# Quaker Life Cereal, Original > Health and ingredient intelligence for a real grocery product. Source: Supermarket Puzzle (Grocery Intelligence Index). Not a shop. ## Snapshot - **Brand:** Life - **Retailer listed:** Foodtown - **Category:** Cereal & Breakfast - **Size:** 13 oz - **Human page:** https://supermarketpuzzle.com/product/life-quaker-cereal-original-13-oz - **Slug:** `life-quaker-cereal-original-13-oz` ## NOVA classification **NOVA 4** - Ultra-processed foods The cereal is an industrially formulated product with refined and fractionated flours, added sugar, colorants, preservatives and vitamin/mineral fortification, consistent with an ultra-processed (NOVA 4) classification. ## Review Quaker Life Cereal, Original (13 oz) is a familiar boxed breakfast staple you’ll find in the cereal aisle alongside other ready-to-eat cold cereals, near granolas, kids’ cereals and oatmeal packets. It reads like a family pantry product: a mid-priced, mainstream offering from a long-standing brand positioned as a simple, wholesome morning choice for busy households. Shoppers pull it for quick weekday breakfasts, back-to-school lunches, or as a portable snack during road trips. The packaging is a cardboard box with an inner liner, printed with clean, family-friendly imagery and callouts about whole grain and added vitamins — cues that create a “better-for-you” halo without organic or specialty certification. The ingredient list mixes milled whole grain oat and wheat flours with corn flour and sugar, plus added minerals, B vitamins and coloring; tocopherols are used as a preservative. In plain terms it’s an industrially manufactured cereal made from ground grains, shaped or toasted into uniform pieces and fortified for shelf-stability and nutrition claims. Sensory-wise the original Life is lightly sweet, toasty and crunchy out of the box, softening when splashed with cold milk; pieces are small and biscuit-like, easy to eat by spoon or as a dry snack. The ritual is quick and habitual: pour into a bowl, add milk or yogurt, sometimes topped with fruit for a hybrid comfort-and-convenience breakfast. Its marketing leans toward practical, family-oriented reliability rather than gourmet or artisanal appeal. ## Diet flags - Vegetarian - Dairy-free ## Nutrition - **Serving size:** 1 cup - **Servings per container:** 9 - **Calories:** 160 - **Total fat:** 2g (3% DV) - **Saturated fat:** 0g (0% DV) - **Sodium:** 170mg (7% DV) - **Total carbs:** 33g (12% DV) - **Dietary fiber:** 3g (11% DV) - **Total sugars:** 8g - **Added sugars:** 8g (16% DV) - **Protein:** 4g ## Ingredients Whole Grain Oat Flour, Corn Flour, Sugar, Whole Wheat Flour, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Baking Soda, Tocopherols (to Preserve Freshness), Reduced Iron, Niacinamide*, Annatto (Color), Thiamine Mononitrate*, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride*, Riboflavin*, Folic Acid*. * One of the B Vitamins. ## Flagged ingredients - **Tocopherols** (preservative): Synthetic preservative - **Annatto** (additive): Artificial coloring ## Context tags - **Occasions:** back-to-school, road-trip, weekend-brunch - **Vibes:** nostalgic, wholesome, convenient, comforting ## FAQ ### Is Life Cereal healthy? That really depends on how you define 'healthy.' Life Cereal has whole grain oat flour and whole wheat flour, which are decent sources of fiber and nutrients. However, it does contain added sugars (about 8 grams per serving), so if you're watching your sugar intake, you might want to enjoy it in moderation. ### Is Life Cereal vegan? Nope, Life Cereal isn't vegan. While it doesn't contain any obvious animal products, it does include calcium carbonate, which is often derived from limestone. So, if you're strictly plant-based, you might want to pass on this one. ### Is Life Cereal gluten-free? Unfortunately, Life Cereal is not gluten-free. It contains whole wheat flour, which means it's definitely off-limits for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities. If you're looking for a gluten-free breakfast option, there are plenty of alternatives on the market! ### Does Life Cereal contain seed oils? Nope, Life Cereal does not