Raisin Bran and Honey Bunches of Oats are two very popular kinds of cereal. But, if you’re like my family and me, it’s hard to choose between the two. They are two very different kinds of cereal.
To get to the bottom of this debate in our house, I am going to do a side-by-side comparison of Raisin Bran and Honey Bunches of Oats. I want to know how these two kinds of cereal compare not only nutritionally but also price-wise.
I will be comparing Post Raisin Bran and Original Honey Bunches of Oats (honey roasted). I will provide information based on the serving size listed on each cereal box but I also want to do a true weight-for-weight comparison of 100 grams for each kind of cereal.
Raisin Bran vs Honey Bunches of Oats Nutritional Comparison
The first thing I want to know about Raisin Bran and Honey Bunches of Oats is how they compare nutritionally to each other. What are the ingredients in each one?
Raisin Bran contains minimal ingredients of wheat, raisins, bran, malted barley flour, and salt.
Honey Bunches of Oats contains corn syrup, caramel coloring, artificial flavors, and a preservative to maintain freshness while Raisin Bran contains minimal ingredients that are all-natural.
Best for Calorie Content
Calorie-wise, both Raisin Bran and Honey Bunches of Oats are low in calories but when the serving size is based on weight, Honey Bunches of Oats contains a much higher amount of calories than Raisin Bran.
Cereal Type |
Calories Per Serving |
Calories Per 100g |
|
Raisin Bran |
190g (59g) |
324 kcal |
|
Honey Bunches of Oats |
160g (41g) |
401 kcal |
Best for Carbs & Sugar Content
It’s no secret that these cereals are not low-carb but I was surprised to see how closely these two kinds of cereals compare when it comes to carbs.
Per serving, Raisin Bran has a much higher carbohydrate count than Honey Bunches of Oats but when these two kinds of cereal are compared by weight, Honey Bunches of Oats contains slightly more carbs than Raisin Bran.
Cereal Type |
Carbs Per Serving |
Carbs Per 100g |
|
Raisin Bran |
47g (59g) |
78.9g |
|
Honey Bunches of Oats |
34g (41g) |
81.2g |
Next to calories, the sugar content is something I look closely at. Many breakfast cereals are high in sugar content. Consuming too much sugar is not only unhealthy but is also a sneaky way to increase the waistline.
Honey Bunches of Oats contain less sugar per serving and per 100 grams than Raisin Bran.
Cereal Type |
Sugar Content Per Serving |
Sugar Content Per 100g |
|
Raisin Bran |
19g (59g) |
32.9g |
|
Honey Bunches of Oats |
9g (41g) |
19.8g |
Best for Protein Content
Raisin Bran and Honey Bunches of Oats are not advertised as high-protein foods but
Raisin Bran has more protein per serving but when compared by weight, both kinds of cereal contain about the same amount of protein.
Cereal Type |
Protein Content Per Serving |
Protein Content Per 100g |
|
Raisin Bran |
5g (59g) |
7.6g |
|
Honey Bunches of Oats |
3g (41) |
7.12g |
Best for Fat Content
Fat content is another area where I was surprised to see how closely these two kinds of cereal compare per serving.
Raisin Bran and Honey Bunches of Oats are both low in fat but when compared by weight, Honey Bunches of Oats contains 5.46 grams of fat versus Raisin Bran’s 1.6 grams.
Cereal Type |
Fat Content Per Serving |
Fat Content Per 100g |
|
Raisin Bran |
1g (59g) |
1.6g |
|
Honey Bunches of Oats |
2g (41g) |
5.46g |
Best for Fiber Content
If you ask my husband what makes cereal a winner for him he would say low calories. But, for me, it’s fiber content. Fiber content makes me feel like I am eating something good for me.
Raisin Bran is the winner of this category. Raisin Bran contains 8g of fiber per serving while Honey Bunches of Oats only contain 2 grams.
