Additional Coverage:
- I compared brand-name cereals to Walmart’s cheaper generic versions. I’ll never buy some pricier options again. (businessinsider.com)
Cereal Showdown: Brand Names vs. Walmart’s Great Value
Feeding a family can be expensive, especially when it comes to breakfast staples like cereal. To see if switching to generic brands could save some money without sacrificing taste, I put Walmart’s Great Value cereals to the test against some popular name brands.
My kids, ages four and seven, joined me for a blind taste test. Here’s the scoop:
Honey Nut Cheerios vs. Honey Nut O’s:
- Price: Name brand significantly more expensive.
- Appearance: Generic O’s were larger and paler.
- Taste: The name brand had a richer honey flavor and heartier oat taste. The generic version was crunchier but had a slightly chalky texture.
Interestingly, my four-year-old preferred the generic cereal (she’s not a big honey fan). My seven-year-old and I stuck with the original.
Honey Bunches of Oats vs. Great Value knock-off:
- Price: Name brand more expensive.
- Appearance: The name brand had a better mix of flakes and granola clusters.
- Taste: The name brand was noticeably sweeter. The generic version tasted bland, mostly like corn flakes.
We all agreed that the name brand Honey Bunches of Oats was worth the extra cost.
Cinnamon Toast Crunch vs. Cinnamon Crunch:
- Price: Generic cereal was cheaper and came in a larger box.
- Appearance: Easy to tell apart!
The name brand pieces were smaller, darker, and had more cinnamon swirls.
- Taste: My seven-year-old and I had different opinions on this one.
He preferred the sweeter, crunchier name brand. I liked the lighter, less sweet generic version.
My four-year-old couldn’t tell the difference.
Rice Krispies vs. Rice Crisps:
- Price: Generic version significantly cheaper.
- Appearance: Generic crisps were larger and more yellow.
- Taste: Very similar! The name brand was slightly sweeter, while the generic had a faint cardboard aftertaste.
My kids couldn’t tell the difference. We also made rice cereal treats with both, and the marshmallow flavor masked any differences.
The verdict? Generic is the way to go for treats!
Frosted Flakes vs. Frosted Flakes:
- Price: Generic version offered substantial savings.
- Appearance: Nearly identical, although the generic flakes were a bit more yellow.
- Taste: We couldn’t tell the difference! Both were sugary, crunchy (initially), and then got soggy in milk.
The generic version is a clear winner for the budget-conscious.
Conclusion:
While some name brands held their own (Honey Nut Cheerios and Honey Bunches of Oats), the generic versions of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Rice Krispies, and Frosted Flakes were surprisingly good alternatives. This taste test proves that you can save money on cereal without always sacrificing taste.