The 8 Best Healthy Breakfast Foods in 2022: Eat This, Not That! Food Awards
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Breakfast is truly the most important meal of the day. While it's easy to grab a package of your favorite sugary cereal, why not allow yourself to start being picky about the food choices you make in the morning? Thankfully, food brands have been busy introducing more healthy groceries to supermarkets, meaning it's easier than ever to think outside of the box.
Out of all the newcomers that launched nationwide between January 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021, eight breakfast products stood out from the rest with their impressive nutrition and great taste. Eat This, Not That! Medical Expert Board member and registered dietitian Sydney Greene, MS, RD, helped rate the products and choose the winners, then we prepared and taste-tested each one. Read on for our honest reviews—and to see where you can buy the winners!
The Best Healthy Breakfast Foods in 2022:
- Best healthy breakfast bar: 88 Acres Banana Bread Protein Bars
- Best healthy breakfast beverage: Sow Good Freeze-Dried Fruit Smoothies, Berry Apeeling
- Best healthy breakfast main: Handsome Brook Farms Eggs
- Best healthy cereal: Three Wishes Frosted Cereal
- Best healthy dairy product: Nounós Creamery Plain Yogurt
- Best healthy granola: Sow Good Granola, Cin-fully Delicious
- Best healthy oatmeal: One Degree Sprouted Quinoa Hemp Instant Oatmeal
- Best healthy pancakes & waffles: Purely Elizabeth's Pancake & Waffle Mix, Ancient Grain
How They Ranked By Taste:
Watch our taste test video and check out how we ranked them below.
Best healthy breakfast bar: 88 Acres Banana Bread Protein Bars
88 Acres is a company that strives to only use simple, whole ingredients in all of its products—and their protein bars are no exception. This Banana Bread protein bar is made with whole ingredients like banana, cinnamon, maple syrup, and pumpkin seeds—and each bar comes packed with 12 grams of protein.
The expert's take: "When choosing a protein bar, you want to make sure there are more grams of protein than sugar. I love that this bar uses protein from whole, organic pumpkin seeds instead of extracted protein isolates," says Greene.
Our tasting notes: "This protein bar was incredibly filling and really did taste like banana bread. The overall texture was on the softer side, but the pumpkin seeds added a nice crunch throughout. I can see this bar going nicely with a morning cup of coffee," says Eat This, Not That! Staff Writer Samantha Boesch.
Best healthy breakfast main: Handsome Brook Farms Eggs
Yes, Handsome Farm eggs are yummy, but it's their values and production methods that set them apart from the rest. The company is sustainable and committed to free-roaming, regenerative farming, and full transparency about its process.
The expert's take: "Organic pasture-raised eggs are the most underrated superfood. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, B vitamins, and choline, these eggs will not only help to uplift mood but they will keep you feeling full and satisfied longer," says Greene.
Our tasting notes: "These eggs were full of flavor and perfect on top of some toast with a few slices of avocado and seasoning," says Boesch.
Best healthy breakfast beverage: Sow Good Freeze-Dried Fruit Smoothies, Berry Apeeling
Sow Good's mission is to make a big impact with small snacks by providing healthy foods that also help the planet. Their freeze-dried smoothies are unique, healthy, and extremely easy to use. They make a great addition to your morning meal.
The expert's take: "Though not rich in protein or fat, this beverage is our top pick because of its super clean ingredient list. We love that this has only five ingredients that are all whole, recognizable foods. If you are looking to make this a meal, we recommend adding in nut butter, Greek yogurt, or protein powder," says Greene.
Our tasting notes: "I was hesitant at first because I had never tried a freeze-dried smoothie, but I really enjoyed the Sow Good experience. I added some of my favorite peanut butter and nut milk to the mix, which made for the perfect texture and flavor," says Boesch.
Best healthy oatmeal: One Degree Sprouted Quinoa Hemp Instant Oatmeal
Instant oatmeals are commonly full of added sugars and other weird ingredients, but One Degree is a healthy, reliable choice for your morning breakfast.
