It can be difficult to choose a vegan cereal. Some chocolate cereal brands are unintentionally vegan, which is fantastic. However, some plain cereal that you’d assume to be vegan appears to contain animal byproducts.
To further complicate matters, veganism is a range. Strict vegans may decide to limit ingredients that certain newer vegans are willing to consume.
If you’re searching for a set of vegan cereals, you’ve got the right idea! Breakfast cereals, like a variety of products, frequently contain non-vegan ingredients.
There are many cereal brands that offer vegan products, but still, only some of them offer a large percentage of vegan cereals. Nature’s Path Envirokidz Organic manages to stand out in this bracket, offering a variety of vegan cereals. Peanut butter panda puffs, Chocolate koala crisps, and a variety of other treats are available. This brand has the most diverse flavour choices and is also among the most useful for vegan child-friendly choices.
In this article, we will discuss the different options for vegan cereals. You can also find out more about whole food and plant-based diets. Besides that, you may check out a recipe for vegan chocolate granola. In addition, you can even find some interesting facts about veganism and its connection with cereals. Read on for more.
What is Vegan Cereal?
By default, Cereal wouldn’t be vegan. Many producers of cereal add ingredients derived from animals to the product. For instance, milk, gelatin and even honey are derived from animals or exploitation of animals. Vegan Cereals should not have any form of animal products in the list of ingredients.
In addition, you can only call a cereal “vegan”, if it is Vegan Society certified. It can also receive verification by an agency of vegan certification. This process of certification is intense. It also requires ingredients that are purely vegan. This includes items like coconut oil, vegan sugar, and soy milk (organic).
Besides that, in order for it to be called “vegan”, all the ingredients should be from sustainable and ethical supply chains. It is crucial to understand that many “vegan” cereals do contain honey. There is, however, a debate on using honey as it exploits the labour of bees.
Benefits of Vegan Cereal
According to actual research, vegan cereals have multiple health benefits. It has been discovered that vegan cereals are high in protein and help preserve digestive health. Vegan cereals come in a variety of flavours and textures. Cereals include sorghum, oats, barley, and maize. These are excellent vegan cereal sources. As a result, it is critical to choose a vegan cereal which is both present and plentiful in the region where you live.
Vegan cereals have become popular dishes in several countries due to their high protein content. Vegan cereals, like wheat, are widely available throughout the world.
In addition, Vegan cereals are packed with organic proteins. Many people enjoy cereal because it contains a higher percentage of nutrient proteins. The body stores proteins that you can use during times of famine. Proteins are also in charge of keeping the body healthy.
Vegan cereals are also high in minerals. Because many minerals have magnesium, calcium, and potassium, they are extremely important for overall body health.
Furthermore, vegan cereals are essential for constipation relief. Cereals have fibres, that are essential for preventing constipation and help with digestion. Constipation is avoided when the fibres found in vegan cereals build up the stool and soften it. It is recommended to drink plenty of water when you eat vegan cereals to help support digestion and prevent constipation.
Lastly, vegan cereals are critical to maintaining your body weight. Cereal-rich foods help with digestion. This allows for greater food intake. When you compare this to other sources of food, a decent cereal diet keeps you satisfied and full for a longer amount of time. It is also critical to remember that vegan cereal is essential for children in terms of energy. As a result, adopt a vegan cereal meal plan for a healthy lifestyle.
5 Healthy Vegan Cereal Brands
There are various vegan cereal brands that you can choose from. Here are some popular and healthy choices for you.
- Barbara’s Cereals and Snacks: This company is popular for its vegan cereals and snacks. Their food items follow strict rules and quality ingredients. They also use whole grains and simple ingredients. This company offers various types of products from classic and puffin cereals to organic cereals and cheese puffs.
- Cascadian Farm: This next brand has various vegan cereal options. They include Vanilla Crisp, Purely O’s, Berry Vanilla Puffs, Whole Grain Crunch Cereal, and Cinnamon Crunch. The brand also supplies granola bars, fruits, veggies and granola.
- One Degree Organic Foods: Here is a brand that is popular for its healthy crops and food products. This brand allows you to also trace your food back to its origins. You can get granola, hot and cold cereals, bread, flour and seeds. They are popular for their Brown Rice Cacao Crisps and Sprouted Oat O’s.
- Kashi Cereals: This is a brand that offers many options of cereals including vegan. Many of their cereals contain honey. But, there are some that are pure vegan cereals. You can go for a Cinnamon Crisp, Peanut Butter Crunch and Organic Strawberry Fields Cereal.
- Food For Life: If you’re looking for a great healthy and vegan cereal alternative you can go for this one. You can choose from cereal flavours like Golden Flax, Whole Grain Cereal, and Sprouted Flakes.
- Shreddies Vegan Cereal: You can choose this amazing Nestle Vegan cereal called Shreddies. It contains whole grain wheat, barley extract, molasses, salt, sugar, inverted sugar syrup, iron, and vitamins B3, B9, B5, B2, and B6. It may also contain nuts and peanuts.
