Just a few years ago, gluten-free cereal fans had limited options, most of which were available only at natural food stores. How times have changed — these days, you can find gluten-free cereal at almost any supermarket, and there's a huge variety from which to choose.
It's possible to find cold breakfast-style cereals, hot varieties such as certified gluten-free oats and whole-grain porridge, fiber-packed granola cereals and gluten-free kid-friendly cereals with plenty of child-pleasing sugar.
Here's a rundown of the various gluten-free cereal options available — just click on the links at the top of each section to get more information and a list of products available in each different category of gluten-free cereal.
Gluten-Free Cold Cereal
You've got plenty of gluten-free cold cereals from which to choose if you enjoy it for breakfast or as a snack. Specialty gluten-free manufacturers and mainstream consumer products manufacturers offer many different varieties, including high-fiber cereals, cereals with added fruit and some fairly sweet varieties.
Gluten-Free Hot Cereals
If you prefer to start your day with hot cereal, you've also got plenty of options, including easy instant hot cereals and high-fiber hot cereals you cook on the stove or in the microwave. Although many of these hot cereals contain gluten-free certified oats, which will pose a problem for oat-sensitive celiacs, there are several oat-free options.
Gluten-Free Granola Cereals
Granola can provide either a morning cereal or a substantial take-along snack, and four different manufacturers make a variety of different gluten-free granola cereal flavors. Again, many gluten-free granola cereals contain oats, placing them off-limits to celiacs who can't eat oats, but a few varieties omit the oats.
Gluten-Free Kids' Cereals
Gluten-free kids have a bonanza of kid-friendly choices in cereal, including several products from mainstream manufacturers and a slew of options from specialty natural food firms. Due to concerns about added sugar in kids' products, companies are cutting back on the sugar in heavily-sweetened breakfast cereals — but there's still almost certainly enough sugar in these gluten-free kids' cereals to please your gluten-free child.