The expert's take: "Ingredients matter when it comes to instant anything. One Degree keeps it simple with five ingredients and only six grams of sugar. In addition to keeping the ingredient list small, opting for oats that are glyphosate-free means you can enjoy your oatmeal without any unwanted pesticides. One Degree Organics is one of the few grain companies to use the glyphosate free label," says Greene.
Our tasting notes: "This instant oatmeal was so easy to make and paired really well with some fruit, honey, and peanut butter. I was curious about whether or not the sprouted quinoa hemp would taste different than regular oatmeal, but the difference was so subtle," says Boesch.
Best healthy granola: Sow Good Granola, Cin-fully Delicious
This granola is made with whole ingredients and gets its sweetness from natural ingredients like apples, coconut, honey, and maple syrup. This is an excellent choice for granola, especially compared to many of the sugary, high-calorie options on the market today.
The expert's take: "First, I love that this granola has a large serving size compared to others, making it an awesome snack or breakfast on the go option. Six grams of fiber, ten grams of protein, and only six grams of added sugar is impressive for granola and will definitely keep blood sugar regular and keep you satisfied. The whole food ingredients are an added bonus, and I love that this is naturally gluten and dairy-free," says Greene.
Our tasting notes: "This granola was perfectly sweet without being too sweet, and the texture paired nicely with my bowl of Greek yogurt. It's nice having a delicious granola that doesn't need any added sweetener!" says Boesch.
Best healthy dairy product: Nounós Creamery Plain Yogurt
Nounós yogurt products are Greek-style, full of flavor, high in protein, and low in fat and sugar! In other words, you may not be able to find a better healthy yogurt anywhere.
The expert's take: "Yogurts can be filled with unnecessary ingredients and fillers—not this one! The 16 grams of protein will keep you full until your next meal, and with zero added sugar, this is sure to keep you balanced and focused," says Greene.
Our tasting notes: "This is one of my favorite yogurts of all time—not only because of its flavors and texture but also because I can rest assured that I'm getting enough protein with very little added sugar. This plain yogurt is great with some berries, a little bit of honey, and tasty granola," says Boesch.
Best healthy pancakes & waffles: Purely Elizabeth's Pancake & Waffle Mix, Ancient Grain
These are some of the healthiest, heartiest, and most filling pancakes you can find. Purely Elizabeth crafted the perfect pancake/waffle mix full of protein and fiber with little added sugar, which is a stark contrast to many of the other mixes out there.
The expert's take: "It's difficult to find a pancake mix that doesn't include added sugars. One serving only contains two grams of sugar and zero grams of added sugar. Starting your morning off with five grams of fiber is a nice bonus as well," says Greene.
Our tasting notes: "These pancakes were far more filling than I thought they'd be, and I loved the subtle flavor from the blueberries. The texture was light and fluffy, and they were great with some classic maple syrup," says Boesch.
Best healthy cereal: Three Wishes Frosted Cereal
You shouldn't have to sacrifice the delicious nostalgia of your favorite cereal in order to meet your health goals. Thankfully, you don't have to with Three Wishes! Compared to other cereals you can buy on grocery store shelves, its products are high in protein and fiber and extremely low in added sugar.
The expert's take: "Finding a healthy cereal can be difficult. In general, I like to recommend cereal as a topper for yogurt or smoothies instead of the main meal. Three Wishes keeps ingredients simple, and I love that sugar is the fourth ingredient. (Try to look for products that do not have sugar within the first three ingredients.) Though this cereal is higher in protein than others, it should be paired with protein powder, dairy milk, or yogurt to boost the protein and keep you full," says Greene.
Our tasting notes: "This cereal is one of the more filling cereals I've ever had, and it reminded me of the Cheerios I used to love eating as a kid. I thought they were delicious with some oat milk, but I'm sure they would go well with any type of your favorite milk," says Boesch.
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