8 Best Vegan Cereal Brands to Start Breakfast off Right!

Cereal is really the unsung hero of breakfast.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more delicious, filling breakfast that can go from pantry to mouth in less time. With just the addition of your favorite non-dairy milk, you can have a complete meal before work or school, even if you’ve slept through your alarm. In the afternoon and evenings, cereal pulls double-duty and makes a great snack or dessert.

As a die-hard cereal lover, one of my first questions, when I went vegan, was “can I still eat cereal?”.

A decade later, I’d say that I’ve tried way more cereals as a vegan than I did when I still ate animal products – and much of that can be attributed to the fact that so many healthy food companies are coming out with vegan-friendly cereals for those with dietary restrictions.

Whether you need a healthy, whole-grain start to your day, or you want to dive back into childhood with something sugary and fluorescent, there are plenty of options that will satisfy your stomach and stay in line with your morals.

We’ve included our list of top vegan-friendly breakfast cereals below, but if you find yourself wanting to branch out, a quick look at the nutrition panel can help you decide if the box goes in the cart or back on the shelf.

Things to Watch For

Honey

This is an obvious one in cases of cereals like honey-nut cheerios, but don’t trust a box just because it doesn’t have honey in the name.

While sugar in some form tends to be the sweetener of choice for most breakfast cereals, honey can make its way into the ingredient list – especially if the cereal is from a more health-conscious brand.

Gelatin

Boiled down feet? In my cereal? No thank you! Gelatin is a tricky ingredient, and you’ll usually find it lurking in cereals that have a frosting, like Frosted Mini-Wheats, or that include marshmallows, like Lucky Charms (sorry, fans).

Since gelatin is made from boiled down feet and connective tissue from [usually] cows and pigs, this means cereals that contain this ingredient are neither vegan nor vegetarian.  Look carefully to ensure you’re not accidentally adding this cereal to your cart.

Vitamin D3

Breakfast cereals are a commonly fortified food, meaning that certain vitamins and minerals that don’t occur in the food naturally are added in during processing. In many cases, this is with nutrients like iron, but another commonly fortified ingredient is Vitamin D.

Vitamin D fortification can be tricky to navigate, as this vitamin can come in two forms. Vitamin D2 is derived entirely from plant sources, while Vitamin D3 can come from either vegan-friendly lichen or lanolin (sheep’s wool). Frustratingly, the source of the Vitamin D3 isn’t usually listed on the cereal box.

If you see that a prospective cereal lists vitamin D3 as an ingredient, you can usually take one of two courses of action.

First, look all over the box (usually on the front, or near the list of ingredients) for the word “vegan”. This has been a really helpful practice many food manufacturers have started doing that removes the time-consuming process of having to scan the entire ingredient list. If you see the word “vegan” on your cereal, the Vitamin D3 is plant-based.

The other less immediate solution is to reach out to the company and ask about the source of their Vitamin D3. It won’t be instantaneous, but you’ll know for another trip.

Vegan Cereals Worth Getting Out of Bed For

A small joy at the beginning of my vegan journey was finding that many of my favorite breakfast cereals were “accidentally vegan” – not made with vegans in mind, but just happened to not have any animal-derived ingredients.

Many of these are sugary favorites that remind me of being a little kid.

However, as an adult, I can’t justify diving into a sugary cereal bowl every morning, so many staples included here are organic, whole-grain, and generally good for you!

In addition to the classic serving suggestion of topping with your favorite non-dairy milk, try these in homemade cereal bars and other treats!

Start your day the best way – with health, compassion, and whole foods! – by choosing one of our 8 favorite cereals that are vegan.

Cascadian Farms Organic Purely O's

If you love the simplicity of Cheerios, try reaching for Cascadian Farms Organic Purely O’s next time you need something to fill your bowl.

These healthy O’s are made from whole grain oats and barley and contain no sweeteners, which means you can sweeten them up however you wish.

The cereal is organic and non-GMO and is made using Fair Trade Certified ingredients. It’s kind of like the Cheerios you grew up with, except all grown up – and in line with your morals and values.

Each 1 ¼ cup serving of Purely O’s contains 120 calories, 1.5g fat, 25g of carbohydrates, and 3g of protein. A box contains about seven servings.

What We Like

It can be hard to find a breakfast cereal that kids love that doesn’t come with a shocking amount of sugar. Because Purely O’s don’t have any sweetener at all, you can add sweetness with whatever your family likes best – that could be banana coins, some large-crystal raw sugar, or a drizzle of maple syrup.

What We Didn’t Like

This vegan cereal isn’t a replica of Cheerios – reviewers describe them as a little more porous, lightweight, and with a slightly different dominant flavor than their non-organic cousin. However, when enjoyed as a different, individual cereal, the taste is well-received by kids and adults alike.