Cereal Type |
Fiber Content Per Serving |
Fiber Content Per 100g |
|
Raisin Bran |
8g (59g) |
13.7 g |
|
Honey Bunches of Oats |
2g (41g) |
4.2 g |
Best for Sodium/Salt Content
The sodium/salt content in these cereals may not seem like something worth comparing but when it comes to something we eat every day, I like to make sure that my husband and I are not consuming high amounts of sodium/salt.
Raisin Bran and Honey Bunches of Oat are both relatively low in sodium but Raisin Bran does contain more sodium/salt per serving. When compared by weight, though, Honey Bunches of Oats has more sodium.
Cereal Type |
Sodium/Salt Content Per Serving |
Sodium/Salt Content Per 100g |
|
Raisin Bran |
230 mg (59g) |
382 mg |
|
Honey Bunches of Oats |
190 mg (41g) |
454 mg |
Best for Vitamins/Minerals
Raisin Bran and Honey Bunches of Oat are both fortified with vitamins and minerals, making them a great way to start your day with vitamins and minerals.
Both kinds of cereals contain similar amounts of most of the vitamins and minerals listed but Honey Bunches of Oats contains higher amounts of iron, vitamin A, B vitamins, and folic acid.
Vitamin/Mineral Type |
Raisin Bran Daily Value |
Honey Bunches of Oats Daily Value |
|
Vitamin A |
15% |
50% |
|
Calcium |
2% |
0% |
|
Iron |
60% |
90% |
|
Vitamin D |
10% |
10% |
|
Thiamin |
25% |
40% |
|
Riboflavin |
25% |
30% |
|
Niacin |
25% |
40% |
|
Vitamin B6 |
25% |
40% |
|
Folic Acid |
50% |
100% |
|
Vitamin B12 |
25% |
100% |
|
Phosphorus |
20% |
6% |
|
Magnesium |
25% |
4% |
|
Zinc |
15% |
10% |
|
Copper |
10% |
0% |
Best for Flavor/Texture
Raisin Bran and Honey Bunches of Oats are similar in texture. They are both dry and rough but Honey Bunches of Oats has oat clusters that are even rougher. My husband likes to let his cereal soak in milk for a little bit before he starts eating so that the texture is softer.
Flavor-wise, both kinds of cereal are sweet but I find Honey Bunches of Oats to be much sweeter than Raisin Bran. The raisins in Raisin Bran are enough sweetness for me while Honey Bunches of Oats has additional sweeteners such as corn, corn syrup, honey, molasses, and honey.
Best for Price
Raisin Bran and Honey Bunches of Oats are comparable when it comes to price. Both kinds of cereal are priced around $6 or $7 a box. The price will obviously vary depending on any sales or if you buy in bulk, But, generally speaking, Raisin Bran and Honey Bunches of Oats sell for about the same price.
Overall Winner
In comparing the categories to see how Raisin Bran and Honey Bunches of Oats compare to each other, it was hard to decide which one is the clear-cut winner.
I prefer the fewer ingredients and higher fiber content of Raisin Bran while my husband prefers the lower calories and higher vitamin/mineral content of Honey Bunches of Oats.
The table below shows the winner based on serving size comparison, however, you will have to be the final judge of your family.
Comparison Category |
Winner (Raisin Bran or Honey Bunches of Oats) |
|
Best for Calorie Content |
Honey Bunches of Oats |
|
Best for Carbohydrate Content |
Honey Bunches of Oats |
|
Best for Sugar Content |
Honey Bunches of Oats |
|
Best for Protein Content |
Raisin Bran |
|
Best for Fat Content |
Raisin Bran |
|
Best for Fiber Content |
Raisin Bran |
|
Best for Sodium/Salt Content |
Honey Bunches of Oats |
|
Best for Vitamins/Minerals |
Honey Bunches of Oats |
|
Best for Price |
Both are Winners |
Overall Winner |
You be the judge |
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