What do you look for in a healthy cereal? I am looking for something that is bite sized and tastes good. Is there any that ya'll think are great? Should I get one high in fiber? Suggestions?
I like cheerios ... it's a sneaky finger-food way to get oatmeal. But they're rolypoly. I'd like some suggestions for a nice bite-sized one I could take in a baggy to work. To nibble while I chart.
I like to find cereals that have little as possible sugar, or at least no sugar (in any form) listed in the first 4 ingredients. My favorites so far are Wheat and Bran shredded wheat (Nabisco) and the Kashi Nuggets (Like Grape Nuts). I add my own fruit. Both of these have a lot of fiber, I try for at least 4 grams of fiber. I like the Kashi cereals the most. In fact, all the Kashi cereals are good, you can pick out the one you want to consider "bite sized"
In the colder weather I love my oat bran, cooked in water but adding some milk, raisins or dried cranberries. For a treat I'll have Cream of Wheat but no fiber in that.
I look for high fiber and low sugar myself. I don't limit all sugar, but I don't do well with refined sugars in the morning. I really like Uncle Sam (wheat flakes with flax seed.) I always put fruit on it (berries, raisins, etc.) I like it, but if you like a sweeter cereal Kashi Go Lean seems to be popular too. It's not my thing (I'm not a fan of puffed cereal), but a lot of people like it.
I look for organic high fiber, low sugar and higher protein cereals. I have found many that meet the first 2 requirements and fewer that also offer significant protein.
I mainly focus on the calories. I want a cereal that is around 120 calories per cup or less (per cup, not per whatever measely serving size the box quotes to try to make it look like the cereal is low in calories).
My second concern, almost equally as important, is that it be filling. The only to figure this out is to try it.
I eat my cereal stirred into nonfat plain Greek yogurt, rather than with milk, so the third requirement is that it taste good stirred into yogurt.
My current favorite cereal is High Fiber Cereal (yes, that's the name), which is Trader Joe's version of Fiber One (also another good choice for me). I also like the Flax Plus cereal (the flakes, not the granola, which is too high in calories).
I also like steel cut oatmeal on occasion (with a little milk, splenda, and cinnamon--not stirred into yogurt).
High fiber and low sugar--or at least low sugar, and then I add my own fiber in the shape of fruits. And I stay AWAY from anything labelled as "cereals for kids", because they're usually laden with the worst kind of crap. (Poor kids...)
I too just fell in love with Kashi Go Lean. I usually bring half a cup in to add to my yogurt. Very tasty. I also like to eat it plain. only 80 calories added to my yogurt if i use half a cup.
What to look for in healthy cereals
