We have a big variety of cereals at my house because my younger sisters don't really eat Honey Bunches of Oats or Crispix, and I was looking at the labels for some of their cereals, like Captain Crunch and Cocoa Puffs, and noticed that they have less calories than the healthier cereals that I eat. What's the deal?

Check the serving sizes and also the calories per weight, not just volume. A lot of cereals are "puffed" with a lot of air, so 1 cup of Captain Crunch is a lot lighter than 1 cup of bran flakes. Also, some "healthy" cereals aren't all that low in calories. Granola can be made with whole grains, but it often contains nuts and oils that raise the calorie counts.

I generally find that the sugar and nutrient counts show a large difference! Also, as kaplods said, the sugary stuff is often puffed, so it won't fill you up as well as something more solid.

Thanks for the responses. That makes a lot of sense.

Look at the sugar grams, too! Yikes! Candy in a box.

Honey Bunches of Oats and Crispix might not be the healthiest ones out there, either. I'd be willing to bed the first has quite a bit of sugar from the honey, and the second is mainly corn, right? Corn has next to no nutritional value I believe. Try something with a good amount of fiber (more than 5g per serving) and less than 8g of sugar per serving.

Kara

They are right in the fact that Rice Krispie Treats cereal, Fruity Pebbles, etc. are puffed with air...not to mention coated in that whitish sugar coating, doused with food coloring, and contain little to no fiber, protein, etc.

Healthy cereals have more bulk, have whole grain, less sugar, etc. in them. Some kid cereals are okay, like regular Cheerios, Life, and Kix...but if it has cartoons on the box or marshmallows you probably want to stay away from it.

Low calorie doesn't always mean healthy...a small lollipop can be 25-50 calories, but it is pure sugar and food coloring on a stick.

I eat Kix, which isn't that bad for you.. I've tried healthy cereals and they just aren't my thing. My daughter eats 'organic honey nut morning o's'.. but uhm ya.. I eat Kix, lol! I don't eat cereal often, so I think it's an 'okay' choice as a treat, and I usually don't drink the milk and add a bunch of fruit (bananas/strawberries/blueberries). I also measure my serving (which is 1 1/4 cups for Kix).

I personally would give anything for a bowl of regular cheerios, any day of the week!

But, the uk doesnt do regular cheerios, so I usually go for a high fibre cereal, and I've found that a good trade off for cereals like Frosted Flakes or honey bunches of Oats is Special K

its not just bran flakes, there's a good sweetness to it and you can get all sorts of varieties like peaches and apricot or strawberries.

kiddie cereals are meant for picky children, so you can expect the portions to be smaller, the sugar content to be higher, and to look a bit silly with a bowl of trix if you take cereal to the office for lunch! lol

Right now, Crispix and HBOA are my only options, because my sisters like them and my parents won't buy a cereal just for one person. I'm moving on my own soon, and then I will be able to make my own decisions. I've tried subbing with oatmeal in the morning, but I just can't do it. Blah. I've eaten cereal since the day I was born it seems. Once I'm doing my own grocery shopping, I'll definitely look for cereals that are higher in fiber and such.

A good one to try when you're on your own is Fiber One, or Fiber One Honey Clusters. Really delicious and good for you. Just be sure to drink tons of water.

The Special K Plus Protein is VERY yummy. It has a brown sugar taste to it (so you do not need to add sugar at all) and one serving has 3 grams of fat, 5 grams of fiber and 10 grams of protein with only 100 calories. The high fat, fiber, and protein along with a half banana or some berries fills me up for hours and I only spend about 200 calories including the milk. I highly recommend it!

Tiffany

Thanks for the suggestions, they really help! I'm going to be at a bit of a loss once I'm out on my own (only 10 days away!) so I need all the tips I am offered! Fresh fruits and veggies, lean cuts of meat, this I know... but when it comes down to other things I'm still learning.

Another question kind of on topic: for those of you who drink milk and not soy milk, do you do 1% or skim? I can drink either, but I'm wondering if skim has enough nutrients to be worth it?

I go with skimmed milk, (I would love to drink 1%, and probably would if it were easy to find here)

My parents weaned my siblings and I off milk with fat when we were 4,5, and 6 years old. I think it was the best choice really, because after that sort of age, milk fat is replaced by solid big kid foods 100%, and what's more important is getting calcium.

Sometimes I get 1% milk in single serving cartons like when I'm on a plane or somewhere that fatfree milk isnt available.

there is a taste difference, and I have known some people who absolutely abhor fatfree milk. Its up to personal preference really and how it fits into your diet. Most nutritional labels here list "serving of cereal with x amount of skim milk" though, at least here they do.

good luck with making your healthy choices!

Soy is good for you and if you like it is a nice option. There is a silk soy with added omega's, and another with added fiber for an even healthier option. One cup of those is around 100 calories.

I buy the Silk Light Vanilla...SOOO good and only 80 calories for 1 cup.

I am also a big fan of Special K...ALL of them. My personal favorties are the Plus Protein and the Chocolaty Delight. YUM! They are VERY filling...I've been surprised. I usually have two servings of cereal in the morning because I have a big workout mid-morning. I'm not hungry till almost mid afternoon with that nice breakfast. I've tried oatmeal, but I'm always hungry a half hour later.

Here is my breakfast on a weight-lifting day:

2 servings Special K Plus Protein
1 cup vanilla Silk Light
1 large banana

That's it and I feel great afterwords...I love the sweet taste they give the cereals and they're so good for you! I get 20 grams of protein from just my cereal on those days!!