Crispy, crunchy, delicious — yes, there is delicious keto friendly cereal! You don’t have to say goodbye to milk-covered cereal if you’re following a low-carb diet. In fact, there are lots of choices out there that are high in healthy fats and protein and low in carbs. In this guide, you’ll learn about keto friendly cereals that you can buy and how to look for cereal that isn’t marketed as low-carb but still won’t kick you out of ketosis.
You might be surprised to find out that keto-friendly cereal does exist. While you won’t find any bowls of Lucky Charms or Frosted Flakes in this list, there are plenty of cereals made with keto dieters in mind. From low-carb granola to keto oatmeal, there’s a cereal out there that will fit your morning routine — and your macros.
I don’t know about you, but one of my favorite snacks is a bowl of cereal. When I first started eating a low-carb diet, there weren’t many keto cereals on the market. But, over the years, that has changed, and many brands have released low-carb cereals.
And, if you don’t want to buy keto cereals from the store or online, you can make your own at home, and it’s not complicated at all.
💬 FAQs
Before we get into keto cereal brands, let’s first answer these questions:
How many carbs can I have when following a keto diet?
A keto diet typically recommends getting 60-75% of your daily calories from fat, 15-30% from protein, and 5-10% from carbs. That means you can have anywhere from 20-50 grams of carbs per day.
Is keto cereal actually low-carb?
Keto is a low-carb, high-fat diet. So keto cereal has to be low in carbs and high in fat. That might sound like a tall order, but it’s not as hard as you think. In fact, there are keto cereals on the market that have as few as 3 grams of carbs per serving.
What types of cereals are good on a keto diet?
When you are in ketosis, you’ll want to consume grain-free granola cereals that are high in protein and fiber. Healthy fats are another attribute to look for when choosing a brand of cereal. Some brands make keto versions of their cereals that taste similar to the non-keto version while being lower in carbs. Wholesome Provisions is known for doing this.
What are low-carb cereals made of?
The most keto-friendly cereal will be made primarily from:
- Nuts (like almonds)
- Seeds
- Coconut-based products (e.g., coconut flour, desiccated coconut, etc.)
Make sure to note that some types of cereal contain rice flour and soy flour. While we usually try to avoid rice when in ketosis, just pay close attention to the number of net carbs and your serving size. That small bit of rice flour might not kick you out of ketosis, but it doesn’t hurt to be vigilant.
Pro Tip: If your goal is to be in ketosis, don’t forget to track your macros and read the nutrition label of all keto cereals.
It’s also important to mention that some brands of keto cereal contain sugar alcohols, like erythritol and xylitol. For some, these ingredients are fine but, for others, these sweeteners can kick them out of ketosis as well as lead to stomach upset.
Is keto-friendly cereal healthy?
It’s impossible to say if a cereal is healthy without looking at the ingredients first. To tell if something is good for you, you need to look at what it’s made of.
A keto-friendly cereal should have:
- Healthy fats: Look for keto cereals made with healthy fats like nuts, seeds, and coconut. These will help you feel full and give you energy.
- Protein: You’ll want to look for a keto cereal that has at least 5 grams of protein per serving. This will help you stay satisfied and avoid snacking later in the day.
- Fiber: Fiber is important when following a keto diet (and in general!) because it helps keep you regular and can even help with weight loss. Look for a keto cereal with at least 3 grams of fiber per serving.
What can I eat for breakfast on a keto diet?
Keto-friendly cereal is certainly one popular breakfast option, but you’ll want to eat a variety of things for breakfast to make your meals more enjoyable.
Add in some meats, maybe some fat bombs, a nutritious smoothie, or even some veggies. It will prevent you from getting bored and giving in to temptation while on a keto diet.
🥣 Popular keto friendly cereals to try for breakfast
Let’s look at some of the most popular keto diet cereals you can buy now. I’ll show you what’s in them and how many carbs they have so you can make a better, more informed decision on whether or not a certain brand fits your diet and lifestyle.
Note that, for the most part, these cereals do not contain artificial ingredients or artificial sweeteners, but some do. Manufacturers also change ingredients in their products every so often, so it’s important to double-check the ingredients list while you shop and before you purchase.
Magic Spoon
If you want a cereal that looks and tastes like the kind you ate as a kid, Magic Spoon is just what you need. It comes in a variety of different flavors, like:
- Fruity
- Frosted
- Cocoa
- Peanut Butter
- Cookies and cream
There are 3 grams of net carbs in ⅓ cup.
