13 Healthiest Granola Brands, According to Dietitians

Granola has a health halo that has stuck around for decades, but not all options are created equal. Although granola is made from wholesome ingredients like oats, seeds, grains, fruit, and natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup, the problem with mass-market granola is that popular brands often load up on processed ingredients and have higher amounts of added sugar, saturated fat, sodium, and calories. These unhealthy granolas can trick us into thinking we are eating a nutritious snack when we are actually derailing some of our health goals for the day. But it is possible to find a healthy granola—you just need to use our guide.

If you love the crunchy breakfast staple, use our list of healthy granolas to guide your choices. To find out which brands are healthier than others, we reviewed the package labels on popular granola brands. These options focus on more of the healthiest ingredients like whole grains, nuts, dried fruit, and seeds, and less of the unhealthy ones like added sugars and unnecessary oils. Read on, then check out The 50 Healthiest Weight Loss Snacks on Grocery Shelves.

Is Granola Good for You?

Granola can be a nutritious, whole grain addition to your diet, but whether it's "good for you" depends on the specific brand and ingredients.

Most granola starts with an oat base, which helps increase your intake of whole grains. Studies show that consuming two to three servings of whole grains per day can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, colorectal cancer, and obesity. When combined with other whole food ingredients like nuts and seeds, granola also provides a boost of protein and fiber, both of which help promote satiety and support digestive health.

However, it's essential to watch out for added sugars and fats, as these can vary significantly between products. Unfortunately, many granolas are packed with added sugars. The American Heart Association recommends limiting added sugars to about 10% of your total daily calories—no more than 6 teaspoons per day for women and 9 teaspoons for men.

Granola can also be higher in calories than expected, especially when it contains added sugars and oils. Coconut oil, in particular, can increase saturated fat content, which is something to be mindful of if you're watching your intake of heart-healthy fats.

In short, granola can be a healthy option when chosen carefully. Look for low-sugar, moderate-fat varieties, and always be mindful of serving sizes to avoid overconsumption.

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How We Chose the Healthiest Granola Brands

Just because a granola's package touts that it's organic or uses whole grains doesn't necessarily mean it's healthy. Check the nutrition facts panel and ingredients list to get an accurate picture of what's in your food.

Here's what to focus on to find the best granolas for your health.

• Added sugar: Although granola can be a tasty treat, it often contains excessive amounts of added sugar. A good rule of thumb is to look for granolas with no more than 8 grams (2 teaspoons) of added sugar per serving. Added sugars can masquerade under more than 30 different names, including dextrose, maltose, syrups, nectars, honey, and molasses.

• Whole grains: The first ingredient on the label of any granola you buy should be a whole grain. Normally, it will be rolled oats, but any type of whole grain is acceptable, including kamut, spelt, quinoa, millet, and buckwheat. This will help ensure that the cereal provides more fiber and protein.

• Fiber: Look for granola with at least 2 grams of fiber, but this is one nutrient where more is better. Fiber will help you feel fuller longer and help control cravings for carbs and junk food.

The Healthiest Granolas To Buy

• Best Granola for Weight Loss: Go Raw Sprouted Organic Raisin Crunch Granola
• Best High-Protein Granola: KIND Banana Peanut Butter with Dark Chocolate Chunks
• Best Low-Sugar Granola: Struesli Organic Granola, Original
• Best Low-Calorie Granola: Bob's Red Mill Homestyle Peanut Butter Granola
• Best Organic Granola: Purely Elizabeth Pumpkin Cinnamon Ancient Grain Granola
• Best High-Fiber Granola: Bear Naked Vanilla Almond Crisp Granola
• Best Dessert-Like Granola: Nature's Path Dark Chocolate and Red Berries Love Crunch Granola
• Best Sprouted Granola: One Degree Organics Coconut Hibiscus Tea Infused Granola
• Best Whole Grain Granola: Lil' Bucks Clusterbucks
• Best Fruity Granola: KIND Healthy Grains Raspberry Granola With Chia Seeds
• Best Gluten-Free Granola: Udi's Gluten Free Au Naturel Granola
• Best No-Oil-Added: Familia Swiss Muesli
• Best Low-Carb Granola: KIND ZeroG Added Sugar Apple Cinnamon Nut Granola

Go Raw Sprouted Organic Raisin Crunch Granola

This Sprouted Organic Granola from Go Raw has only 7 ingredients and uses sprouted buckwheat groats as its primary ingredient. Dates, raisins, and vanilla extract provide natural sweetness, so it has no added sugar. Another bonus: it's sodium-free!

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KIND Banana Peanut Butter with Dark Chocolate Chunks

It's rare to find a granola high in both fiber and protein, but KIND made it happen with their Banana Peanut Butter Clusters.

