Cheerios and Oatmeal are synonymous with a healthy breakfast. Both are heart-healthy and gluten-free. Cheerios, however, have evolved over the years and now offer a variety of flavors. The most popular variety is Multigrain Cheerios.
Because Multigrain Cheerios have more added ingredients than regular Cheerios, is it a healthy breakfast food? How does it compare to Old Fashioned Oatmeal?
The best way to know for sure is to do a side-by-side comparison. In this article, I will compare General Mills Multigrain Cheerios against Quaker Oats Old Fashioned Rolled Oats. By the end of the article, you will be able to make an informed decision as to which one is right for you and your health concerns.
Multigrain Cheerios vs Oatmeal Nutritional Comparison
Comparing the nutritional information of both Multigrain Cheerios and Oatmeal is the best way to determine which one is the best choice for you. I will be comparing everything from calories, vitamins, and minerals, to taste and price.
The recommended serving sizes of Multigrain Cheerios and Oatmeal are slightly different. Because of this, I will also do a weight-by-weight comparison of each food. Each table below will reflect both serving sizes.
Best for Calorie Content
Our first comparison will begin with the first number listed on the nutrition label after the serving size – calories. Calories are important to count if you are trying to lose weight or maintain a weight loss goal.
Despite a slightly smaller serving size, Multigrain Cheerios contains the same amount of calories as Oatmeal, making it higher in calories.
Food Type |
Calories Per Serving |
Calories Per 100g |
|
Multigrain Cheerios |
150g (39g) |
382 kcal |
|
Old Fashioned Rolled Oats |
150 (40g) |
382 kcal |
Best for Carbs & Sugar Content
Carbs and Sugar are the next category. It is important to examine both carbs and sugar because they are added to so many foods and can easily derail a healthy diet.
The added ingredients in Multigrain Cheerios make it susceptible to higher amounts of both carbs and sugar. As you can see from the table below, despite the smaller serving size, Multigrain Cheerios is higher in carbohydrates.
Food Type |
Carbs Per Serving |
Carbs Per 100g |
|
Multigrain Cheerios |
32 (39g) |
81 g |
|
Old Fashioned Rolled Oats |
27 (40g) |
68.7 g |
Oatmeal is naturally sugar-free. Multigrain Cheerios have added ingredients that make it significantly higher in sugar content than Oatmeal.
Food Type |
Sugar Per Serving |
Sugar Per 100g |
|
Multigrain Cheerios |
8g (39g) |
20.5 g |
|
Old Fashioned Rolled Oats |
0g (40g) |
0g |
Best for Protein Content
Protein is crucial to having a healthy body. It is essential for building and repairing bones and muscles and also for hormones and enzymes.
Both Multigrain Cheerios and Oatmeal are very similar in their protein content but a closer look per serving shows that Oatmeal has a higher protein content.
Food Type |
Protein Per Serving |
Protein Per 100g |
|
Multigrain Cheerios |
3g (39g) |
8.23g |
|
Old Fashioned Rolled Oats |
5g (40g) |
13.5g |
Best for Fat Content
When it comes to fat, not all fats are created equal. There are actually four different types of fat: saturated, trans, polyunsaturated, and monounsaturated.
Saturated and trans fat are unhealthy fats that can increase unhealthy cholesterol levels, putting the heart at risk for various diseases, stroke, or even a heart attack.
Polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are healthy fats that lower cholesterol levels and are beneficial for the heart as well as for brain and cell growth and function.
Both Multigrain Cheerios and Old Fashioned Rolled Oats are low in fat content. Per serving, Oatmeal is higher in fat content but it is important to note that Oatmeal is higher in good fats, polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats.
Food Type |
Fat Per Serving |
Fat Per 100g |
|
Multigrain Cheerios |
1.5g (39g) |
4.16g |
|
Old Fashioned Rolled Oats |
2.5g (40g) |
5.89g |
Food Type |
Polyunsaturated Fat Per Serving |
Monounsaturated Fat Per Serving |
|
Multigrain Cheerios |
0.5g (39g) |
0.5g (39g) |
|
Old Fashioned Rolled Oats |
1g (40g) |
1g (40g) |
Best for Fiber Content
Fiber content is one of the most crucial categories to consider. Fiber is essential to not only keeping our colon healthy but it is also beneficial to our heart and maintaining a healthy weight.
