Well, Bob’s Red Mill Homestyle Granola Lemon Blueberry is the definitive answer to when you want homestyle granola without the work. Though it isn’t jam-packed with vitamins and minerals, it is packed with flavor and luckily whole grain oats. Its primary source of sugar is maple syrup which complements the other ingredients. Enjoy straight from the bag or mixed into your favorite blueberry muffin recipe.
7. Quaker Granola Oats, Honey, Raisins, and Almonds
HIGH IN FIBER
Quaker is well known for its oatmeal — which coincidentally is what many granola recipes are made of — but they definitely don’t fall short in the granola category. The brand’s Simply Granola line offers three flavors. There is Oats and Honey with Vanilla Pecan, which has 6 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein. The Oats Apples, Cranberry, and Almonds which has 7 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein. But the one that is the tastiest of the three—though a little high in sugar—is the Oats, Honey, Raisins, Almonds. It also contains 7 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein. In addition to the juicy raisins, there is a very pleasing flavor of coconut on the back end. It isn’t overpowering, nor are there flakes, but it gives it a little oomph. It is the perfect substitute for oatmeal; just pour over with warmed milk.
If you in the market for protein-dense granola, then Bhu Protein Granola is right up your alley. It is free of grains, gluten, egg, nuts and soy. It is non-GMO and vegan friendly. Plus, it’s sweetened with monk fruit which is a small round fruit from South Asia. It is used as an alternative to sugar, and though it is a zero-calorie product, it up 250 times sweeter than sugar. Its other ingredients include chia, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, coconut, and pea protein. One thing to note although it only has 1 gram of sugar, it is pretty high in fat, 22 grams.
