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To save you time and tedium trawling round the supermarket, Health24 went shopping and came back with a selection of leading "health" brands of muesli.
We tested them to find out which was best for your body and your budget - and, of course, which was the most delicious.
Like us, you might be surprised at some of the results. Low-fat doesn't always translate as tasteless, and more ingredients doesn't always mean more nutritious.
But you be the final judge - you might just find a product here that transforms that most important meal of the day.
Simply Cereal Balance Low-Fat Muesli (400g)
The word that best describes this muesli's would be "unobjectionable". In other words: it tastes okay, but it’s not exactly a thrilling breakfast experience. The little dried fruit bits it contains are nice, but it needs to be dressed up further with flavoured yoghurt, fruit and maybe nuts to make it worth getting out of bed for – and that of course would push up the fat and calorie content.
However, what counts in this muesli's favour is the fact that it's super low in fat – at least, in muesli terms. But the relatively high sodium content is definitely a disadvantage. Go for the muesli if you need to cut your fat intake, but steer clear if you are at risk, or suffer from, high blood pressure.
Claims: Low-fat; suitable for vegetarians.
Price: R16,49 (R2,06 per portion)
Portion size: 50g (8 portions per pack)
Nutritional analysis (per 100g): 1 410 kJ; 8g protein; 6,4g fibre; 71g carbohydrates; 1,8g fat; 325mg sodium.
Vital Muesli (500g)
 This muesli pipped the others at the post in terms of fibre content. Of all the mueslis tested, it also had the lowest sodium content. If you suffer from high blood pressure or need to up your fibre intake, this is the brand for you.
In terms of taste, we thought that the picture on the packet was definitely more exciting than the actual product. It tastes like most regular muesli brands: lots of oats, raisins and almonds. But because of all the oats, it’s not really crunchy.
Claims: High-fibre; suitable for vegans; free from artificial colours and flavours, preservatives and cholesterol.
Price: R23,99 (R1,41 per portion)
Portion size: 30g (17 portions per pack)
Nutritional analysis (per 100g): 1384 kJ; 10,6g protein; 12g fibre; 54,2g carbohydrates; 9,1g fat; 13mg sodium.
FineForm Low-GI Muesli (375g)
 This muesli is the only one to make the low-GI claim - that is why it caught our attention. Unfortunately, it doesn't beat the other brands on a nutritional level. It is also the most expensive of all the mueslis tested.
However, if you need to control your blood sugar levels better, this might still be a good option.
It turned out to be a relatively light and sweet muesli, with a hint of coconut. It is a touch low on fruit, but apart from that, it is well balanced with just the right level of nuts, crunch and fibre.
Claims: Low GI (promotes a toned, muscular body; sustains energy levels; helps maintain ideal weight).
Price: R24,99 (R3,57 per portion)
Portion size: 53,5g (7 portions per pack)
Nutritional analysis (per 100g): 1 425kJ; 10,5g protein; 10,9g fibre; 64,8g carbohydrates; 7,2g fat; 20mg sodium.
Mary-Ann's Muesli (1kg)
Mary-Ann's product is not as crunchy as most of the others, but it still has a nice 'chewy' texture. This muesli is also super sweet – a factor that overrides the flavour of the other ingredients. It’s also a very moist muesli, because of the added sunflower oil (which also leaves a 'fatty' lining on the palate). The raisins, sultanas and currants are a bit much though.
Nutritionally, this muesli threw us a bit. It has the lowest kilojoule count of all the mueslis tested, but it also has a high fat content. To top it all, the manufacturer claims that it's "sucrose free", even though it contains a significant amount of honey (which is made up of a number of sugars, including sucrose). Even though it's low in energy, we still won't recommend it for slimmers.
Claims: Wheat-free; sucrose-free; dairy-free; preservative free.
Price: R73,95 (R1,84 per portion)
Portion size: 25g (40 portions per pack)
Nutritional analysis (per 100g): 1 277,6 kJ; 5,5g protein; 5,8g fibre; 48,4g carbohydrates; 14,6g fat.
Weigh-Less High Bulk Muesli (500g)
 If you're grocery shopping on a shoestring, this is the muesli to go for. It turned out to be the cheapest of all the brands tested. Another bonus is the added vitamins and minerals. The fat content is also relatively low, but the product contains a fair amount of sodium.
Unfortunately, this muesli is rather bland and tasteless. There's no trace of the usual honey taste associated with muesli. In fact, judging only on taste, one can easily mistake this muesli for some other dry cereal. It contains too much corn flakes and puffed wheat and too little fruit, honey, nuts and seeds.
Claims: Source of dietary fibre; source of vitamins; low in total fat & saturated fat
Price: R21,95 (R1,10 per portion)
Portion size: 25g (20 portions per pack)
Nutritional analysis (per 100g): 1 409,8 kJ; 10g protein; 7,9g fibre; 72,4g carbohydrates; 2,2g fat; 214mg sodium.
Woolworths Slimmer's Choice Baked Muesli (500g)
This is one of the best-tasting mueslis we tried. It's not bland, but also not too sweet. And the texture is varied. It's nice and crunchy and cubes of dried fruit make it interesting and slightly chewy.
Even though it contains a fair amount of corn and bran flakes (generally regarded as bland ingredients), it's still really tasty. It also doesn't leave a fatty feel in the mouth, which is another plus.
Apart from the great taste, the Woolworths muesli also turned out to have the lowest fat content of all the brands tested. Nutritionally, it also compared well. Slimmers, this is your brand!
Claims: Low fat
Price: R24,99 (R2,27 per portion)
Portion size: 45g (11 portions per pack)
Nutritional analysis (per 100g): 1 465 kJ; 8,1g protein; 4,5g fibre; 72,2g carbohydrates; 1,8g fat; 194mg sodium.
- (Health24, May 2007)
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