Snack House Keto Cereal
If you really want something that’s low in carbs, grab a bag of Snack House cereal. You’ll feel like a kid with fun flavors like Chocolate Puffs, Banana Maple French Toast, and Cinnamon Swirl.
Some flavors only have 1 gram net carb per ⅔ cup.
It’s important to know though that the Banana Maple French Toast is sweetened with sucralose, which has been linked to metabolic health issues at high doses. Read the ingredients labels and pick the flavors without them.
Catalina Crunch
Priced relatively affordably and available in more than 7 different flavors, this is a fun brand to buy when you are eating a low-carb diet.
The keto cereals in this line from Catalina Crunch have zero added sugar and are high in fiber.
The cereals are made with “Catalina Flour,” which is a blend of ingredients like pea protein, potato fiber, chicory root fiber, and tapioca flour.
In ½ cup, there are only 5 grams of net carbs.
Diabetic Kitchen – Cinnamon Pecan Granola
This granola cereal from Diabetic Kitchen is gluten-free, perfectly sweetened with monk fruit extract, and is also made with:
- Almonds
- Sunflower seeds
- Pumpkin seeds
- Pecans
- Coconut chips
It has 3 grams of net carbs per ⅓ cup serving.
HighKey Keto Instant Hot Cereal
Instead of a crunch, this HighKey Keto Instant Hot Cereal is more like oatmeal or Cream of Wheat. It’s a hot cereal that’s perfect for cold days. It’s made of hemp seed, almonds, and cocoa and sweetened with erythritol, which is a sugar alcohol.
It has 6 grams of net carbs per ⅓ cup serving.
Wonderworks Keto Friendly Breakfast Cereal
This Wonderworks Keto Friendly Breakfast Cereal is wildly popular on Amazon. It comes in a variety of flavors, and people seem to really enjoy the texture and sweetness.
It is sweetened with both allulose and stevia extract.
Bubba’s Fine Foods Ungranola
Dig into something totally different with this variety of Bubba’s Fine Foods Ungranola.
These are all grain-free and made with almonds, coconuts, and cashews. Some of them are slightly sweetened with honey, so keep the macro amounts tracked.
This is a great choice to add as a small post-workout snack when you need a boost of healthy fats and protein.
There are about 9 grams of net carbs per ⅓ cup serving.
Wholesome Provisions Protein Cereal
Not only is this Wholesome Provisions Protein Cereal delicious, but it is already pre-portioned for you. No more guessing or measuring. It looks and tastes like chocolate Cheerios.
There are 4 grams of net carbs per 30-gram packet.
Julian Bakery Pro Granola
This Julian Bakery Pro Granola has the lowest amount of net carbs per serving compared to the others in this post. Mix it with some Greek yogurt, or eat it from a bowl with unsweetened almond milk or unsweetened coconut milk.
There are only 2 grams of net carbs per 1/2 cup serving.
⏲ How to make keto cereal at home
Though convenient and tasty, keto-friendly cereal can be pricy. It can be much more cost-effective to make your own at home. Thankfully, that’s pretty easy to do.
In fact, I have a fantastic nut-free cereal recipe.
It only has about 4.5 grams of net carbs per ½ cup serving.
Plus, it is loaded with nutrients as it’s made with a combination of flax seeds, chia seeds, coconut flour, and monk fruit sweetener, among other ingredients.
It’s so hearty that one serving will fill you up and knock out those sweet cravings.
Are you looking for more breakfast ideas?
Here are some of my favorites:
- Keto Cinnamon Roll Muffins – They only have 1.5 grams of net carbs per muffin! And they are easy to take on the go.
- Low-Carb Granola Bars – There are just 3 grams of net carbs per bar. Grab a few and take them with you to work or the gym.
- Keto Green Smoothie – Smoothies are a great way to get in healthy fats and protein right away in the morning. There are 4.5 grams of net carbs per cup in this recipe.
- Low-Carb Bacon Cheddar Scones – These taste perfect with your morning coffee. And there are only 4.4 grams of net carbs per scone.
- Keto Breakfast Muffins – They are way more than just egg muffins. They taste like a complete omelet but with only 2.5 grams of net carbs per muffin.
📚 More keto resources
Eating a ketogenic diet is an entire lifestyle change. It can be challenging initially but can be immensely beneficial. Here are some more resources that will encourage you and give you the confidence and knowledge you need to succeed:
- Keto Cookbooks – I share my favorite keto recipes all in one place.
- How to Make Keto Fat Bombs – I break it down so you can start making your own.
- Keto and Sleep – My experience with better sleep after following a low-carb diet.
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