Cereal: Best and Worst
Posted on: July 12, 2012Categories: LiveWell 24/7When I was a kid I loved Trix, Fruit Loops, Apple Jacks and all of the sugary, colorful, fun cereals heavily promoted on TV. Looking back, I am greatful that my parents only bought these things once in a blue moon, opting for healthier alternatives most days of the week. According to Everyday Health, here is a list of the Top 10 Worst Breakfast Cereals:
And the Worst Breakfast Cereal Is …
You might think that any bowl of cereal is a nutritious start to your kid’s day, but a new study should make you change your tune. Data released today by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that some cereals are so sweet, they’re more like dessert. The EWG’s rankings are based on percent of sugar in the cereals by weight, and the results are pretty staggering.
The sugariest culprit of them all is Kellogg’s Honey Smacks, which packs 15 grams of sugar per 3/4-cup serving. That’s the equivalent of 3.75 teaspoons — more than half of what the American Heart Association recommends kids eat for an entire day. In this case, it’s not only what’s in the cereal that’s the problem, but also what’s not there: Honey Smacks have only 1 gram of fiber and 2 grams of protein — not a very filling start to your child’s day.
To round out the top 10, here are the EWG’s other worst kid’s cereals, listed by percent sugar by weight.
1. Kellogg’s Honey Smacks — 55.6 percent
2. Post Golden Crisp — 51.9 percent
3. Kellogg’s Froot Loops Marshmallow — 48.3 percent
4. Quaker Oats Cap’n Crunch’s OOPS! All Berries — 46.9 percent
5. Quaker Oats Cap’n Crunch Original — 44.4 percent
6. Quaker Oats Oh!s — 44.4 percent
7. Kellogg’s Smorz — 43.3 percent
8. Kellogg’s Apple Jacks — 42.9 percent
9. Quaker Oats Cap’n Crunch’s Crunch Berries — 42.3 percent
10. Kellogg’s Froot Loops Original — 41.4 percent
On the opposite end of the spectrum, here are the 10 best new healthy breakfast cereals available, according to WebMD:
1. Frosted Mini-Wheat Cinnamon Streusel
2. Fiber One Caramel Delight
3. Raisin Bran Extra!
4. Kashi Summer Berry Granola
5. Shredded Wheat Vanilla Almond, Spoon Size
6. Kashi Go Lean Crisp! Toasted Berry Crumble
7. Banana Nut Bear Naked 100% Pure & Natural Cereal
8. Cinnamon Puffins (Barbara’s Bakery)
9. Heart Healthy Whole Grain Cranberry Instant Oatmeal (Trader Joe’s)
10. Kashi Go Lean Honey & Cinnamon Instant Hot Cereal
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/10-best-new-healthy-breakfast-cereals
Now that you know your best and worst options, you are prepared to make healthier decisions!!
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