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The days of glorified candy being called breakfast cereal are over. Sure, you can still find your sugary childhood favorites calling out to you from the rainbow-colored store aisles, but recently, several more sophisticated morning offerings have popped up on store shelves. These cereals boast higher protein and fiber contents and fewer added sugars. Often they’re sweetened with stevia, monkfruit, and other calorie-free sweeteners. Several are even keto-friendly, meaning they’re low in carbs and often higher in fat. One brand that seems to have taken over shelves is Catalina Crunch.
Catalina Crunch makes cereal, crunchy savory snack mixes, and sandwich cookies that mimic many of the groceries we used to beg our parents for (at least I did). They promise better nutritional profiles without sacrificing the flavor and crunch you expect. I tried Catalina Crunch’s most popular offerings to see if they met the hype.
We like
- The products are very high-fiber
- The cereals are crunchy and several taste great
- The Crunch Mixes are heavy on nuts and well-seasoned
We don't like
- Stevia can leave a strange aftertaste
- Pea protein doesn’t sit well with everyone
Keto-Friendly Cereal
Catalina’s hero product line includes cereals modeled on the familiar sugar-loaded breakfast foods marketed towards kids. Instead of high-fructose corn syrup and white sugar, these cereals are sweetened with stevia and some with both stevia and monk fruit. They pack an impressive fiber content—9 grams per ½-cup serving—or about a third of your daily recommended intake.
The cereals are fortified with pea protein to include 11 grams per serving. You’ll also get 5 grams of fat, of which 4 grams are saturated fat (there’s a good amount of coconut oil). The cereal flavors include cinnamon toast, dark chocolate, honey graham, chocolate peanut butter, triple berry blast, fruity, and seasonal pumpkin spice.
My favorite was the classic honey graham flavor. It’s not overly sweet, and though I tend to not love the strange aftertaste of stevia, I didn’t notice it much in this cereal. I love how crunchy it is, even when drowned in milk—it really holds up.
Salty Snack Mixes
For savory fans, Catalina Crunch also has a line of “Crunch Mixes,” which are essentially snack blends of nuts, pretzels, and cereal pieces coated in a punch-you-in-the-face seasoning blend (think upgraded Chex Mix). These are sweetened with cane sugar and molasses and get their hearty flavor from butter and coconut oil.
The snack mixes are definitely rich, and the flavorings don’t hold back. I found the ranch flavor a little overpowering, but the traditional blend is well-seasoned and makes a satisfying snack. Each serving has about 5 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein, with 5 grams of net carbs (total carbs minus dietary fiber). They’re notably pretty high in fat, with 13 grams per ½-cup serving.
I would stash a bag of this crunch mix in my bag or car for emergency snacking-–a few bites (they’re loaded with whole pecans and cashews) is enough to hold hunger at bay. Flavors include cheddar, creamy ranch, spicy kick, and honey mustard.
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Other Catalina Crunch Offerings
If you’re hooked on Catalina Crunch or are looking for other low-carb, high-protein snack options, the brand does more than cereal and snack mixes. Its sandwich cookies look suspiciously like milk’s favorite cookie but contain just 2 grams of sugar per serving (two cookies) and 4 grams of protein. They’re soft and cream-filled and come in three flavors: chocolate vanilla (a classic), vanilla creme, and peanut butter.
Catalina Crunch has done a solid job of transforming the not-so-healthy breakfast and snack foods we all know (and many of us love) to fit the modern day of more health-conscious eating. The snacks are fortified with pea protein and added fiber and are sweetened with stevia, monkfruit, and sometimes cane sugar. Though they don’t taste exactly like the pantry goods you already know, Catalina Crunch offerings are tasty in their own right, especially the more mild flavor choices (I’d recommend honey graham over pumpkin spice cereal and the traditional snack mix over the ranch flavor). If you’re looking for a lower-carb and low-sugar swap for your go-to cereals and snacks, Catalina Crunch is a smart bet.
SHOP CATALINA CRUNCH HERE
