Best and Worst Picks for Granola

When it comes to “healthy” foods that can pack on the pounds, granola is at the top of the list! With hundreds of calories and nearly a day’s worth of added sugar in a single half-cup, many brands of granola have more sugar than a serving of Froot Loops!

Fortunately, there are some incredibly nutritious options out there. Read on for a list of my favorites, as well as brands you should avoid. (You can use the store locator on the product websites to find where to buy them in your region.)

LOVE IT!

Health Nut by Good Granoly

• Per ¼ cup: 70 calories, 9 grams carbs (8 net carbs), 1 gram fiber, 1 gram sugar, 2 grams protein
• All-organic ingredients include oats, sunflower seeds, coconut oil, cashews and sea salt
• Sweetened with agave

Engine 2 Original Granola

• Per 2/3 cup: 280 calories, 50 grams carbs (43 net carbs), 7 grams fiber, 8 grams sugar, 8 grams protein
• Ingredients include steel-cut oats, whole-rolled oats, walnuts, vanilla and cinnamon
• Sweetened with applesauce and maple syrup

SOLA Granola

• Per 2/3 cup: 280 calories, 18 grams carbs (14 net carbs), 4 grams fiber, 1 gram sugar, 16 grams protein
• Ingredients include almonds, soy protein, sunflower seeds, coconut and flax meal
• Sweetened with erythritol, allulose and monk fruit

ProGranola by Julian Bakery

• Per ½ cup: 97 calories, 14 grams carbs (2 net carbs), 12 grams fiber, 0 grams sugar, 12 grams protein
• Ingredients include egg white powder, prebiotic fiber, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, flax seeds and sesame seeds
• Sweetened with monk fruit

LIKE IT!

Trader Joe’s Peanut Butter Protein Granola

• Per 2/3 cup: 260 calories, 29 grams carbs (26 net carbs), 3 grams fiber, 9 grams sugar, 11 grams protein
• Ingredients include rolled oats, peanuts, peanut butter, cane sugar, pea protein and rice flour
• Sweetened with brown rice syrup and oat syrup solids

KIND Healthy Grains Almond Butter Whole Grain Clusters

• Per 2/3 cup: 250 calories, 41 grams carbs (38 net carbs), 3 grams fiber, 11 grams sugar, 10 grams protein
• Ingredients include oats, soy protein isolate, canola oil, almond butter, oat flour and buckwheat
• Sweetened with tapioca syrup, honey, molasses and brown rice syrup

HATE IT!

Cascadian Farm Organic

• Per 2/3 cup: 270 calories, 44 grams carbs (40 net carbs), 4 grams fiber, 14 grams sugar, 6 grams protein
• Ingredients include whole grain oats, white rice, raisins, sunflower seeds, almonds and cranberries
• Sweetened with cane sugar and molasses

Nature Valley Coconut & Almond Granola

• Per 2/3 cup: 280 calories, 45 grams carbs (41 net carbs), 4 grams fiber, 17 grams sugar, 6 grams protein
• Ingredients include whole-grain oats, white rice flour, toasted coconut, canola oil and almonds
• Sweetened with sugar and molasses, honey

Editor’s note: Registered dietitian Molly Kimball offers brand-name products as a consumer guide; she does not solicit product samples nor is she paid to recommend items. This originally appeared on WGNO’s “Get the Skinny” segment.