Kellogg’s Raisin Bran Protein Cereal has one gram less fiber and four grams more protein than Kellogg’s original Raisin Bran, and I know that off the top of my head. Why am I admitting to the least impressive flex ever? Because I have an Amazon Subscribe & Save subscription for regular Kellogg’s Raisin Bran, and since there are no puzzles on the back of the box for me to solve, all I have to read while eating the cereal is the nutrition facts.
If you LOVE the malty, bran-forward taste of Kellogg’s Raisin Bran, you might be disappointed with what this variation offers. It doesn’t taste like the original, just with added protein. Some might see that as an improvement, but I don’t. Even with a “touch of cinnamon,” which is an accurate description because it’s liiiiiiight, the flavor isn’t an upgrade. I notice the spice, but I wish this had a gentle rubdown of cinnamon rather than the whisper it currently offers.
It also doesn’t feel like regular Raisin Bran. The flakes are closer in texture to those in Raisin Bran Crunch, which, again, some might see as an improvement because the thin flakes in the regular version go soggy quickly. They’re thicker, probably due to the soy protein isolate, and that thickness makes them more crunchy than crispy. So I guess the protein can help bulk up bran flakes as well as muscles.
What could use some bulking up is the flavor of the shriveled grapes, which are not as sweet as what’s in the original. This makes their taste less noticeable than what’s in regular Raisin Bran. Also, and maybe it’s just my box, there appear to be fewer than two scoops of them. A stronger cinnamon punch might’ve made up for the diminished raisins, but of course, that didn’t happen.
Other than the protein, this cereal is a lesser version of Kellogg’s original Raisin Bran. As a fan and regular eater of the classic, I thought this protein-enhanced version could eventually be my go-to when it comes to shriveled grapes and bran flakes. But its underwhelming cinnamon flavor and raisins delivered two scoops of disappointment.
Purchased Price: $5.69
Size: 17.3 oz box
Purchased at: Target
Rating: 5 out of 10
Nutrition Facts: (1 1/4 cup – 61 grams) 210 calories, 1 gram of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 milligrams of cholesterol, 260 milligrams of sodium, 46 grams of carbohydrates, 6 grams of fiber, 15 grams of sugar (includes 7 grams of added sugar), and 9 grams of protein.
I wonder if bran muffins made with the Protein version of Kellog’s Raisin Bran (something that has long been done with the original version) would also be a disappointment compared to regular bran muffins?