What is Whole Food Plant Based Cereal?
A whole food and plant-based diet is not so much a diet as it is a lifestyle. It is also known as the WFPB diet. The principles of whole food and plant-based diet are limiting or avoiding animal products. It also focuses on all fruits, vegetables and whole grains. While some people who follow the WFPB diet stay away from all animal products, some don’t.
Whole foods are natural foods which aren’t processed heavily. This means that it uses whole and unrefined ingredients. In addition, plant-based food comes from different plants. This food does not use animal-derived ingredients like milk, honey, eggs, and meat.
Whole food and plant-based foods have various benefits. These include managing your weight and preventing disease. This improves your heart health and prevents Type 2 diabetes. Besides that, it also creates a lighter footprint on the environment. This means that it causes less harm to the environment. In addition, you can also save money on your groceries with whole plant foods.
There are various whole food and plant-based cereals available. Some good examples are Back to Nature’s Apple Blueberry Granola. You can also go for Arrowhead Mills’ Natural Puffed Millet Cereal.
Vegan Chocolate Granola Recipe
Vegan Chocolate Granola with no oil is flavourful and rich. Also, it’s healthier than the ones bought in a store. It’s free of nuts and only has seven components!
Serves: 3 cup servings Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 23 minutes Total time: 28 minutes Cuisine: American, Vegan, Gluten-free Course: Breakfast, Snacks Storage: 2 weeks
Ingredients Required:
¼ Cup And 2 Tablespoons Of Maple Syrup (120g), ¼ Cup Of Dairy-Free Mini Chocolate Chips (50g), 2 Cups Of Gluten-Free Old Fashioned Oats (200g), ¼ Cup Of Cocoa Powder-Unsweetened (30g), ¼ Cup Sunflower Unsalted Kernels (44g), ¼ Teaspoon Fine Sea Salt, ½ Tablespoon Of Blackstrap Molasses, ¼ Cup Of Creamy Almond Butter Or Sunbutter.
Vegan Chocolate Granola Recipe:
Step 1:
Preheat your oven to 325°F. Then you should line your sheet pan with some parchment paper.
Step 2:
Next, you can mix your oats, sunflower kernels, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and salt in a big bowl. You can then add your almond or sun butter, molasses and syrup. Also, add your dry ingredients to the bowl and then stir all of them together. This should be very sticky.
Step 3:
You should then spread out the granola on a pan in an even and flat manner. This should be about ½ an inch thick.
Step 4:
Now you can bake it on the bottom rack for 15 minutes. Next, remove the granola and stir it around so that it cooks evenly. Also, place it back in the oven on a low rack. Keep baking it for 8 minutes more. Watch the granola carefully so that you don’t burn the edges.
Step 5:
After that, you can let it cool for 10 minutes for a bit until it becomes a bit crispy. You can then enjoy this granola with some parfait, ice cream or especially as a cereal. You can also store the granola in an air-tight container. It will help the cereal stay crunchy.
Notes:
- Storing: You can store your granola for 2 weeks for a fresh taste. You can keep them in small bags and containers for snacks.
- Seeds and nuts: You can also use different types of seeds and nuts depending on your allergy or preferences.
Vegan Chocolate Cereal: Nutritional Information
There is some nutritional information for you to keep in mind while creating your vegan chocolate cereal. This data accounts for a serving of ½ a cup.
- Calories: 378 kcal
- Sodium: 100mg
- Carbohydrates: 65.9g
- Fiber: 6.8g
- Protein: 8g
- Potassium: 328mg
- Fat: 11.3g
- Sugar: 32.7g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Iron: 4mg
- Calcium: 56mg
FAQs
Which Cereal Can Vegans Eat?
There are various cereals that vegans can eat. In addition, there are also vegan-specific cereals available. For instance, you can choose from Barbara’s Cereals and Snacks. This company offers various types of products from classic and puffin cereals to organic cereals and cheese puffs. Another cereal brand is Cascadian Farm. They include Vanilla Crisp, Purely O’s, Berry Vanilla Puffs, Whole Grain Crunch Cereal, and Cinnamon Crunch. The brand also supplies granola bars, fruits, veggies and granola.
Besides that, One Degree Organic Foods is a great brand as well. They are popular for their Brown Rice Cacao Crisps and Sprouted Oat O’s. Food For Life has some great flavours like Golden Flax, Whole Grain Cereal, and Sprouted Flakes. In addition, you can choose from Kashi Cereals. You can go for a Cinnamon Crisp, Peanut Butter Crunch and Organic Strawberry Fields Cereal.
What’s The Best Cereal For Vegans?
Vegans can consume a variety of cereals. You can go with whole food and plant-based cereals. Besides that, there are gluten-free options as well. There are also vegan-specific cereals on the market. You can, for example, select from Barbara’s Cereals and Snacks. This company sells a wide range of products, including classic and puffin cereals, as well as organic cereals and cheese puffs. Cascadian Farm is another cereal brand.