contain seed oils. It's made primarily from whole grain flours and doesn't include any of those highly processed oils that are often a concern for health-conscious eaters. So, you can enjoy it without that worry hanging over your breakfast! ### Does Life Cereal contain artificial sweeteners? Not at all! Life Cereal doesn't have any artificial sweeteners lurking in its ingredient list. Instead, it gets its sweetness from added sugars, which means it’s not sugar-free, but at least you won't find any of those funky chemical sweeteners here. ### Is Life Cereal high in sugar? Life Cereal isn’t exactly a sugar bomb, but it's not sugar-free either. With 8 grams of added sugars per serving, it’s moderate on the sugar scale. If you're pairing it with fruit or yogurt, just keep that in mind to balance things out! ### What are healthier alternatives to Life Cereal? If you're looking for healthier alternatives, consider cereals that are high in fiber and low in added sugars, like oatmeal or bran flakes. You might also explore granola options that use whole ingredients and less sugar. Just remember to check the labels for those sneaky added sugars! ### Can kids eat Life Cereal? Absolutely! Life Cereal can be a fun and tasty option for kids, especially when paired with milk or yogurt and some fresh fruit. Just keep an eye on portion sizes, as it does contain added sugars, but a balanced breakfast can include a little sweetness! ### Is Life Cereal good for weight loss? Life Cereal can fit into a weight loss plan, but it's all about moderation. With 160 calories and 3 grams of fiber per serving, it can keep you satisfied, but be cautious of the added sugars. Pairing it with protein-rich toppings like nuts or yogurt can make it more filling! ### Is Life Cereal ultra-processed? While Life Cereal is processed, it’s not considered ultra-processed by some definitions. It contains recognizable ingredients like whole grain flours and added vitamins, but it does have preservatives and added sugars. So, if you're looking for something closer to whole foods, you might want to explore other options! ## Related products - [Quaker Instant Oatmeal, Cinnamon & Spice](https://supermarketpuzzle.com/product/quaker-instant-oatmeal-cinnamon-spice-1210-oz) (NOVA 4) | markdown: https://supermarketpuzzle.com/__a2/md?path=/product/quaker-instant-oatmeal-cinnamon-spice-1210-oz - [Kelloggs Raisin Bran](https://supermarketpuzzle.com/product/raisin-bran-kelloggs-1610-oz) (NOVA 4) | markdown: https://supermarketpuzzle.com/__a2/md?path=/product/raisin-bran-kelloggs-1610-oz - [Kellogg's Froot Loops Giant Size](https://supermarketpuzzle.com/product/froot-loops-kelloggs-giant-size-23-oz) (NOVA 4) | markdown: https://supermarketpuzzle.com/__a2/md?path=/product/froot-loops-kelloggs-giant-size-23-oz - [Kellogg's Pop-Tart 12 Ct Unfrosted Strawberry](https://supermarketpuzzle.com/product/pop-tarts-kelloggs-pop-tart-12-ct-unfrosted-strawberry-2030-oz) (NOVA 4) | markdown: https://supermarketpuzzle.com/__a2/md?path=/product/pop-tarts-kelloggs-pop-tart-12-ct-unfrosted-strawberry-2030-oz - [Kellogg's Froot Loops](https://supermarketpuzzle.com/product/froot-loops-kelloggs-890-oz) (NOVA 4) | markdown: https://supermarketpuzzle.com/__a2/md?path=/product/froot-loops-kelloggs-890-oz - [Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Oatmeal Cup, Brown Sugar and Maple](https://supermarketpuzzle.com/product/bobs-red-mill-gluten-free-oatmeal-cup-brown-sugar-and-maple-215-oz) (NOVA 4) | markdown: https://supermarketpuzzle.com/__a2/md?path=/product/bobs-red-mill-gluten-free-oatmeal-cup-brown-sugar-and-maple-215-oz - [Kellogg's Frosted Flakes Large Size](https://supermarketpuzzle.com/product/frosted-flakes-kelloggs-large-size-1730-oz) (NOVA 4) | markdown: https://supermarketpuzzle.com/__a2/md?path=/product/frosted-flakes-kelloggs-large-size-1730-oz - [Barebells Chocolate Dough](https://supermarketpuzzle.com/product/barebells-chocolate-dough-194-oz) (NOVA 4) | markdown: https://supermarketpuzzle.com/__a2/md?path=/product/barebells-chocolate-dough-194-oz ## For agents Prefer this markdown sheet over scraping the HTML page. 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