"This granola is made with 5 super grains (like oats, millet, and buckwheat), real dried banana, and it boasts 10 grams of protein per serving [thanks to the addition of soy protein isolate]," says Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN. While this option has 10 total grams of sugar, only 8 of them are added—the other 2 come from dried banana. Plus, "This non-GMO option is gluten-free and an excellent source of fiber (6 grams per serving, or 21% of your Daily Value)," Manaker adds.

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Struesli Organic Granola, Original

It can be tough to find a tasty granola that's low in sugar, but Struesli achieves this with its organic granola. "Struesli Grain-Free Granola is made with a handful of superfoods like walnuts, hemp hearts, and chia seeds, is free from any added sweeteners, and is certified Organic," says Manaker. Overall, it's a "great option for people avoiding grains in their diets."

Bob's Red Mill Homestyle Peanut Butter Granola

Bob's Red Mill Homestyle Granola is a more traditional, back-to-basics recipe with wholesome ingredients like whole grain oats, peanuts, maple syrup, and peanut butter. Nutritionally, the brand does a good job of limiting added sugar to 5 grams (< 2 teaspoons) in this particular flavor. It also has 4 grams of protein, which can help keep you satisfied. With a delicious and decadent peanut butter flavor, this granola is great on its own, with milk, or layered with your favorite yogurt.

Purely Elizabeth Pumpkin Cinnamon Ancient Grain Granola

This granola is made with whole-grain oats, amaranth, and quinoa flakes, and is sweetened with coconut sugar. It does include coconut oil, which makes it higher in fat and saturated fat than most other granolas. We like that it includes sunflower, chia, and pumpkin seeds for added fiber, protein, and other essential nutrients.

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Bear Naked Vanilla Almond Crisp Granola

Bear Naked offers a wide variety of better-for-you granolas, and this lower-sugar Bear Naked Vanilla Almond Crisp Granola is one of their fan favorites. We like that it has just 110 calories per ¼-cup and less than a teaspoon of added sugar. It does include syrups for sweeteners, but they keep the amount in check. Adding almonds gives this granola a boost of healthy fats and protein.

Nature's Path Dark Chocolate and Red Berries Love Crunch Granola

For a more decadent-tasting granola, the combo of dark chocolate and tart raspberries is a real treat that won't blow your calorie or sugar budget. Its nutrition facts are solid: Saturated fat is limited to just 1 gram, and it has 6 grams (1.5 teaspoons) of added sugar per serving.

One Degree Organics Coconut Hibiscus Tea Infused Granola

If you want a healthy granola that is low in sugar, uses trustworthy ingredients, and has a unique flavor, Manaker recommends the Coconut Hibiscus Tea Infused Granola from One Degree.

"One Degree Organics Coconut Hibiscus Granola only contains 5 grams of added sugar, and it is made with organic oats, organic olive oil, and organic hibiscus," she says. "This granola is infused with real tea to give it a unique flavor without having to add any questionable ingredients into the mix."

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Lil' Bucks Clusterbucks

"Clusterbucks Granola Clusters are made from buckwheat, a grain that is a complete source of plant-based protein," says Manaker. "Organic, gluten-free, vegan-friendly….this granola checks all of the boxes."

Not only is this granola relatively low in sugar, made from whole ingredients, and adaptable for multiple dietary needs, but Manaker adds that "one serving of this granola provides 100% of your daily value of vitamin D."

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KIND Healthy Grains Raspberry Granola With Chia Seeds

This KIND Raspberry Granola has a lower calorie count, thanks to its limited added sugars and fat. It's made with five different whole grains, including oats, millet, buckwheat, amaranth, and quinoa. This cereal also contains cranberries, raspberries, and chia seeds, adding additional fiber, antioxidants, omega-3s, and other beneficial bioactive compounds.

Udi's Gluten Free Au Naturel Granola

Udi's Gluten-Free Granola uses only certified gluten-free whole-grain oats and is sweetened with only honey. It made our best healthy granola list because it has just four ingredients: oats, honey, canola oil, and water. The result is a granola that is low in sugar and has no saturated fat or sodium.

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Familia Swiss Muesli

Muesli is generally a healthier Swiss cousin to the American-created granola. They share many of the same ingredients, but muesli is not baked, so it tends to have fewer calories, sugar, and fat than granola. The first and second ingredients in this Swiss Muesli from Familia are whole-grain rolled oats and whole-grain wheat flakes. It is sweetened with more natural ingredients, including dates and raisins, rather than using processed nutrient-poor sweeteners.

KIND ZeroG Added Sugar Apple Cinnamon Nut Granola

This low-carb, higher-fat, oat-free granola has no added sugars thanks to the addition of the zero-calorie sweetener allulose. The 3 grams of sugar in KIND's Apple Cinnamon Nut Granola come naturally from the date powder and dried apples. You'll get a good dose of healthy fats from almonds, sunflower seeds, pecans, and almond butter.

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