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Published: August 24, 2022
Made with a variety of nutritious ingredients such as baked grains, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit, there are several reasons why granola is a nutritional powerhouse.
For one, many of its ingredients are high in fiber, which helps with blood sugar control, aids digestion, and promotes a healthy gut (1). Most granola is also high in iron, a mineral essential for transporting oxygen throughout the body (2). Additionally, some are high in protein, which supplies energy and supports muscle, brain, and immune function (3).
Like granola, muesli offers similar health benefits. The main difference between muesli and granola is that granola is baked, whereas muesli is raw. This makes muesli a versatile food, great served both hot and cold.
There are certain ingredients to be mindful of when shopping for granola and muesli, namely added sugars.
Added sugars are concentrated forms of sugar introduced to food during processing. Since they supply energy but offer little to no nutritional value, the American Heart Association recommends limiting your added sugar consumption to 6-9 teaspoons (25-36 grams) per day (4).
Cane sugar, honey, brown rice syrup, and molasses are some of the most common types of added sugars found in granola and muesli, but keep in mind there are over 50 different names that might show up on an ingredient list.
Instead of using added sugars, some brands use whole foods such as raisins and other dried fruits to sweeten granola and muesli. Unlike added sugars, these tasty ingredients provide additional nutrients and fiber.
Here’s a breakdown of how to shop for sugar-free granola and granola with no sugar added, plus 9 top-rated options.
Tell us your dietary needs & values and we’ll show you foods that match!
Granola can be eaten by itself as a snack, or paired with other nutritious foods such as plain yogurt, low-fat milk, or your favorite unsweetened plant-based milk alternative.
When choosing a sugar free granola, here are some things to consider:
It’s worth noting that many sources of total sugar can be highly nutritious, such as fruit. In contrast, added sugar supplies energy, but offers little to no additional nutritional value.
For this reason, we’ve included both sugar-free granola brands and those with healthy, whole-food sources of sugar in this list of the 9 best store bought sugar-free granolas.
8 oz
Wildway Vanilla Bean Espresso Granola: In lieu of added sugar, this grain-free granola is sweetened with dates. As an added bonus for coffee lovers, this granola offers hints of fair trade espresso.
Allergen info: Contains tree nuts. This product is manufactured in a dedicated gluten-free facility. This product may contain traces of other nuts, including peanuts.
Ingredients: Organic dates, walnuts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, dry roasted cashews, sea salt, pecans, organic fair trade expresso, vanilla bean
8 oz
Wildway Banana Nut Granola has a very high nutritional value, has little to no processing, and is estimated to have a very low carbon footprint and a moderate water footprint.
Allergen info: Contains tree nuts. This product is manufactured in a dedicated gluten-free facility. This product may contain traces of other nuts, including peanuts.
Ingredients: Organic Dates, Organic Bananas, Walnuts, Sunflower Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Dry Roasted Cashews (Cashews, Salt), Pecans, Cinnamon, Vanilla Extract
12 oz
Seans Organic Walnut Currant Muesli: Though technically muesli (unbaked granola), this organic product is nutritious hot or cold. It’s free of added sugars, instead sweetened with two types of raisins and currants.
Allergen info: Contains walnuts. packaged using equipment that also handles peanuts, tree nuts, wheats, dairy and soy. may contains shell or stem pieces.
Ingredients: Organic tasted rye flakes, organic toasted barley flakes, organic toasted oat flakes, organic thompson raisins, organic roasted pumpkin seeds, organic roasted sunflower seeds, organic chopped walnuts, organic golden raisins, organic zante currants
10 oz
St Amour Original Power Granola: This sugar-free granola is flavored with natural vanilla and sweetened with maltitol a sugar alcohol. Maltitol is used as a low-calorie sugar substitute, since each gram contains about half the calories as regular sugar. Keep in mind, sugar alcohols can cause unwanted digestive symptoms in some people, such as gas, bloating, and diarrhea.
Allergen info: Gluten-free and Nut Free.
Ingredients: Gluten-free rolled oats, mixed seeds pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, chia seeds, bio-fermented raw rice protein, pea protein, maltitol, ancient grains quinoa, amaranth, millet, olive oil, tapioca starch, dehydrated fenugreek, turmeric, dehydrated tamarind, natural vanilla
1 lb.
Go Raw Granola Sprouted has a very high nutritional value, has little to no processing, and is estimated to have a very low carbon footprint and a moderate water footprint.
Allergen info: Made with organic raisins, sprouted seeds, sprouted buckwheat groats, and lightly sweetened with coconut and dates. Gluten-free with 3g plant-based protein per serving and no added sugar.
