Mueslis and Granolas
Mueslis and granolas come in three sorts: the obviously toxic, the dreaded “may contain” and the ones that should be fine. In general, more granolas seem to be dairy free than mueslis. (I can’t eat most of those, however, as they almost all contain honey.) As with any product which is new to you, apply common sense and caution when first trying it and check the ingredients EVERY TIME you buy it. I have lost count of the times that something which has always been safe suddenly starts to have milk powder added to the ingredients.
In addition to whether or not these products are free from dairy products, there is also the issue of just how much sugar they contain. Be aware that the dietary information will list the percentage of the product which is sugar. (That’s the “per 100g” column.) That figure will be made up of the natural sugars in any fruit in the muesli as well as any added refined sugar. The total figure can be very high. Fruit is good for you, but feeding a bowl of some of these to a child will not be the healthy option which you might think it would be. To this end, when there is a muesli or granola which is free from dairy products, I have listed the percentage of sugars present in each. You can then make up your own mind about which to choose. My suggestion would be to put some granola, some sultanas or raisins and some plain, mixed flakes in a jar and to shake well. That way you reduce both the sugar content and the cost of each portion!
NOT OK
Alpen
Comes in lots of varieties. I’m afraid you can’t eat any of them. All have skimmed milk powder in them and are NOT safe. Be very careful if you are eating breakfast at a hotel. Many will be serving Alpen. If in doubt, always ask to see the ingredients.
Essential Waitrose Swiss Style Muesli
Based on Alpen. Contains skimmed milk powder. NOT safe.
Waitrose
Seriously Chocolatey Triple Chocolate Crisp
Has milk in the chocolate.
familia
swiss c.m.
No idea what the “c.m.” bit means, but it’s got milk in it, so who cares?
Morrison’s
No Added Sugar Muesli
Swiss Style Muesli
Organic Fruit & Nut Muesli
These all have milk listed in the ingredients.
MAYBE
Jordans
As far as I can see, all Jordans breakfast cereals apart from their porridge oats, have the dreaded “may contain traces of…” phrase. The ingredients look fine, but it’s always safer not to risk it.
Eat Natural for breakfast
Another “may contain…” range. Best avoided.
Nestlé
All of the Oats & More range. There are lots of them, but they’re all labelled “may contain…”. Best avoided.
familia
swiss a.c.e.
Another posy name from familia. Labelled “may contain…”. Best avoided.
Dorset Cereals
Chocolate and macadamia nuts granola.
This has a “may contain traces of…” label for milk and, given the chocolate in the name, it may well be true. Best avoided.
Morrison’s
Organic Fruit Crunchy
This is made in a factory which handles milk, so for highly allergics there is always a risk of contamination. Best avoided.
OK
Alara
Active
This one’s organic and gluten free. It has no added sugar. The downside is that it looks like birdseed. Come to think of it, given it has both linseed and millet in it, in some ways it is birdseed. 5.4% sugars. 93.8p per 100g.
Goji and Yacon
Exotic bits in among the birdseed. No added sugar. 16.4% sugars. 50p per 100g.
Very Berry
All sorts of berries instead of the exotic stuff. No added sugar. 25.3% sugars. 79p per 100g.
Where to get it: Waitrose.
Dorset Cereals
Several varieties of muesli, all of which have a milk-free list of ingredients. All are expensive.
Berries and cherries. 41% sugars. Yes, really!! 46.3p per 100g.
Super nutty cranberry, cherry and almond. 31.4% sugars. 53.6p per 100g.
Fruits, nuts and seeds. Sweetened banana chips. 24.3% sugars. 41.2p per 100g.
Really nutty muesli. 12% . sugars. 46.4p per 100g.
Organic fruit, nuts and seeds. 18.9% sugars.
Fantastically Fruity Roasted and Toasted. Heavy on the fruit. Some of which is sweetened. 18.9% sugars. 65p per 100g.
Tasty toasted Spelt, Barley and Oat Flakes. Sugar on the flakes and the pineapple. 50p per 100g.
Super High Fibre. No added sugar. 41p per 100g.
Mixed Pack of single portions. 65p per 100g.
Then there’s a safe granola that I’ve found.
Honey granola. 13.1% sugars.
Really Nutty Muesli. 22.3% sugars. 26.6p/100g. (This was a special offer in Morrison’s. Didn’t give any indication of what they normally charge.)
Super High Fibre. 27.5% sugars. 26.6p/100g. (As above for the price)
Jumbo Raisins. 12% sugars. 23.5p/100g.
Where to get it: Waitrose and Morrison’s.
Fair Trade
Standard looking mix. Some sugar on sweetened banana chips. 19.9% sugars. 39.8p per 100g.
Where to get it: Waitrose
The Food Doctor
Organic Muesli Mix
Does what it says on the tin. No added sugar. 11.6% sugars. Expensive for what it is. 79.8p per 100g.
