Cheerios cereal has been a family favorite for decades. How many of us grew up eating Cheerios and now we give Cheerios to our little ones? Growing up, there was only one kind of Cheerios – plain. Now there is a large variety.
Are these newer varieties of Cheerios just as good as the original? I want to make a comparison of the two popular types to see how they compare to each other. I will be comparing Multigrain Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios.
I want to know how these two kinds of cereal compare when it comes to calories, sugar, fat, protein, even vitamins and minerals, taste, and even how affordable they are. Each category will have a “winner” but by the end of the article, you will be able to decide which cereal is right for you and your family.
Multigrain Cheerios vs Honey Nut Cheerios Nutritional Comparison
The comparison of these two kinds of cereal will be based on data gathered from both the USDA website and General Mill’s website.
Each category will have an easy-to-read table that shows how these two kinds of cereal compare to each other.
The serving size of Multigrain Cheerios is 39 grams while the serving size of Honey Nut Cheerios is 37 grams. Since there is a slight difference, and I want this to be a fair comparison, I will also be including a comparison based on a 100-gram serving.
Best for Calorie Content
The first place to start this comparison is with calories. Watching calories is very important when it comes to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Honey Nut Cheerios has 10 fewer calories than Multigrain Cheerios per regular serving, but when compared by weight, Honey Nut Cheerios has a higher calorie count.
Cereal Type |
Calories Per Serving |
Calories Per 100g Serving |
|
Multigrain Cheerios |
150 kcal (39g) |
382 kcal |
|
Honey Nut Cheerios |
140 kcal (37) |
393 kcal |
Best for Carbs & Sugar Content
Cereal, by nature, is not a low-carb food. When comparing Multigrain Cheerios with Honey Nut Cheerios, it’s not difficult to see which one contains more carbs – and sugar.
Multigrain Cheerios has 32 grams of carbs per serving and 81.4 grams per 100 grams.
Cereal Type |
Carbs Per Serving |
Carbs Per 100g Serving |
|
Multigrain Cheerios |
32 g (39g) |
81.4 g |
|
Honey Nut Cheerios |
30 g (37g) |
78.6 g |
Both Multigrain Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios contain added sugar. When compared by weight, both kinds of cereal are high in sugar but Honey Nut Cheerios contains more than double the amount of sugar found in a 100-gram serving.
Cereal Type |
Sugar Per Serving |
Sugar Per 100g Serving |
|
Multigrain Cheerios |
8g (39g) |
20.5 g |
|
Honey Nut Cheerios |
12g (37g) |
32.1 g |
Best for Protein Content
Protein is not something either of these cereals is known for but both of these cereals are comparable when it comes to protein content.
Both kinds of cereal contain 3 grams of protein per recommended serving. When compared by weight, Multigrain Cheerios has a slightly higher amount of protein at 8.23 grams.
Cereal Type |
Protein Per Serving |
Protein Per 100g Serving |
|
Multigrain Cheerios |
3g (39g) |
8.23 g |
|
Honey Nut Cheerios |
3g (37g) |
7.14 g |
Best for Fat Content
Multigrain Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios are both well-known for being low-fat food. A regular serving size of either cereal contains no more than 2 grams of fat. Honey Nut Cheerios contains less than one gram more of fat per serving than Multigrain Cheerios.
Cereal Type |
Fat Per Serving |
Fat Per 100g Serving |
|
Multigrain Cheerios |
1.5 g (39g) |
4.16 g |
|
Honey Nut Cheerios |
2 g (37g) |
5.36 g |
Multigrain Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios do not contain saturated fat per regular serving. A 100-gram serving of Multigrain Cheerios, however, has less than one gram of saturated fat.
Cereal Type |
Saturated Fat Per Serving |
Saturated Fat Per 100g Serving |
|
Multigrain Cheerios |
0g (39g) |
0.98 g |
|
Honey Nut Cheerios |
0g (37g) |
0g |
Best for Fiber Content
Fiber is the category I looked at after protein. Both fiber and protein help keep you feeling fuller throughout the day. This is so important if you are trying to maintain a healthy weight.