Ingredients: All spouted buckwheat groats, dates, sprouted flaxseed, raisins
13 oz
Cascadian Farm Organic Cinnamon Apple Granola: No sugar is added to this organic, whole-grain granola. Instead, it is sweetened with both date and apple powders, which are essentially dried, ground fruits. Additionally, this granola contains dried apple pieces, which provide a slightly sweet crunch.
Allergen info: Contains Coconut.
Ingredients: Whole grain oats, crisp rice, sunflower oil, date powder, dried coconut, dried apples, apple powder, cinnamon, sea salt, natural flavor, vitamin e mixed tocopherols added to preserve freshness., organic
14 oz
Cascadian Farm No Added Sugar Organic Coconut Cashew Organic Granola: Like the other Cascadian Farm granola on this list, this organic, whole-grain granola is sweetened with date powder. Because it’s flavored with coconut flakes and coconut oil, this granola is much higher in saturated fat than other granolas on this list, supplying 38% of the recommended daily value (DV) per 1/2 cup serving.
Allergen info: Contains: Coconut, and Cashews
Ingredients: Whole grain oats organic, date powder organic, crisp rice organic, dried coconut organic, sunflower oil organic, coconut oil organic, cashews organic, rice flour organic, natural flavor organic, sea salt. vitamin e mixed tocopherols added to preserve freshness.
12 oz
Love Healthy Foods No Sugar Added Granola: Instead of added sugars, this granola is sweetened with organic bananas. Plus, this granola offers hints of coconut with less saturated fat than other coconut-flavored granolas, supplying 20% of the DV for saturated fat per 1/2 cup serving.
Allergen info: Produced in a facility that processes wheat, dairy, peanuts, and tree-nuts
Ingredients: Organic rolled oats, organic steel cut oats, organic sunflower seeds, organic flaxseed, organic unsweetened coconut, organic bananas, rice bran oil, water
40 oz
Bobs Red Mill Cereal Muesli: This simple, whole grain muesli is made with whole grain wheat and sunflower seeds. No sugar is added — instead, dates and raisins are used for a touch of sweetness.
Allergen info: Made from a blend of whole grain wheat, rolled oats, raisins, almonds and walnuts; Manufactured in a facility that also uses tree nuts, soy, wheat and milk.
Ingredients: Whole grain wheat, dates, sunflower seeds, raisins
17.9 oz
Julian Bakery Pro Granola Vanilla Cluster has a very high nutritional value, is moderately processed, and is estimated to have a very low carbon footprint and a low water footprint.
Allergen info: Contains Coconut
Ingredients: Pea protein isolate, organic soluble tapioca fiber prebiotic, organic pumpkin seeds, organic chia seeds, organic sesame seeds, organic unrefined virgin coconut oil, organic shredded coconut, cinnamon ceylon, natural vanilla flavors, organic stevia, monk fruit extract, produra bacillus coagulants prebiotics. contains coconut
0.77 lb
Whole Foods Market Harvest Mix Granola: This granola is free of added sugars, instead using several whole-food sources for sweetness. It contains applesauce, dried apples, and raisins..
Allergen info: Contains tree nuts, wheat.
Ingredients: Oats, applesauce apples, water, ascorbic acid added to maintain color, raisins, dried apples, walnuts, sunflower seeds, almonds, pumpkin seeds, cracked wheat, flaxseed, spices, salt
12 ounce
Seven Sundays Gluten Free Muesli Classic Bircher Mix Rather than added sugars, this gluten-free muesli is sweetened with apples, dates, and currants. It’s also particularly high in fiber, supplying 21 % of the DV per 1/2 cup serving.
Allergen info: Gluten free
Ingredients: Gluten free oats, sorghum flakes, buckwheat, almonds, dates dates, rice flour, currants, coconut, pumpkin seeds, apples, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, cinnamon and cardamom
2g
Lakanto Cinnamon Almond Crunch Granola Delicious Snack Quick Breakfast Cereal has a high nutritional value, is highly processed, and is estimated to have a very low carbon footprint and a moderate water footprint.
Allergen info: Tree Nuts (Almond and Coconut) and Gluten free.
Ingredients: Coconut, sunflower seeds, nongmo, lakanto monkfruit sweetener erythritol and monk fruit extract, almonds, coconut oil, tapioca fiber, chia seeds, cinnamon, sea salt, natural vanilla flavor, rosemary extract.
When shopping for a sugar-free granola, consider the amount of total sugar, added sugar, and the nutritional value.
To get a more nutritional bang for your buck, choose sugar free granola (or granolas with no sugar added) that are high in fiber and low in saturated fat.
For a satisfying breakfast or snack, pair your granola with yogurt, milk, or your favorite plant-based milk alternative.
Tell us your dietary needs & values and we’ll show you foods that match!
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