Where to get it: Waitrose
Kellogg’s Nature’s Pleasure
Almond, pecan and cashew. 16% sugars. 49.8p per 100g.
Raspberry and cherry. 20% sugars. 54.1p per 100g.
Where to get it:Waitrose
Lizi’s Granola
This comes in three different varieties. They are all apparently free from dairy products and are all expensive.
Organic luxury toasted cereal. (Nuts and seeds to you and me.) 10.2% sugars. 99.8p per 100g.
Pink apple and cinnamon granola. (Much as above but with apple.) 19.1% sugars. 87.3p per 100g.
Treacle and pecan granola. Has added treacle (as per the name).14.9% sugars. 79.8p per 100g.
Where to get it:Waitrose
Lovedean Granola
The Famous Original
Looks lovely. The design has gone for the homely and ideal family lifestyle product in a BIG way. It may well taste as good as it looks, but it’s very expensive. Has added honey. 13.1% sugars. £1.18 per 100g !!!
The Lite Fantastic
As above with added honey. 14% sugars. £1.18 per 100g.
Tangy Cranberry
Again as above, but with sweetened cranberries and added honey. 18.8% sugars. £1.18 per 100g.
These may well be very good, but they’d have to be outstanding to make them worth the price. A luxury product.
Where to get it:Waitrose
Mornflake
Classic Oat Crunchy: Raisin, Honey and Almond. Added sugar and honey. 26.8% sugars. 25.8p/100g.
Hawaiian Oat Crunchy: Raisin, Banana and Pineapple. Added sugar and sweetened dried fruit. 24.5% sugars. 25.8p/100g.
Where to get it: Morrison’s.
Morrison’s
Special Recipe Wholewheat Muesli. Sugar on banana chips. 22.3% sugars. 17.6p/100g.
Wholwheat Muesli. Sugar on banana chips. 22.3% sugars. 16.6p/100g.
Maple and Pecan Crispy Clusters. Added sugar. 26.5% sugars. 25.6p/100g.
Strawberry Crispy Clusters. Added sugar. 31.2% sugars. 25.6p/100g.
Where to get it: Morrison’s.
Pertwood Organics
This is a new name to me. I only found the one type, though their website assures me there are three. It has no added sugar or salt (ie. all the sugar content comes from the fruit).
Organic Granola Sultanas and Nuts.
Added sugar and honey. 23.8% sugars. 70.4p per 100g.
I’ve now found two of their mueslis.
Fruit and Seeds. No added sugar or salt. 12.2% sugars. 38.8p per 100g.
Banana and walnut. No added sugar or salt. 8.9% sugars. 70.4p per 100g.
where to get it: Waitrose.
Quaker Oats Oat Granola
Has two lots of sugar added, plus glucose syrup and honey. 26% sugars.
Where to get it: Waitrose.
Rude Health Organic Muesli
The Early Bird
Standard looking muesli mix. No added sugar. 14.8% sugars. 57.5p per 100g.
The Ultimate
A luxury version of the one above. No added sugar. 12.2% sugars. 96p per 100g!
No Flamin’ Raisins
A fruit, nut and seed muesli with, as the name says, no raisins. No added sugar. 3.2% sugars. 63.3p per 100g.
Where to get it:Waitrose.
Essential Waitrose Fruit Muesli
Mixed flakes and dried fruits. Some of the fruit is sweetened. 27% sugars. 27.4p per 100g for the boxes. 25.6p per 100g if you buy the kilo bag.
Essential Waitrose Fruit and Nut Muesli
As above, with mixed nuts. 24.1% sugars. 27.4p per 100g for the boxes. 25.6p per 100g if you buy the kilo bag.
Waitrose Maple and Triple Nut. Sugar on the “maple flavour” barley flakes. 24.1% sugars. 39.5p per 100g.
Waitrose Fruit and Seed. 39.5p per 100g.
Waitrose High Fibre Muesli. Sugar on the bran flakes. 29.3% sugars. 34.9p per 100g.
Waitrose Organic Muesli. 34.9p per 100g.
Waitrose Orchard Fruits and Berries. No added sugar, it’s all naturally in the fruits. 28.9% sugars. 39.5p per 100g.
Waitrose Oat Crunchy
Comes in several varieties, all without milk as far as I can tell. Haven’t tried them as I can’t eat honey! Do let me know whether they’re good or not.
Banana, papaya and honey. Has added sugar and honey. 21% sugars.
Blueberry and cranberry. Has added sugar and honey.26.1% sugars.
Honey, raisin and almond. Has added sugar and honey. 20.1% sugars.
Organic. Has added sugar and honey. 25.2% sugars.
Seriously nutty maple and mixed nut crisp. Has added golden granulated sugar, inverted sugar syrup, maple syrup and molasses. 20.4% sugars.
Seriously fruity mixed berry crisp. Has added golden granulated sugar. 27.3% sugars.
Where to get it: Waitrose.
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