Can you spot the ultraprocessed foods?

Take a virtual shopping trip to learn more about what's on grocery store shelves.

Cream of Wheat Quick Enriched 2.5 Minute Farina
Cereal & Breakfast
📊 NOVA 3🥛 Dairy-Free✨ Seed Oil Free

Cream of Wheat Quick Enriched 2.5 Minute Farina

Cream of Wheat
28 oz
Available at Foodtown
120
Calories
3g
Protein
100mg
Sodium
1g
Fiber
31
Ingredients

What You Should Know

Cream of Wheat Quick Enriched 2.5 Minute Farina is a classic boxed hot cereal you’ll find in the cereal and grains aisle, shelved alongside instant oatmeal, grits, and hot-cereal mixes. It’s commonly stocked near baking mixes and breakfast staples, occupying a spot that appeals to shoppers looking for warm, quick breakfasts or pantry basics. This product fits into weekday mornings, weekend brunches and simple family breakfasts — and it’s a sensible choice for storm-prep or low-effort back-to-school mornings. The brand leans on a long American heritage, evoking nostalgia and homey comfort; marketing skews toward families and older adults who remember traditional hot cereals while also pitching convenience to busy parents. Packaging usually emphasizes the “quick” cook time and “enriched” nutrition, projecting a mild health halo without organic or natural certification; there’s no kid-focused cartooning or indulgent claims, just clear functional messaging. In plain language: this is a refined milled-wheat product that has been processed and fortified with vitamins and minerals (noted on the ingredient list). Sensory-wise, the dry product is a fine, powdery farina that cooks up into a creamy, smooth porridge with a velvety mouthfeel; people typically prepare it by whisking into water or milk, then finishing with butter, sugar, syrup, fruit, or milk for added flavor. The ritual is simple and tactile — stirring a pot, timing 2–3 minutes, topping while steaming — and it’s sold in a familiar boxed/container format that stores easily in a pantry.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 3 tbsp
Servings per Container: 24
Calories120
% Daily Value*
Total Fat0g0%
Saturated Fat0g0%
Sodium100mg4%
Total Carbohydrate25g9%
Dietary Fiber1g4%
Protein3g
* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Ingredients

Wheat, Farina,, Calcium, Carbonate,, Defatted, Wheat, Germ,, Disodium, Phosphate,, Ferric, Orthophosphate, (Iron),, Niacinamide, (Vitamin, B3),, Thiamine, Mononitrate, (Vitamin, B1),, Pyridoxine, Hydrochloride, (Vitamin, B6),, Riboflavin, (Vitamin, -B2),, Folic, Acid,, Cholecalciferol, (Vitamin, D3)..

Dietary Labels

This product is not vegan, is not gluten-free, and is not organic.

Ultra-Processing Assessment

NOVA Score:3 / 4

Processed Food

Why this score?

This is a refined cereal made from milled wheat with added minerals, vitamins and stabilizing salts; the refinement and fortification indicate it is a processed food (NOVA 3) rather than an unprocessed whole grain or a formulation of industrial ingredients typical of ultra-processed products.

Daily Ritual

Can you Spot Ultraprocessed Foods? Play our Supermarket Game

Take a virtual shopping trip to learn more about what's on grocery store shelves.

Shopping in the supermarket oil aisle

Others also viewed

Common Questions about Cream of Wheat Quick Enriched 2.5 Minute Farina

Well, 'healthy' can be a bit subjective, right? Cream of Wheat is a warm bowl of comfort that provides a solid dose of carbs and some vitamins, but it’s not exactly a superfood. It's low in sugar and has no preservatives, which is a plus, but it does lack fiber and protein compared to some other breakfast options. So, it can be part of a balanced breakfast if paired with fruits or nuts for added nutrition!

Perfect For

weekend-brunch
back-to-school
storm-prep

Vibe:

nostalgiccomfortingconvenient
$NaN
per package