Ah, cereal. The classic “I don’t want to cook but I need something to eat for breakfast” meal. But, as you probably know (or have guessed), most cereals aren’t exactly keto-friendly. They’re made with carb-heavy ingredients like grains—and of course, plenty of sugars. But fortunately, we live in a world where there’s an abundance of keto options.
Here are some of my favorites.
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1. Schoolyard Snacks
With a dairy protein base and very low net carbs, the cereals from Schoolyard Snacks are a fantastic option for keto and low-carb eaters. One of my favorite things about this brand is that there are single serving bags available—something that is super helpful for those of us who may struggle a bit with portion control.
2. Magic Spoon
These cereals are noticeably higher carb than Schoolyard Snacks, but they’re still a good option when you’re craving something sweet and crunchy for breakfast. They have a more diverse flavor line than some of the other brands, including fun flavors like birthday cake, blueberry muffin, and more.
Keep in mind these only come in larger boxes with about five servings per container, so you’ll need to watch your portion so you don’t end up eating 3/4 of a box in one sitting…
3. Perfect Keto
The cereals from Perfect Keto are about 1-2 net carbs per serving, but have much higher total carbs than either Schoolyard Snacks or Magic Spoon, so that’s something to be aware of if you track total carbs instead of net. I also feel like the texture isn’t as good, so that’s another reason this brand isn’t higher up on my list.
4. Catalina Crunch
Like with Perfect Keto, the net carbs are pretty low, but the total carbs are a bit on the high side. The texture is a little better, but there are definitely some more questionable ingredients that I usually prefer to avoid.
This is a brand that I would say caters more to the “dirty keto” crowd than the previous brands on my list, but it’s still a decent option—especially if the alternative is a traditional carb-y cereal.
Bonus: Granola
Okay, I know technically granola isn’t cereal—but it can be a great alternative! A lot of granolas are not keto-friendly as they may contain sugar, oats, and other high-carb ingredients, so as always, you’ll want to read the ingredient list and nutrition label before purchasing. But there are plenty of keto granolas on the market—and they’re also super easy to make yourself! (Try our recipe that takes only 15 minutes to prep.)
You could also make yourself some hot cereal:
Pro tip
While we’re talking about cereal, here’s a friendly reminder that you may want to use a milk alternative like almond milk instead of regular cow’s milk—or even using heavy cream mixed with a little water. This is because cow’s milk is higher in carbs, so it’s difficult to fit it into a ketogenic lifestyle for most of us.
If you’d still like to use regular milk, however, I recommend the Fairlife Lactose Free Milk, which is significantly lower in carbs.
Pro Pro tip
If you want to try something truly insanely amazing, try using some mixed up Keto Chow as the “milk” in your cereal. It’s rich, and creamy, and really delicious. Maybe split one with a friend and you can each have half a Keto Chow (or save half for later). It’s a sure-fire guarantee that your cereal experience will be loaded with protein and super satisfying.
In conclusion
While there are plenty of other breakfast options on keto, sometimes I just want a bowl of cereal, and it’s helpful to know there are brands that will hit the spot AND still keep me in ketosis.
