If you ask any person in the majority of countries, do they like rice, the majority of them will answer you that they do and that they have it on their daily menu – from east to the west, the rice is a staple in people’s homes, there is no doubt.

The preparation process can vary, but rice is just like pasta, a food stable in any home; and if you want to compare it to pasta, it has more health benefits.

Now, this is not the story about the rice, but maybe in some way it is; because of the rice, and not any rice, but the brown rice is the star of one of the cereal favorite – Rice Krispies.

All of us at a certain part of our lives had some of Rice Krispies, and there is a big chance that we gave it our kid when we became parents, or that we have stumbled on a recipe for some cookie or cake that involved this treat.

These cereals are distinguished by their amazing taste; there is an undeniable amount of sugar in them, along with some added flavorings.

This is just one part of the story, since you, as a vegan, if you follow that diet, you wonder can you eat Rice Krispies, what are those ingredients that can make them unavailable for a family that is following a vegan diet.

You can find out your answer right here.

One is the original, and there are so many copies (all equally delicious)

The manufacturer of this cereal is one of the biggest names in the business – Kellogg’s Kellogg’s. This is the company that is known for cereal production, and they have set themselves as a leader in this area, there is no doubt about it. Now, personal preferences are something else, but the quality, taste, and the brand name, they are persevering for so many decades.

These cereals first came into the market in the late 20s, since then on the market you can find various versions of Rice Krispies – that are made to suit the special time of the year, or some hipster flavor in the current moment

. There can be found rice puffs, for example, and others call them rice bubbles, but the majority of them are made in a similar way; of course, the list of ingredients is something else.

All of the manufacturers that are making such cereals are attempting to create that perfect crush that, when combined with milk, gives a bowl of perfect rice, sweet, and fulfilling taste.

Some would dare to say that this is the perfect breakfast for the entire family.

Regarding flavorings, there are most notably vanilla and chocolate and, of course, strawberry. As any smart manufacturer, Kellogg’s has introduced into the market some other flavorings, just like Berry Rice Krispies, Halloween Rice Krispies, Razzle Dazzle Rice Krispies, Marshmallow Rice Krispies, and Cinnamon Rice Krispies.

In the meantime, and during the years of production, there are many more of them that never gained popularity.

Also, there is a special way how they are created – it is made out of brown rice that is crisped, and the sugar paste is put on the top. It makes them crunchy and delicious. One thing you need to know that in the process of cooking the rice, it expands, and it creates a surface that is crunchy and crumbly.

Now, the milk that you add on the top of your cereals makes them great, since it makes them snap, and that delicious popping sound is made.

Their numerous campaigns are based on this sound, and truly it is amazing and effective at the same time. You must always have in mind that the cereal market is huge and that their campaigns are perfectly conducted.

Ingredients

In the process of discovery is Rice Krispies vegan, the list of ingredients is a must, and the best way is to look for the bag of the original Rice Krispies.

When we are talking about the amazing ingredients, we must say that clearly, they are made out of crispy brown rice, which is the main ingredient that makes them so crunchy.

There are surprisingly few ingredients – rice, salt, and sugar, along with the food preservative. Here they use butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). What you must know regarding this element that is a part of Rice Krispies is that it is an antioxidant that helps foods maintain its freshness.

Now you know why your flakes remain crunchy for weeks – how can they stay intact in an open box for so long, and maintain their amazing taste, and not just taste, but their texture (their most notable trait).

Just like so many other cereals on the market, these are the most popular with kids, so they have additions in the form of vitamins, just like folic acid, iron, zinc, and niacin.

As you can see, there is nothing alarming here, if vegans want to eat them.

Are Rice Krispies vegan? 

They are vegan – looking at the ingredients list, there is nothing that could raise the alarm -there are no byproducts that come from an animal course, like dairy, milk, or eggs. There is not even honey or chocolate (we are talking about the most common version, the regular ones not the special edition.

In those cases, there can be some additional elements that would make Rice Krispies non – vegan.

