Wheaties is known for its campaign slogan of feeding the champion inside you. Its cereal is said to have what you need to be healthy and energetic so you can be at your best athletically.
On the other hand, Cheerios is known for being good for your heart and helping you maintain a healthy weight. It is gluten-free and is supported by the American Heart Association.
Both kinds of cereal seem like healthy choices, but how do you know which one is right for you and your family’s nutritional needs and health goals?
In this article, I will be comparing the nutritional facts and ingredients of both kinds of cereal. We will compare everything from fat content to taste.
Wheaties vs Cheerios Nutritional Comparison:
While Cheerios has a variety of cereals available, for the purpose of this discussion, we will only be comparing the ingredients in the Original Cheerios cereal.
The comparisons are based on the serving size in grams as well as per 100g to provide a more accurate weight-for-weight comparison
The first noticeable difference between Wheaties and Cheerios is the main ingredient. Wheaties is made from wheat, while Cheerios is made from oats.
Best for Calorie Content
The service size for each cereal is marginally different. One serving size of Wheaties is 36g or 1 cup, while Cheerios has a serving size of 1 ½ cups or 39g.
Due to the difference in serving size between the two kinds of cereal, Cheerios has a slightly higher calorie count per serving than Wheaties.
Cereal Type |
Calories Per 100g |
Calories Per Serving |
|
General Mills Wheaties |
353 kcal |
130 kcal (36g) |
|
General Mills Original Cheerios |
359 kcal |
140 kcal (39g) |
Best for Carbs & Sugar Content
While neither cereal is considered – or advertised as – a low-carb cereal, it is still an important factor when deciding which cereal is best for you, especially if you are counting calories.
In this category, the higher sugar content in Wheaties makes Cheerios the better option when monitoring your carbohydrate intake.
Cereal Type |
Carbohydrates Per 100g |
Carbohydrates Per Serving |
|
General Mills Wheaties |
83.3g |
30g (36g) |
|
General Mills Original Cheerios |
74.4g |
29g (39g) |
The sugar content per serving is another area where our two contenders begin to separate themselves. Again, despite the marginal difference in serving size, Wheaties has 10 grams more sugar than Cheerios.
Wheaties is higher in sugar content due to the added ingredients of both sugar and honey while Cheerios only has one additional added sugar.
Cereal Type |
Sugar Per 100g |
Sugar Per Serving |
|
General Mills Wheaties |
15.2 g |
5g, including 5g added sugar (36g) |
|
General Mills Original Cheerios |
5.1g |
2g, including 1g added sugar (39g) |
Best for Protein Content
Once again, our two kinds of cereal are very similar. Neither Wheaties nor Original Cheerios are very high in protein but the amount per 100-gram serving of Cheerios does provide more protein.
Cereal Type |
Protein Per 100g |
Protein Per Serving |
|
General Mills Wheaties |
8.3g |
3g (36g) |
|
General Mills Original Cheerios |
12.8g |
5g (39) |
Best for Fat Content
You would expect a higher fat content in a cereal advertised to help you have more energy, but that is not the case in this comparison.
Per serving, Cheerios has more sugar than Wheaties. Again, the serving size of Cheerios is slightly larger than Wheaties so this may not be a deal breaker if you are not interested in sugar content.
Cereal Type |
Fat Per 100g |
Fat Per Serving |
Saturated Fat Per Serving |
|
General Mills Wheaties |
2.3g |
3g (36g) |
0g (36g) |
|
General Mills Original Cheerios |
6.41g |
5g (39g) |
0.5g (39g) |
Best for Fiber Content
Fiber content may not be something you like to pay attention to but it is just as important as the other categories. Aside from benefiting your colon, starting your day with a cereal that is high in fiber will help you feel fuller throughout the day.
The main ingredient in both Wheaties and Cheerios are high-fiber ingredients. Wheat and oats are the two powerhouses of fiber. Because they are so similar in fiber content, per serving, there is no difference in fiber content between Wheaties and Original Cheerios.
