The Cereal That Packs In The Most Protein Per Cup, Hands Down

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

We love to start the day right with a healthy dose of protein in our breakfast. Greater muscle mass, stronger bone density, and a better feeling of satiety to carry us through a long morning (as per Healthline) are all great reasons to get more protein in our diets, and that's only scratching the surface. But picking the right breakfast for protein-loading can be tough. We've weighed the relative virtues of grits vs. oatmeal and also cottage cheese vs. yogurt — and this is to say nothing of eggs, a powerful protein source that's practically synonymous with the first meal of the day. How about a protein-packed breakfast cereal, though? Cereal in a bowl, eaten with a spoon, is a near-universal pleasure that takes us back to childhood. It's fun to crunch and enjoy, and, since you usually eat cereal with milk, you can add about another eight grams of protein to your tally (per cup of cow's milk).

We've not found a breakfast cereal with more protein per serving than Wheaties Protein Breakfast Cereal in Maple Almond, which packs a whopping 22 grams of the good stuff. It consists of maple-almond flakes, along with slivered almonds and pumpkin seeds, and it's all kissed by the sweetness of maple syrup. In addition to the protein, you get six grams of much-needed fiber and 17 grams of whole grains. Unlike the dishonor roll of the unhealthiest breakfast cereals at the grocery store, this is a bowl you can feel good about ... so long as you can find it.

Even better than the panoply of nutrients in this box of Wheaties is the fact that, by consumer reports on Amazon, the cereal is actually tasty ... not necessarily a given when discussing cereals aimed at macros as opposed to sugary, colorful specimens. "I LOVE this cereal!" one buyer gushed. "So many different textures and flavors! It has almonds, flakes, pepitas and these tiny oat crackles stay crispy until the end." Another buyer who affectionately termed it "an overachiever's breakfast" commented, "22g of protein in a bowl of cereal is impressive, and the maple almond flavor is surprisingly good — not too sweet, not too bland. It's crunchy, filling, and doesn't leave me hungry an hour later." That wasn't the only rave about the flavor: "I love this cereal! It's crunchy, slightly sweet, full of protein. Fills me up all morning. Yummy!"

If there are drawbacks to this cereal, it may be the fact that it is, first of all, expensive, and secondly, hard to source. Amazon was out of stock as of this writing, and multiple comments shared that they couldn't find the boxes at their local stores. We found it at Dehoff's Market, Daniels Foods, and Food Depot, ranging in price from $8.47 to $11.99 for a 16.4-ounce box. For cereal, that's a king's ransom. Through the lens of healthy food, however, it might be a worthwhile splurge. Your mileage may vary.