Search our database for specific cheerios products to see individual processing scores and ingredient lists.
Search Cheerios products →Cheerios vs Honey Nut Cheerios Comparison
Same brand, same oat base, vastly different sugar content. Original Cheerios has 1g of sugar per serving with a relatively short ingredient list. Honey Nut Cheerios has 12g of sugar per serving and adds honey, sugar, and "natural almond flavor" (which contains no actual almonds in most formulations).
Breakfast CerealsQuick Answer
Original Cheerios is less processed with fewer ingredients and 12x less sugar. Both are Level 4 extruded cereals, but Honey Nut Cheerios adds sugar, honey, brown sugar syrup, and flavoring that Original avoids. Plain Cheerios is the better choice within this brand.
Cheerios vs Honey Nut Cheerios
Cheerios
Honey Nut Cheerios
Search our database for specific honey nut cheerios products to see individual processing scores and ingredient lists.
Search Honey Nut Cheerios products →Our Verdict
Original Cheerios is less processed with fewer ingredients and 12x less sugar. Both are Level 4 extruded cereals, but Honey Nut Cheerios adds sugar, honey, brown sugar syrup, and flavoring that Original avoids. Plain Cheerios is the better choice within this brand.
Important Note
Processing levels can vary significantly between brands and specific products within each category. Always check the ingredient list of the specific product you are considering. Use our product search to look up exact processing scores.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much more sugar does Honey Nut Cheerios have?
Honey Nut Cheerios has 12g of sugar per serving compared to 1g in original Cheerios -- 12 times more. The sugar comes from multiple sources: sugar, honey, and brown sugar syrup. This also means a longer ingredient list with more processing.
Does Honey Nut Cheerios contain real nuts?
Despite the name, Honey Nut Cheerios uses "natural almond flavor" rather than significant amounts of real almonds. The "nut" flavor is primarily from flavoring compounds, not whole nuts.
Related Food Guides
Learn more about the individual foods in this comparison.