Vanilla Crisp, Purely O’s, Berry Vanilla Puffs, Whole Grain Crunch Cereal, and Cinnamon Crunch are among them. The company also sells granola bars, fruits, vegetables, and granola.
Aside from that, One Degree Organic Foods is a fantastic brand. Their Brown Rice Cacao Crisps and Sprouted Oat O’s are popular. Food For Life flavours includes Golden Flax, Whole Grain Cereal, and Sprouted Flakes. You can also select from Kashi Cereals. Cinnamon Crisp, Peanut Butter Crunch, and Organic Strawberry Fields Cereal are all options.
Are Cheerios Vegan?
Unfortunately, the majority of Cheerios really aren’t vegan. It is due to the fact that Honey Nut Cheerios include honey, that isn’t vegan. This cereal, as well as the classic Cheerios, is rich in Vitamin D. This is drawn from grease made of wool. It means that, while the list of ingredients is vegan, the product isn’t ideal for vegans because it is fortified.
But, Oat Cheerios is a great vegan-friendly option. This cereal is a low-sugar substitute for regular Cheerios. So, if you’re looking for a plant-based alternative to the normal stuff still can find Cheerios that are vegan.
Is Kellogg’s Cereal Vegan?
Cornflakes are created from corn that is milled. Besides that, it has been toasted and dried before being combined with salt, sugar, as well as other ingredients. No, Kellogg’s cornflakes is not vegan. It is because, while the classic components are plant-based, it still infused with vitamin D. This is typically not vegan. Kellogg’s Cornflakes contain vitamin D taken from lanolin. This is sheep’s wool grease, this makes it unsuitable for someone following a plant-based diet. Other vegan corn flakes brands such as Nestle’s version, are also available.
Why Is Honey Not Vegan?
Honey is derived from the bee. This involves a lot of ethical concerns that include artificial insemination and environmental concerns. For instance, it could pose threats to the wild bee population. From an ethical standpoint, bees have a nervous system and brain and have been found to express emotions like pessimism, which is a sign of their intelligence.
However, in the commercial honey sector, several unethical practices are performed on bees. This includes instrumental insemination, in which 8 to 12 bees are killed by crushing and their sperm is extracted.
The queen bee would then be confined and the sperm is injected into her. The queen bee’s wings are frequently clipped, not only to identify the queen bee but as well as to prevent a swarm. This occurs when a single bee colony splits into a number of distinct colonies. This is why honey is not considered vegan.
In Conclusion
Vegan cereals are becoming increasingly popular. There are various brands to choose from. Some popular ones are One Degree organic foods or Barbara’s cereals and snacks.
You can also go for many different vegan cereals that are whole food and plant-based. There are numerous advantages to eating whole foods and plant-based foods. These include weight management and disease prevention. This improves your heart health and helps you avoid Type 2 diabetes. Aside from that, it leaves a smaller environmental footprint. This means it is less harmful to the environment. You can also save money on groceries by eating whole-plant foods.
You should also know that most cereals like Cheerios and Kellogs aren’t completely vegan. For Kellogs, it is because of the vitamin D content in it. Cheerios like Honey nuts, contains honey. Since honey is derived from bees, it is considered abuse to them. Besides that, there are various unethical and harmful practices in some beekeeping industries.
The great news is that so many cereal brands are vegan-friendly. While milk and honey are just about out of the question, stricter vegans also resist vitamin D3, which is derived from sheep’s wool.
Vegan Chocolate Granola Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup of Cocoa Powder-Unsweetened (30g)
- ¼ cup of Sunflower Unsalted Kernels (44g)
- 2 cups of Gluten-Free Old Fashioned Oats (200g)
- ¼ tsp Fine Sea Salt
- ¼ cup of Dairy-Free Mini Chocolate Chips (50g)
- ½ tbsp Blackstrap Molasses
- ¼ cup of Creamy Almond Butter Or Sunbutter
- ¼ cups of Maple Syrup +2 tbsp extra (120 g)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 325°F. Then you should line your sheet pan with some parchment paper.
- Next, you can mix your oats, sunflower kernels, cocoa powder, chocolate chips, and salt in a big bowl. You can then add your almond or sun butter, molasses and syrup. Also, add your dry ingredients to the bowl and then stir all of them together. This should be very sticky.
- You should then spread out the granola on a pan in an even and flat manner. This should be about ½ an inch thick.
- Now you can bake it on the bottom rack for 15 minutes. Next, remove the granola and stir it around so that it cooks evenly. Also, place it back in the oven on a low rack. Keep baking it for 8 minutes more. Watch the granola carefully so that you don’t burn the edges.
- After that, you can let it cool for 10 minutes for a bit until it becomes a bit crispy. You can then enjoy this granola with some parfait, ice cream or especially as a cereal. You can also store the granola in an air-tight container. It will help the cereal stay crunchy.
Notes
- Storing: You can store your granola for 2 weeks for a fresh taste. You can keep them in small bags and containers for snacks.
- Seeds and nuts: You can also use different types of seeds and nuts depending on your allergy or preferences.
Danielle is a content writer with a love for books, music, and lifestyle blogs.