15 Best Granola Brands, According to Registered Dietitians

We updated this article in November 2022 to ensure all picks were in stock and accurately priced. We added more information about each featured product based on extensive testing done by the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab.

Granola cereals and snacks have long been associated with healthy eating, but according to the new proposed U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines, maybe our confidence in granola has been misplaced. If the ruling stands, to be considered healthy by the FDA, cereals including granola, must contain 3/4 ounces of whole grains and no more than 1 gram of saturated fat, 230 milligrams of sodium and 2.5 grams of added sugars per serving. While the majority of granola brands may no longer be able to claim the word "healthy" on their packaging, from a wellness perspective many granolas remain a good bet, and some are healthier than others. When you look at the ingredients that make up most granola products, they are usually quite nutritious; it’s the binding ingredients such as sugar and oils that can move most granola outside of the proposed FDA guidelines.

Granola typically consists of rolled oats, nuts, dried fruit and honey or other sweeteners. Over the years, many brands have started to add additional ingredients that contribute a lot of added sugar to make it marketable to a wider audience. That's why the Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab has taken the time to separate the healthiest brands from the more sugary stuff.

We evaluate hundreds of food products year-round to help you make the most nutritious choices for you and your family. In our tests, we analyzed over 50 different varieties of granola to find the best of the best. Our experts prioritized varieties with wholesome ingredient lists that you can pronounce, and the first ingredient must be a whole grain or whole food (i.e. oats, nuts, bran, legumes, etc). We looked for granola options with no trans fat, limited saturated fat, less than 230 milligrams of sodium and at least 2 grams of fiber and protein per serving. Since serving sizes vary by brand, we did some math to make sure that 1/3 cup of each variety did not exceed more than 8 grams of added sugar and 250 calories.

Our top picks:

You'll find more information on how the Nutrition Lab evaluates granola at the end of this story, and if you're looking for more healthy options for breakfast check out our picks for the best healthy cereals, best protein bars and best vegan protein powders.