And one more, very important issue here that deserves to be mentioned.

Sugar is certainly one of the most “controversial” parts of any product in a vegan since (we are not talking about the clear examples of an animal byproduct like meat or dairy). Some vegans have a problem with eating because large companies have a special way of making it.

They use bone char to make sugar whiter, and this is very common in all large companies just like Kellogg’s.

Of course, the amount of sugar and the uncertainty is the sugar that was an ingredient in Rice Krispies produced in such a way, makes them suitable for a vegan diet. So, it is up to you and what is comfortable for you and your family.

Are Rice Krispies healthy? 

Most packaging manufacturers emphasize that rice flakes and cereals that they make, such as Rice Krispies are a product that is made to comply with modern standards – they are branded as mostly healthy, low in cholesterol, and with the understandable amount of sugar that is not excessive.

This applies to individual brands of rice chips, but if you pay closer attention to the contents of the packaging of individual manufacturers, you will notice that some of them contain various preservatives, stabilizers, and artificial flavors. This is a fact, and the majority of brands add something in their rice cereals simply because they want them to last longer on shelves and, of course, in your home.

Some of these additives, in the long run, can be harmful, but in this, like in every other case, we recommend you to be careful and to always have moderation in everything you consume.

Now, on the other side, the good news is that the main element in this product is brown rice – or as most call it a diamond among grains and bread, is a very useful food, the nutrition, and taste of which has attracted many admirers around the world. An interesting fact is that all types of rice are brown rice before any processing – so this is the rice that has not been processed to become white.

However, shells / outer layer/grains are removed through the mill. The white part of the rice grain is made up almost entirely of carbohydrates, while the husks that are removed contain all the nutrients.

That is why brown rice is much better than white rice. For brown rice, the only thing that is removed is the shell around the grain that is not eaten. This type of rice is the most nutrient-dense of all other kinds.

Brown rice has a brown color, and in some cases, quite a slight, almost imperceptible, greenish tinge can be noticed. It naturally has a stronger aroma, so it can often be mixed with various other ingredients, and as you were able to see, the sweet and savory are options when it comes to rice.

Brown rice does not contain gluten, which is found in almost all grain foods and is a cause of many allergies. The starch contained in it does not contribute to the buildup of fat, which is of great importance. In addition to not accumulating fat, it improves metabolic processes because it contains a lot of fiber.

High levels of potassium will help in the days we have set aside for detoxification or to relieve the body a little. It eliminates sodium from the body, which is the main cause of bloating.

Brown rice lowers cholesterol, contains manganese, which helps your body cope with stress, and is also very beneficial for the skin. High levels of B vitamins and carbohydrates stimulate serotonin production, which is why brown rice also acts as a powerful antidepressant.

Brown rice lowers blood sugar levels, and scientific studies have shown that people who consume rice at least twice a week are less likely to get diabetes. For this reason, brown rice is on the diabetic menu.

Now, there is a matter of sugar, as a nutritional problem in the majority of cereals, but looking from the brighter side the case with Rice Krispies.

Many of these and similar cereals have a lot of sugar in them, but this is not the case with the Rice Krispies, they only have about 3 g per serving.

It is not a small amount, but it is far less than in some other cases.

Summary

Rice Krispies are vegan (if you mind the aspect of sugar that we have discussed numerous times now), but some other manufactures do not make Rice cereals vegan because, in them, there are so many other products that are not vegan friendly.

In some cases, it is honey or chocolate, maybe even milk. Even in the case of some special editions of Rice Krispies – that have some additional flavor, it cannot be called vegan. In the case of a regular one – they are vegan, and you can enjoy them.

Also, the good part is that they are made out of brown rice, and in the previous section, we have explained the numerous benefits that it has.

In the end, you are left with two options to eat, in moderation, Rice Krispies with milk (vegan kind of course); or if you do not feel comfortable, to make your own version, and online you can find so many healthy and vegan recipes.