Neither Multigrain Cheerios nor Honey Nut Cheerios have a high fiber content. Multigrain Cheerios has one more gram of fiber per serving than Honey Nut Cheerios.
Cereal Type |
Fiber Per Serving |
Fiber Per 100g Serving |
|
Multigrain Cheerios |
3g (39g) |
8.1 g |
|
Honey Nut Cheerios |
3g (37g) |
7.1 g |
Best for Sodium/Salt Content
Both Multigrain Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios are relatively low in sodium per serving but Honey Nut Cheerios contains more sodium. Honey Nut Cheerios has 210 mg per recommended serving and 571 mg per 100-gram serving.
Cereal Type |
Sodium/Salt Per Serving |
Sodium/Salt Per 100g Serving |
|
Multigrain Cheerios |
150 mg (39g) |
382 mg |
|
Honey Nut Cheerios |
210 mg (37g) |
571 mg |
Best for Vitamins/Minerals
Both Multigrain Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios are fortified cereals. This means vitamins and minerals have been added to increase the nutritional value of each cereal. The chart below shows some of the vitamins and minerals found in a regular serving size of each cereal.
There are some vitamins and minerals that both cereals contain but Multigrain Cheerios contain higher amounts of zinc, B vitamins, and zinc.
Vitamin/Mineral Type |
Multigrain Cheerios Daily Value % |
Honey Nut Cheerios Daily Value % |
|
Vitamin D |
10 % |
20% |
|
Calcium |
15% |
10% |
|
Iron |
100% |
20% |
|
Potassium |
4% |
4% |
|
Vitamin A |
10% |
10% |
|
Vitamin C |
10% |
10% |
|
Thiamin |
100% |
20% |
|
Riboflavin (B2) |
100% |
10% |
|
Niacin |
100% |
10% |
|
Vitamin B6 |
100% |
20% |
|
Folate |
100% |
20% |
|
Vitamin B12 |
100% |
20% |
|
Pantothenic Acid |
100% |
0% |
|
Zinc |
100% |
20% |
The list is not a comprehensive list. You can go to the USDA website for a more comprehensive list if there is a specific vitamin or mineral you need information for.
Best for Flavor/Texture
Multigrain Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios both have the same rough texture until milk is added but when it comes to flavor, you will have to be the judge.
Both kinds of cereal have a sweetness to them but I prefer Multigrain Cheerios because it is not as sweet as Honey Nut Cheerios. But, again, you be the judge of which flavor you prefer.
Best for Price
When it comes to price, both Multigrain Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios are comparable. The price will obviously vary depending on where you shop and whether or not you buy in bulk. I did find that where I live, the price for each cereal is the same.
Overall Winner
As you can see from this comparison, both Multigrain Cheerios and Honey Nut Cheerios have a lot in common but there can only be one winner and that winner is Multigrain Cheerios.
Multigrain Cheerios contains less sugar, and less sodium, and has a higher vitamin and mineral content. Some of the categories did not have a clear winner, as you can see below. This is because the two cereals were either similar in content or the difference was based on serving size.
Comparison Category |
Winner (Multigrain Cheerios or Honey Nut Cheerios) |
|
Best in Calories |
Both are winners |
|
Best in Carb Content |
Honey Nut Cheerios |
|
Best in Sugar Content |
Multigrain Cheerios |
|
Best in Protein Content |
Both are winners |
|
Best in Fat Content |
Both are winners |
|
Best in Fiber Content |
Both are winners |
|
Best in Sodium/Salt Content |
Multigrain Cheerios |
|
Best in Vitamin/Mineral Content |
Multigrain Cheerios |
|
Best for Price |
Both are winners |
Overall Winner |
Multigrain Cheerios |