Over the years, Kashi cereals have come under fire for not being as “healthy” as their image portrays. But they do have quite a few virtues that I think they deserve credit for.
Kashi cereals are mostly organic, made with whole grains, and they have pretty darn short ingredient lists. They’ve been accused of being high in sugars, but honestly, they’re lower than many sweet cereals. In fact, of the ones I looked at, they ranged from a respectable 3 grams of sugar per cup to a slightly-more-indulgent but not dessert-worthy 9 grams per cup.
Tasting Notes for Kashi Cereals
It’s hard to deny that Kashi cereals taste pretty darn good. We’ve tasted, and remembered to take notes on, the following varieties.
Kashi Cinnamon Harvest Whole Wheat Biscuits
My husband goes in waves with breakfast. For months he’ll eat oatmeal every morning. Then it will be smoothies, followed by hearty muffins, and then granola. But every so often he gets hooked on a standard cold cereal. One that seems to make repeat appearances is frosted shredded wheat, whether name brand or generic. Though most have ingredients that look fairly benign, I still felt that there must be a better option.
One day, upon spotting a big display of Kashi cereals, I located what seemed to be a good solution, Cinnamon Harvest Whole Wheat Biscuits. It looked just like my husband’s shredded wheat, but with the sugar interspersed in each bite rather than placed on top as a thin frosting. The overall sugar levels were lower, the wheat looked boisterous, and the ingredient list was brief and highly legible. I was sold.
And as luck would have it, we were both quite pleased with this cereal. Each piece was generously sized. They were thick and tall rather than the flat, processed looking wafers that so many generic brands pass off as shredded wheat. The taste was naturally sweet, like a cross between plain shredded wheat and frosted. It tasted like, well, real food. The cinnamon was light yet noticeable, almost reminiscent of cinnamon toast. For myself, the cereal was a bit too sweet with rice milk, so I switched to unsweetened almond milk.
I was sure that this cereal would be the winner. But alas, though my husband liked it, and polished off the box without a problem, he still preferred the less wholesome brands for both taste and price. Oh well, you win some, you lose some. But for those of you who prefer the heartier side of the equation, I recommend giving this Kashi cereal a whirl.
Kashi Organic Promise Sweet Potato Sunshine
Leah tried this sweet potato spiked variety:
I will jump at anything that has sweet potato in it. So when I spotted this variety among the Kashi cereals, it went straight into my cart. As soon as I got home I poured myself a big bowl with some unsweetened almond milk and dug in.
Some of the flakes were the size of a chip! I didn’t find much of a sweet potato taste, but I really enjoyed this cereal. The flakes are thick and so crispy, even after chilling in the milk for a little while. They also have a nice sweetness and comforting cinnamon spice. I have bought it a couple times since because I blew through that first box so quickly.
The Facts on Kashi Cereals
Certifications: These Kashi cereals are Certified Kosher Parve and Non-GMO Verified. Many varieties are Certified Organic.
Dietary Notes: By ingredients, These Kashi cereals are dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, peanut-free, vegetarian. Many varieties are vegan, soy-free, gluten-free, and/or nut-free. Nonetheless, always read the ingredient statement and check with the company on their manufacturing processes for all varieties if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. Processes and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company / product.
For More Product Information: Visit the Kashi website at kashi.com.
