It’s National Cereal Day! Breakfast is often called the most important meal of the day. After all, breakfast sets the tone for the day and kick-starts your metabolism, helping you burn calories throughout the day. Cereal for breakfast can be quick and easy, which makes it a household staple. However, sorting through an entire aisle of cereal boxes at the grocery store can be difficult, especially if you’re looking for a healthy option.

Avoid:

Artificial dyes or colors
Hydrogenated oils or chemical preservatives list as ingredients
Added sugar

Look for:

“Rule of Fives” - at least 5 grams of fiber and less than 5 grams of sugar (per serving)
Whole grains - should be the first ingredient on the label
At least 3 grams of protein (per serving)

So, I’ve taken some of America’s top-selling cereals and ranked them from best to worst…

Cheerios - a base of whole grains and low in sugar
Honey Bunches of Oats - although low in fiber, it’s also low in sugar
Raisin Bran - even though it’s high in fiber, its high sugar ranks it below Honey Bunches of Oats
Frosted Mini-Wheats - after whole grain wheat, the next ingredients listed are sugar and brown rice syrup, which means lots of added sugar
Froot Loops - not only is the first ingredient sugar, it also includes partially hydrogenated oil (trans fat) and a whole slew of food colorings
Frosted Flakes - with 13 grams of sugar (per serving) and only 1 gram of fiber, these are the opposite of grrrrrreat

No matter which cereal you choose, aim for 25-30 grams of protein by eating it with low fat milk and berries.

-Coach C