Check Price on Amazon

Grape-Nuts the Original Cereal

As the “original” healthy cereal, it’s no surprise Grape Nuts makes our list! This cereal is made with just four ingredients: whole grain wheat flour, malted barley flour, dried yeast, and salt, and is fortified with a number of healthy vitamins and minerals.

A single serving of Grape Nuts provides 100% of your whole grain for the day, and boasts a hefty serving of protein, especially if eaten with some soy milk.

These little nuggets make for a satisfying cereal with their toothsome crunch and are great with non-dairy milk, or as a topping.

Each ½-cup serving of Grape Nuts contains 210 calories, 1g fat, 47g carbohydrates, and 6g protein. Each 64-ounce box in the Amazon listing contains a little over 31 servings.

What We Like

If you hate soggy cereal like I do, you’ll be happy to know that Grape Nuts maintain their crunch in liquid – you won’t have to deal with gross mush halfway through your breakfast! It makes a great mixer with other cereals too, to provide crunch and a protein boost.

What We Didn’t Like

If you’re coming straight from sugary breakfast cereals, Grape Nuts may be pretty bland. These are formulated without any sweetener, so if you need a sweeter taste to help you adjust, try mixing in fruit, raw sugar, or using your favorite protein shake instead of plain non-dairy milk.

Check Price on Amazon

Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Whole Grain Cereal

As a lover of things done ‘the old way’, Ezekiel’s sprouted cereals are one of my go-to products when I’m looking for a breakfast cereal that is a good balance of healthy and tasty.

Ezekiel 4:8 follows the scripture of the same name, using sprouted whole grains and legumes to unlock the true potential of the nutrients inside. The cereals are organic and are complete proteins on their own, which is great news for vegans.

Vegan-friendly varieties of this cereal include almond, cinnamon raisin, flax & chia, flax, original flake, raisin flake, and sprouted whole grain.

A 1/2 cup serving of the almond flavor contains 200 calories, 3g fat, 38g carbohydrates, and 8g of protein. A 16-ounce box contains eight servings altogether.

What We Like

Ezekiel’s cereals rely on sprouted whole grains rather than processed flours for the base of their cereal. This creates a crunchy, satisfying, and filling cereal that will keep you full until lunchtime. Plus, the fact that it’s a complete protein makes it a wise choice for people eating plant-based diets.

What We Didn’t Like

If you aren’t used to sprouted grains, the taste can be an adjustment. Sprouted grains can have a somewhat sour taste to them, so try a portion of this cereal before you commit to a full box, or mix it half-and-half with another cereal you enjoy.

Check Price on Amazon

Barbara's Cereals Peanut Butter Puffins

Barbara’s Cereals makes a variety of vegan-friendly options, but the peanut butter Puffins are where it’s at! This cereal features a combination of lightly sweetened corn and peanut butter, packing in great flavor without much fat or excess sugar.

Peanut Butter Puffins are made without GMOs or trans fats, and feature a pretty no-nonsense ingredient list for a sweetened cereal. Puffins are a great choice for families who are transitioning from traditional sweetened breakfast cereals, or for peanut butter lovers in general.

Puffins are also wheat free, so they’re ideal for people with sensitivities (though they do contain oats, so heads up if you can’t do gluten).

A ¾ cup serving contains 110 calories, 2g fat, 23g carbohydrates, and 3g protein. Each 11-ounce box contains roughly 10 servings.

What We Like

In addition to their lightly sweet, peanut-packed flavor, reviewers love that a portion of each box sale goes toward Project Puffin, an effort that aids in restoring puffin nesting grounds. It’s an easy way to give back to Mother Earth!

What We Didn’t Like

Some purchasers felt that this vegan breakfast cereal had a stronger corn taste than peanut butter, but do consider if you’re coming from a stronger-tasting cereal like Cap’n Crunch that there will be an adjustment period.

Check Price on Amazon

Envirokidz Organic Cereals

Every single one of Envirokidz’s vegan breakfast cereals are 100% organic, 100% vegan and 100% delicious – so much so, in fact, that I can’t even recommend a single one in particular.

Their products are not fortified, as the company believes in the power of organic, whole-grain whole foods, and they use Fair Trade certified ingredients whenever possible. Envirokidz cereals are also packaged without the use of preservatives, which means you can feel good about feeding these cereals to your kids.

Envirokidz cereal comes in some amazing flavors – Choco Chimps, Peanut Butter Panda Puffs, Gorilla Munch Corn Puffs, Chocolate Koala Crisp, Frosted Amazon Flakes, Cinnamon Jungle Munch, and Chocolate Peanut Butter Leapin’ Lemurs.

