As mentioned in an earlier review of Quaker Instant Oatmeal, the Quaker oatmeals have been a big part of our families diet for 27 years. I also serve it to my daycare children when I don’t have time to make oatmeal from scratch.
Recently, my grocer had about 20 boxes of Quaker Weight Control instant oatmeal in their marked down clearance bin. I had never tried it before, but I have been on a diet – and the price was certainly right at only $1.25 per box. This normally retails for $3.89! I picked up four boxes of Cinnamon flavor and hoped for the best.
While the regular Quaker instant oatmeal comes with 10 packets to a box, the Weight Control only has 8 (although the box is exactly the same size, go figure!).
Looking at the box of Quaker Weight Control, it is quite impressive. It provides 7 grams of protein (3 more grams than regular), 6 grams of fiber (3 more grams than regular), although it does contain one more gram of fat (3 grams per packet). None of those fat grams are the bad trans fats, however.
What really attracted me to this oatmeal, (aside from the price) was the fact that it contains only 1 gram of sugar, compared to a whopping 13 grams in my favorite Quaker Maple & Brown Sugar variety. Quaker keeps the sugar grams down by sweetening this with the low calorie sweetener Splenda.
Other Nutrition Facts as compared to Maple & Brown Sugar in Parenthesis
Calories: 160 (the same)
Calories from fat: 25 (20)
Cholesterol: 0g (the same)
Sodium: 270mg (the same)
Potassium: 150mg (not listed at all)
Carbs: 29g (33g)
Vitamins & Minerals
Vitamin A: 20%
Calcium: 10%
Iron: 20%
Thiamin: 20%
Riboflavin: 20%
Niacin: 20%
Vitamin B6: 20%
Phosphorus: 15%
Magnesium: 10%
Ingredients
Whole grain rolled oats, whey protein isolate, maltodextrin, salt, natural and artificial flavors (contains barley gluten), oat flour, calcium carbonate, guar gum, cinnamon, caramel color, soy lecithin, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, niacinamide, vitamin A palmitate, reduced iron, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin, thiamin mononitrate, and folic acid.
Thoughts
As much as I wanted to make this Weight Control oatmeal a part of my healthy weight loss breakfast meal, there was something lacking in the flavor that just did not make it satisfying. I suppose the fact that my grocer had so many of these in their clearance bin suggests it was not a product that sold well. I gave it to my daycare children a couple of times, wondering if they would notice the difference. Although NONE of them finished their bowls of oatmeal, they were courteous and said they were full. Bless them nobody said they didn’t like it. When served regular oatmeal, they always clean their bowls. I love cinnamon flavored foods, but even that didn’t make this oatmeal very palatable.
The product is low in saturated fat, and is made from whole grains. The 6 grams of fiber is an excellent amount for one meal, and the 7 grams of protein should help you feel full and promote lean muscle mass. I am really disappointed that I didn’t care for this oatmeal. I really wanted to, but it just didn’t satisfy.
