Are Weetabix actually healthy?

The recent focus on ultra-processed foods has raised questions about how nutritious this household staple really is. We asked the experts

Many of us grew up eating Weetabix. Unlike the “fun” cereals loaded with chocolate and sugar, Weetabix always seemed reassuringly bland. Marketed as “good food you can trust”, surely something that looks and tastes this wholesome has to be good for you? 
But the recent focus on ultra-processed foods (UPFs) has raised questions about how healthy Weetabix really is. After all, it’s tricky – but not impossible – to make your own wheat biscuits at home, as they are a (minimally) processed food. 
To make matters more confusing, you can now choose from several different types of Weetabix, designed to cater for all tastes and dietary preferences: from high protein and organic recipes, to crispy flakes, minis with added fruit and nuts, and even chocolate flavour biscuits. The one thing they all have in common is a tendency to turn to cement if you forget to rinse your bowl. This is due to the high starch content, which turns Weetabix into an adhesive paste when mixed with water, similar to the process used to make paper. Although that doesn’t sound very appetising, there’s no need to worry about the same thing happening in your digestive system.  
“Remember, your stomach and intestine break down food using digestive enzymes and bacteria, so it’s not sitting around drying out like it does in the bowl,” says Emma Shafquat, a paediatric dietitian.
If you’re keen to avoid ultra-processed foods (UPFs), you may be wary of foods containing ingredients that you wouldn’t find in your kitchen cupboard. 
However, Rhiannon Lambert, a registered nutritionist, author of The Science of Plant Based Nutrition and founder of Rhitrition and Rhitrition Plus clinics, says this isn’t always a cause for concern. “People often see words such as ‘niacin,’ ‘riboflavin,’ ‘folic acid’ on the back of cereal boxes and worry they are added chemicals, which are unnatural or harmful. However, these nutrients are vital for our health and are added to foods like Weetabix to help ensure a well-rounded intake.”
Shafquat agrees. She says: “For a lot of children, especially fussy eaters, and adults, especially women, fortified cereal can be a great way to add extra iron. Also, folic acid can reduce the risk of neural tube defects during pregnancy, so, I think it is a positive thing that Weetabix is fortified with extra nutrients.”
According to the experts, Weetabix can be considered healthy for the following reasons:
“The sugar content in Weetabix is minimal, which helps to manage blood sugar levels. This is really important for energy, and especially relevant to children. Sending your child to school after a sugary bowl of cereal will cause their blood glucose levels to rise quickly, then dramatically plunge, which will leave them feeling hungry and likely unable to concentrate,” says Lambert. 
“This is good for your digestive health and helps you feel full for longer,” says Shafquat. 
“We know that the main source of iron in our diets comes from fortified cereals such as Weetabix,” says Lambert. “However, here in the UK, if a product is labelled ‘organic’ it cannot be fortified with any nutrients such as vitamins and minerals.” 
Surprisingly, this gives the original Weetabix the edge over the organic version from a nutritional point of view. 
“There’s only 0.10g of salt in two biscuits,” says Shafquat. In the UK, the advice is that adults should consume less than 6g of salt per day, so this won’t have much of an impact.
“Weetabix can be prepared quickly with milk or a plant-based alternative and topped with fruits for added nutrition and variety,” says Lambert. “This ease of preparation makes it an excellent choice for busy mornings when time is limited.”
When was the last time you added malted barley extract to your shopping list? It’s not an ingredient that’s typically used by home cooks, and it’s the main reason why, technically, Weetabix is a UPF. 
Lambert explains: “Despite its relatively straightforward ingredients list, Weetabix falls into the category [of UPFs] due to the presence of added sugars and certain processed ingredients like malted barley extract. However, not all UPFs are created equal. For instance, original Weetabix varieties provide a good source of whole grains, fibre, and essential vitamins and minerals, which contribute positively to a balanced diet. This distinction highlights why we shouldn’t label all UPFs as unhealthy.”
Shafquat agrees: “Weetabix would be low down on my list of foods that I would avoid because they are UPF.”
Take a look at the nutritional information, and original Weetbix ticks all the healthy eating boxes, with a full-set of green lights, according to the traffic light labelling system. 
However, not all types of Weetabix are created equal – and some varieties are much healthier than others. For example, flavoured Weetabix such as the chocolate, banana, and fruit and nut minis have a much higher sugar content (up to 8.1g for the chocolate flavour biscuits). Surprisingly, even healthy-sounding options such as Weetabix Protein, don’t stand up against the originals. 
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“These cereals are a good way to get a good portion of your daily protein intake through breakfast, but it comes at the cost of the sugar content being a little higher than the original Weetabix,” explains Lambert. 
Our experts agree that a bowl of Weetabix is a healthy way to start the day – but only if you choose the original varieties. 
Lambert concludes: “I would choose original Weetabix or Oatibix because they offer a balanced nutritional profile with minimal added sugars, making them a great breakfast choice for most people. This also gives you the freedom to pair your plain biscuits with healthy toppings of your choice.” 
Yes, Weetabix can be a bit boring, but Lambert has the following suggestions to make it tastier – and more nutritious. 
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