Boost Your Diet With These 7 Healthiest Oatmeal Brands

You've probably heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It isn't just a cliche–breakfast helps to boost your brainpower, gives you energy, and may reduce your risk of illness. However, research has shown that the quality of your breakfast does matter and it's crucial to eat a healthy breakfast.

Oatmeal is one of the most popular breakfast foods out there. It has become even more popular recently due to food trends like overnight oats and aesthetically pleasing oatmeal bowls. There are numerous health benefits to eating oatmeal and this breakfast food is rich in antioxidants and other vitamins and minerals.

Although oatmeal is a healthy breakfast, some brands of oatmeal aren't as healthy as they seem. Many popular brands have high amounts of added sugar, sodium, and preservatives. While you can always buy plain oats and make your own oatmeal, if you're going to buy instant oatmeal, it's important to pay attention to the ingredient list.

There are many healthy alternatives out there that provide the benefits of oatmeal without the added sugar and other unnecessary ingredients. With these alternatives, you can easily make a filling and healthy breakfast in less than a couple of minutes. (After this article, check out 13 foods that seem healthy but really aren't.)

After reviewing sources such as Today, Livestrong, the Huffington Post, and Healthline, we determined the healthiest brands of oatmeal. We also reviewed Reddit and several articles that included guidance from registered dieticians. The seven healthiest brands of oatmeal are listed below in no particular order.

• Comes in Blueberry Walnut, Vanilla Pecan, Dark Chocolate Chunk, Apple Cinnamon Pecan, Banana Nut, and Mixed Berry
• Every flavor is made with organic oats and superfood ingredients

Purely Elizabeth is a well-known brand started in 2009 by a certified holistic nutrition counselor. This brand is often known for its healthy and tasty granola, but they also sell different varieties of oatmeal. All of their oatmeal flavors are made with organic, superfood ingredients without any artificial additives.

• Comes in Maple & Brown Sugar, Cinnamon, Blueberries & Cream, Chocolate Chip, and Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip
• Made with whole-grain oats and contains added protein for a filling and high-protein breakfast

Kodiak is known for high-protein baking mixes, such as pancake and waffle mix and chocolate fudge brownie mix. Oatmeal is already a good source of protein, but if you're looking for an extra boost in the morning, Kodiak oatmeal is a good choice. One of their oatmeal power cups has 14 grams of protein and is made with 100% whole-grain oats.

• Comes in Apple Cinnamon, Blueberry, Coffee, Dark Chocolate, Maple Cinnamon, PB&J, Peanut Butter, Peanut Butter Chocolate, Strawberry, and Vanilla Bean
• Made with clean and plant-based ingredients

Mush makes a unique brand because its oatmeal is ready-to-eat overnight oats. Compared to other brands, Mush provides the most convenience since all you have to do is grab it and go. Additionally, each flavor is made with clean ingredients and without any artificial flavors. Mush oatmeal is dairy-free, making it perfect even for those on plant-based diets.

• Comes in Classic, Brown Sugar & Maple, Apple Pieces & Cinnamon, Cranberry Orange, Fruit & Seed, Pineapple Coconut, Gluten-Free Classic, Gluten-Free Blueberry Hazelnut, Gluten-Free Brown Sugar Maple, and Gluten-Free Apple Cinnamon
• Made with certified organic and clean ingredients

For a quick and healthy breakfast, Bob's Red Mill sells both instant oatmeal packets and oatmeal cups that you can easily take on the go. You can buy the instant packets in Classic, Brown Sugar Maple, and Apple Cinnamon, but the oatmeal cups come in a wider variety of flavors. All of their ingredients are certified organic.

• Comes in Sprouted Apple Cinnamon, Sprouted Cacao Nib, Coconut Sugar & Spice, and Sprouted Quinoa Hemp
• Made with sprouted grains and clean ingredients

One Degree offers numerous sprouted-grain instant oatmeal flavors to get your day started right. One unique aspect about One Degree is they offer a clean source code with their products which allows you to track where the ingredients come from. All of their oatmeals are organic, gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan, and made without artificial ingredients.

• Comes in Goji Blueberry, Apple Walnut, Vermont Maple, and Coconut Almond
• Gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO, and filled with superfood ingredients

While some people aren't fond of oatmeal because of its texture, Modern Oats has one of the best textures out of any instant oatmeal brand. The Modern Oats oatmeal cups are also flavorful and filled with superfood ingredients. This oatmeal is also gluten-free, vegan, and non-GMO.

• Comes in Blueberry Chia Superfood, Maple Almond Cinnamon Superfood, Cranberry and Almond Superfood
• Made with super grains and fiber

Earnest Eats offers a gluten-free, allergen-friendly superfood oatmeal that's perfect for a quick and healthy breakfast. The superfood blend, made of oats, quinoa, and amaranth, is healthy and filling. They also ensure the oats they use are regeneratively farmed, which means they're made without added pesticides or other harmful chemicals. (Don't miss what America eats for breakfast: 19 novel ways to start the day.)