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Uncle Tobys Vanilla O’s Low Sugar Cheerios | Chewsday Review

I’ve not been quiet about the return (and slight change) in Low Sugar Cheerios. So in this week’s Chewsday Review I’m glancing my eyes over Uncle Tobys new Vanilla O's Low Sugar Cheerios. You probably already know I like this product, but check out the review to learn why it is brilliant, even despite the icky “Low Sugar” label.

Ingredients

Whole Grain Cereals (67%) [Wheat (33%), Corn (25%), Oats (4.5%), Rice (4.5%)], Wheat Starch, Chicory Root Fibre, Sugar, Sunflower Oil, Salt, Cocoa, Flavours (Wheat), Acidity Regulator (Trisodium Phosphate), Minerals (Calcium, Iron, Zinc), Vitamins (C, E, B6, Niacin, B1, B2, Folic Acid).
Wholegrain cereals make up 67% of this product, a bit less than the original low sugar Cheerios which were 78%.
Chicory root fibre will help boost the fibre content a little.
Added vitamins and minerals, including calcium, iron, zinc and folic acid.
Allergens: Wheat (Gluten).
May contain: Milk, Soy, Tree Nuts.

Positives

These have 3.0 mg of iron per 30 g serve, which is the same as 2 Weet-Bix!
As well as iron, I’m pleased to see these are calcium fortified. Calcium rich foods can be tricky to find for kiddos with cow’s milk allergy. One serve has 120 mg of calcium, which equals more than a third of the calcium in a cup of milk.
These O’s are within guidelines for sugar at 4.1 g per 100g. While this new version does have added sugar (the old version didn’t), overall it’s super low and comparable to Weet-Bix, which has 3.0 g per 100 g.
These new low sugar Cheerios have more fibre per serve than the old variety, with a whopping 4.8 g per serve. This is about 30% of toddler’s (1-3 years), 25% younger children’s (4-8 years), and 20% of an older children’s (9-13 years) daily fibre target.
As expected it’s within guidelines for sodium, and total and saturated fat.
There’s no natural or artificial sweeteners, which are common in most ‘sugar-free’ products.

Negatives

Marketing

“4.5 health star rating”. This is a good reflection of this product.
“High in fibre”. Yep, this is absolutely true, even more than regular Weet-Bix.
“Low sugar”. Yes, this is true, but I’m mindful that this marketing really plays on fear of ‘sugar’. I wish these were just called Vanilla Cheerios… So many parents are terrified of their kids eating sugar and the fear is waaaay out of control. If you want to learn more about why we shouldn’t fear or restrict sugar, join Toddler Mealtimes: https://toddlermealtimes.com.au/

Alternatives