In this category, both Multigrain Cheerios and Old Fashioned Rolled Oats are very similar in fiber content per serving but Oatmeal does have a higher fiber content per 100g.
Food Type |
Dietary Fiber Per Serving |
Dietary Fiber Per 100g |
|
Multigrain Cheerios |
3g (39g) |
8.1g |
|
Old Fashioned Rolled Oats |
4g (40g) |
10.4g |
Best for Sodium/Salt Content
Monitoring daily intake of sodium/salt is a very important part of a heart-healthy diet. Too much sodium can raise blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart attack or stroke.
Oatmeal is a naturally low-sodium food. Multigrain Cheerios, however, is a fortified cereal that has sodium added to its list of ingredients, making it significantly higher in sodium than Oatmeal.
Food Type |
Sodium/Salt Per Serving |
Sodium/Salt Per 100g |
|
Multigrain Cheerios |
150 mg |
382 mg |
|
Old Fashioned Rolled Oats |
0mg |
1 mg |
Best for Vitamins/Minerals
Vitamins and minerals are beneficial for every part of our body. Reaching the daily recommended dosage can be difficult but by reading nutrition labels we can get an idea of how well we are doing.
Multigrain Cheerios is a fortified cereal, meaning vitamins and minerals have been added. Oatmeal is not fortified so it is significantly lower in this category than Multigrain Cheerios.
Vitamin/Mineral Type |
Multigrain Cheerios Daily Value % Per Serving (39g) |
Oatmeal Daily Value % Per Serving (40g) |
|
Calcium |
15% |
0% |
|
Iron |
100% |
8% |
|
Potassium |
8% |
4% |
|
Zinc |
100% |
0% |
|
Vitamin C |
10% |
0% |
|
Thiamin |
100% |
0% |
|
Riboflavin |
100% |
0% |
|
Pantothenic Acid |
100% |
0% |
|
Vitamin B6 |
100% |
0% |
|
Folic Acid |
100% |
0% |
|
Vitamin B12 |
100% |
0% |
|
Vitamin A |
10% |
0% |
|
Vitamin D |
0% |
0% |
Best for Flavor/Texture
On their own, both Multigrain Cheerios and Oatmeal are rough in texture. While both have the natural sweetness of oats, Multigrain Cheerios has added sugar making it even sweeter.
So if you are looking for something that is sweet, Multigrain Cheerios is your choice. Determining the winner in this category, though, is best left for you to be the judge.
Best for Price
Both Multigrain Cheerios and Oatmeal are comparable when it comes to price. Both foods can be found at any grocer with a few dollars difference in price. As with any food item, the price will vary depending on in-store sales or promotions.
Overall Winner
After comparing all of the nutritional information for Multigrain Cheerios and Old Fashioned Rolled Oats, it’s not too hard to see who the winner is. Oatmeal.
Oatmeal is not fortified with any extra ingredients and it is naturally low in fat, sodium, and sugar while being high in fiber.
Multigrain Cheerios is still a good option if you are looking for something that is low in calories but is also high in fiber and vitamins and minerals.
At the end of the day, determining the winner in this comparison will depend on what you are looking for in breakfast food and which one you feel tastes better.
Comparison Category |
Winner (Multigrain Cheerios vs Oatmeal) |
|
Best for Calorie Content |
Both are winners |
|
Best for Carbs and Sugar Content |
Oatmeal |
|
Best for Protein Content |
Oatmeal |
|
Best for Fat Content |
Multigrain Cheerios |
|
Best for Fiber Content |
Oatmeal |
|
Best for Sodium/Salt Content |
Oatmeal |
|
Best for Vitamins/Minerals |
Multigrain Cheerios |
|
Best for Flavor/Texture |
Both are winners |
|
Best for Price |
Both are winners |
|
Overall Winner |
Oatmeal |