Cheerios does include the nutritional fact that the fiber contained in its cereal has 2g of soluble fiber. This type of fiber keeps you fuller longer and promotes a heart-healthy colon.
Cereal Type |
Fiber Per 100g |
Fiber Per Serving |
|
General Mills Wheaties |
10.1g |
4g (36g) |
|
General Mills Original Cheerios |
10.3g |
4g (39g) |
Best for Sodium/Salt Content
This category is essential to anyone who is on a heart-healthy diet. Both Wheaties and Cheerios have added sodium/salt to their nutritional information. But, once again, this is where the two differ greatly.
There is quite a difference between the amount of salt per serving in Wheaties versus Original Cheerios. Wheaties is much higher in sodium/salt than Cheerios.
Cereal Type |
Sodium/Salt Per 100g |
Sodium/Salt Per Serving |
|
General Mills Wheaties |
732 mg |
240mg (36g) |
|
General Mills Original Cheerios |
487 mg |
190mg (39g) |
Best for Vitamins/Minerals
Both Wheaties and Cheerios are fortified with added vitamins and minerals in their cereals. In this comparison, Wheaties surpasses Original Cheerios.
Wheaties and Cheerios are comparable when it comes to Vitamin D and Iron but if you are looking to increase your B vitamins, Wheaties is the winner for you.
Vitamin/Mineral Type |
Wheaties Daily Value % Per Serving (36g) |
Cheerios Daily Value % Per Serving (39g) |
|
Vitamin D |
10% |
8% |
|
Iron |
70% |
60% |
|
Calcium |
0% |
8% |
|
Vitamin A |
10% |
8% |
|
Vitamin C |
10% |
8% |
|
Thiamin (B1) |
10% |
15% |
|
Riboflavin (B2) |
10% |
0% |
|
Niacin |
10% |
0% |
|
Vitamin B6 |
20% |
15% |
|
Folate |
20% |
15% |
|
Vitamin B12 |
20% |
15% |
|
Phosphorus |
8% |
10% |
|
Magnesium |
8% |
15% |
|
Zinc |
20% |
15% |
|
Potassium |
0% |
4% |
Best for Flavor/Texture
Wheaties and Cheerios have very different flavors and textures. The honey in Wheaties gives it a natural sweetness, but the main ingredient of wheat gives it a very rough texture.
Cheerios, on the other hand, has oat and cornstarch as the main ingredients. These ingredients give the cereal a natural sweetness and also a softer texture.
Best for Price
Both Wheaties and Cheerios are equal competitors when it comes to price. The price will vary depending on which size you buy and if the store is offering any promotional sales. But, overall, both kinds of cereal are priced the same.
Overall Winner
After reviewing nutritional facts for each cereal, it is easy to see why Wheaties and Original Cheerios are both worthy contenders for a healthy start to your day.
However, there can only be one winner. The winner for best cereal between Wheaties and Original Cheerios is….Original Cheerios.
Original Cheerios offer more in the way of nutritional value per serving when compared to Wheaties. Cheerios also have a higher amount of protein and a lower sugar and sodium/salt content.
Wheaties is hands-down the winner when it comes to taste, though. The marginal differences in nutritional values between the two kinds of cereal make Wheaties a good choice if you are looking for a cereal that is healthy and tastes good on its own.
Comparison Category |
Winner (Wheaties or Original Cheerios) |
|
Best for Calorie Content |
Wheaties |
|
Best for Carbohydrate Content |
Cheerios |
|
Best for Sugar Content |
Cheerios |
|
Best for Protein Content |
Cheerios |
|
Best for Fat |
Wheaties |
|
Best for Fiber |
Both kinds of cereal are comparable |
|
Best for Sodium/Salt |
Cheerios |
|
Best for Vitamins/Minerals |
Wheaties |
|
Best for Price |
Both kinds of cereal are comparable |
Overall Winner |
Original Cheerios |