What We Like

In addition to the great flavors and organic/fair trade/non-GMO processing practices, ordering this cereal from Amazon makes it easy to stay stocked up. Instead of buying individual boxes from Trader Joe’s or the health food store, being able to buy in bulk has saved reviewers plenty of time and money.

What We Didn’t Like

As you might be able to tell by the name, these cereals are mainly marketed toward children. Because of this, many adult reviewers found these cereals to be on the sweet side. I find them delicious, but if you’re accustomed to lightly sweetened cereals, these might be a little cloying.

Check Price on Amazon

Reeses Puffs Breakfast Cereal

I know what you’re thinking – I thought being vegan was all about whole-grain-this and kale-infused that? But the truth is, a lifestyle is all about balance, and sometimes you want a tasty treat that brings you back to childhood. In those moments, Reeses’ Puffs are my go-to – they’re a vegan treat that brings a little comfort to my breakfast or snack routine.

Reeses’ Puffs are one of those “accidentally vegan” products that aren’t necessarily healthy, but do meet the criteria for a vegan-friendly food. Topped with some ice-cold almond milk, a bowl of Reeses’ Puffs is one of my favorite comfort foods.

A 3/4 cup serving contains 120 calories, 3g fat, 22g carbohydrates, and 2g protein.

What We Like

The flavor, hands-down! Reeses’ Puffs are a genuinely glorious blend of peanut butter and chocolate, and they are totally balanced – one doesn’t overpower the other. These also stay somewhat crunchy in almond or soy milk.

What We Didn’t Like

Some reviewers noted some issues with the shipper, such as receiving stale boxes of cereal or boxes already past expiration. Your mileage may vary.

Check Price on Amazon

Kashi Organic Promise Cereal

Shredded wheat cereals are one of my favorite options for cooler mornings, or on days when I need some extra stick-to-your-ribs fuel without a hot breakfast.

Kashi’s Autumn Wheat is made from baked organic whole wheat that’s been bundled into crisp biscuits for a satisfying, filling breakfast.

It can stand up to sitting in milk, and is fantastic when eaten on a crisp morning with some warm spiced almond milk. I find this cereal a perfect balance between cold cereal and oatmeal – it’s somewhere in between, just like autumn!

A serving of 29 “biscuits” (about 54g) contains 180 calories, 1g fat, 43g carbohydrates, and 6g protein.

What We Like

This cereal provides 50g of whole grains for the day – the suggested daily amount is about 48g, so by kicking your day off with these shredded wheats, you’re starting your day ahead of the game on your whole grain consumption.

What We Didn’t Like

Some reviewers said that this cereal is a little too sweet for their taste – this may be a good replacement for frosted wheat cereal, but if you prefer a strictly wheat biscuit, you may find this cereal a little too sweet.

Check Price on Amazon

Nature's Path Organic Flax Plus Multibran

Nature’s Path makes a variety of vegan-friendly cereals, but their Organic Flax Plus Multibran is a good choice for people looking for a healthy, high-fiber cereal that still tastes good.

This cereal is formulated without synthetic herbicides, pesticides, preservatives, or additives, and is certified USDA organic. Nature’s Path also pays special attention to the soil used for growing the ingredients that go into this cereal, helping stop soil erosion and keeping the dirt healthy and happy.

Everything 3/4 cup serving contains 110 calories, 1.5g fat, 23g carbohydrates, and 4g protein. This cereal also boasts 5g dietary fiber per serving.

What We Like

Usually, “high-fiber” is synonymous with “tastes like cardboard” so it’s important to note that the many flavors of this cereal are delicious. It’ll be something you eat because you want to – not just because it’s good for you.

What We Didn’t Like

While this cereal gets mostly stellar reviews, a handful of reviewers noted coming across clusters of flakes that were very hard. You’ll want to chew carefully if you have sensitive teeth or dental work.

Check Price on Amazon

Starting Your Day Off Right – and Vegan!

Whether you’re looking for healthy cereals, bowls of nostalgia, or something in between, there are plenty of breakfast cereals available that don’t rely on the use of animal products.

Many bowls of cereal are USDA-certified organic, use sustainable, natural sweeteners, and are made with ethical farming practices, so you won’t have to compromise to have a healthy breakfast.

Should you choose to try a cereal other than one of the ones we’ve listed (there are countless varieties out there), be sure to give the ingredient list a quick scan before making your way to the cash register.

If you see honey, gelatin, or animal-based Vitamin D3 on the list, put it back on the shelf and try a different variety. Even easier? Look for cereals that list “vegan” on the box – not only will you get cereal you can eat, but you’ll also be supporting companies that make it easier to find vegan products.

vWhen it comes to serving, don’t limit yourself to plain non-dairy milk (though it’s a classic for a reason!). Try adding fresh fruit or spices to your cold cereal, warm up the milk, or use your favorite protein shake in place of milk for a healthy post-workout meal.