Flavored instant oatmeal packets—maple brown sugar, apple cinnamon—typically contain 10-15 grams of added sugar per serving. Research on health halos shows “healthy” labeling leads people to underestimate calories and sugar. Plain instant oatmeal has zero added sugar. The difference between “oatmeal” and “candy-flavored oatmeal” is significant, but packaging makes them look equally healthy.
This companion covers the audit, the numbers, plain versus flavored, and the better approach. (4 min read)