When it comes to a nutritious breakfast, we all want something that gives our families energy, essential nutrients, and lasting satisfaction. Many parents turn to cereal with milk, thinking it’s a healthy, quick option. But how does it compare to Mary's Morning Glory Muffin made with wholesome ingredients?
Let’s compare them head-to-head to see which truly delivers the best nutrition for your morning.
Morning Glory Muffin vs. Cereal: Nutrition Comparison
Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the nutritional values* per 100g serving of each option:
*Nutritional values taken directly from the manufacturers' websites.
Why Mary's Morning Glory Muffin Belongs in Your Breakfast Routine
1. Essential Fats for Energy and Brain Health: Omega-3s & Omega-6s in Muffins
Our Morning Glory Muffin is packed with healthy fats from natural sources—walnuts, free-run eggs, Greek yogurt, flaxseed, chia seeds, and extra virgin olive oil. Unlike cereal, our muffin provides essential Omega-3 and Omega-6 fats.
✔ Omega-3s support brain function, heart health, and inflammation control.
✔ Omega-6s help maintain healthy skin, hair, and hormone function.
Cereal, even with milk, contains almost none of these beneficial fats.
You're probably wondering about that saturated fat at 5.7 grams per serving. Yes, saturated fats should be consumed in moderation, but also in combination with other components that regulate cholesterol, and in the context of the other nutrients and benefits that come along with it. For example, the cholesterol that comes with saturated fat can be regulated with fibre, which our muffins contain in abundance. The protein that comes with saturated fat from our Greek yogurt enhances energy and keeps your family's tummies full longer. When you consider the complete nutrient profile of our muffins, you start to see the pay-off of that saturated fat.
Also keep in mind, the higher protein, healthy fats and rich micronutrient profile of our muffins will satiate the need for other less healthy snacks later in the day. Cereals, with their high sugar content will create a spike in blood sugar, and then a crash leading to increased cravings. With our Morning Glory Muffin, you're getting a significantly more complete and satisfying breakfast.
2. Natural Sweeteners vs. Refined Sugar: Nutrient-Rich Muffins for Sustained Energy
Yes, our muffin has more sugar than plain shredded wheat, but far less than most sugary cereals like Frosted Flakes. So let's break down where it's coming from:
✔ Our sugars come from natural sources: Canadian Maple Syrup (12g), Raisins (4g), Ontario-grown Apples (0.6g), Ontario-grown Carrots (0.5g), Nuts & Coconut (0.5g) and Canadian Whole Wheat Flour (0.3g).
✔ These natural ingredients provide vitamins, minerals, and fibre, unlike refined sugar in Frosted Flakes (36 g).
✔ Balanced with protein and fibre, our muffins made with natural sweeteners won’t spike blood sugar the way cereals made with refined sugars can; they are moderate on the glycemic index compared to products made with refined sugar.
While plain Shredded Wheat offers minimal sugar and a good source of fibre from whole grains, a scenario where 18.5 grams of sugar come specifically from nutritious, natural foods presents a different nutritional profile. This higher sugar content is accompanied by valuable nutrients such as fibre (which helps regulate blood sugar), vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants not as readily available in plain Shredded Wheat. These whole food sources offer benefits beyond just calories, contributing to overall dietary fibre and micronutrient intake.
However, it's crucial to remember that 18.5 grams of sugar, even from these whole food sources, is still a significant amount and should be consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet, considering individual needs and portion sizes. The focus shifts from simply minimizing sugar to appreciating the nutrient density that can accompany naturally occurring sugars in whole foods.
3. High Protein Breakfast: Muffins for Longer Fullness vs. Cereal's Short-Term Energy
As a parent, you're always looking for ways to give your family a good start to the day. While a typical serving of a cereal like Frosted Flakes might offer around 5g of protein, our muffins, with 8g of protein per 100-gram serving (from eggs, Greek yogurt and walnuts), provide a bit more staying power. Protein digests more slowly than the simple sugars in many cereals, which helps to provide a more gradual release of energy and can help avoid those quick energy spikes followed by a crash. Choosing our muffins can be a simple way to offer a breakfast that contributes to longer-lasting fullness and helps keep those tummies happy until the next meal.
4. Iodized Sea Salt for Essential Nutrients
One of the interesting comparisons here is sodium. Our Morning Glory Muffin contains 0.3 g of sodium, while Shredded Wheat has none and Frosted Flakes contain 0.5 g. But sodium isn’t just about salt—it’s also about iodine, a crucial nutrient that many people are unknowingly missing.
Iodine deficiency has been on the rise due to the shift toward natural sea salts, which do not contain iodine unless specifically labeled as iodized. Since iodine is essential for thyroid health and overall well-being, we use iodized sea salt in our muffins to ensure our families get the iodine they need. While many processed foods contain salt, most do not contribute to iodine intake, making it important to be mindful of where your iodine is coming from.
5. Micronutrient-Rich Breakfast: Vitamins & Minerals in Mary's Morning Glory Muffins
✔ 4x more potassium than a banana! Supports muscle recovery, hydration, and heart health.
✔ More calcium than both cereals—strong bones without needing fortified ingredients.
✔ Rich in iron, magnesium, and folate—key for energy and metabolism.
Beyond just protein and lasting energy, starting the day with our muffins means packing in essential vitamins and minerals that are often lacking in typical breakfast cereals. While some cereals are fortified with these nutrients, our Morning Glory Muffins offer a naturally rich source. For instance, the impressive potassium content, significantly higher than a banana, supports vital bodily functions. Similarly, the naturally occurring calcium surpasses that found in most cereals, contributing to strong bones without relying on added supplements. Furthermore, the abundance of iron, magnesium, and folate plays crucial roles in energy production and overall metabolic health, giving your family a nutritional boost right from the start.
Addressing the Cost: Are Our Morning Glory Muffins Worth the Investment?
I recently had a parent tell me our muffins are amazing, and his kids devoured them leaving only one for him to try (which he loved). But at ~$4 a pop, he said they might have to be reduced to a periodic indulgence. He was unsure that a muffin, traditionally known as a sweet indulgence, justified the cost, asking me: I'm kind of trusting that the ingredients are really good?
I get it! $4 for a muffin seems unusually high if you're thinking about it in the traditional muffin sense. But let's make the shift to breakfast and lunch. Consumer trends are showing that more and more families are trading off full meals for quick grab and go portions. So now our nutritious muffins make much more sense. For less than the price of our daily latte, we're investing in our children's focus, energy, and overall well-being. It's not just an indulgence - and it's no longer just breakfast; it's a small investment in their potential, and as parents, we know that's truly priceless.
Fuel Your Family with Nutritious Breakfast Options
Next time you're choosing breakfast, make a balanced nutritional choice. One of our Morning Glory Muffins gives you:
✅ More protein to keep you satisfied
✅ Healthy fats for brain and heart health
✅ Essential vitamins and minerals from real food sources
✅ A balanced mix of fibre, natural sugars, and complex carbs
Where to Buy Mary's Morning Glory Muffins
Our flash-frozen, handcrafted Morning Glory Muffins are available in-store and online—just thaw and devour in good health for a quick, nourishing start to your day!