Twinkies for Breakfast: Sugary, Sugary Cereals.

We have all heard that breakfast cereals can actually be pretty bad for us, but did you ever REALLY believe that?  I mean, it’s enjoyably shaped grains over which we pour milk - how bad can it be?  According to a recent study, pretty bad.  I used to eat Honey Nut Cheerios like they were going out of style - sometimes multiple times per day.  Guess what?  They’re packed with sugar.  And Cap'n Crunch?  That guy got me through many a morning back in the 7th grade.  That one's no good either, in any of its many varieties apparently!  The problem with all the sugar is that if you start the day with a big dose like the one that comes in many breakfast cereals, chances you’ll “crash” in the afternoon are higher.  So are the chances you’ll continue to crave sugar (given that it creates a chemical high that is addictive) throughout the day.  It may even mean you sleep poorly that night. 

According to this recent Environmental Working Group study, here are the worst offenders.  Note that the worst of the bunch, Honey Smacks, has as much sugar as a Twinkie.  Yep, a Twinkie.  43 others have as much sugar as 3 Chips Ahoy Cookies in one serving.   

10 Worst Children's Cereals

Based on percent sugar by weight

1. Kellogg's Honey Smacks at 55.6% sugar (the TWINKIE!!)
2. Post Golden Crisp
3. Kellogg's Froot Loops Marshmallow
4. Quaker Oats Cap'n Crunch's OOPS! All Berries
5. Quaker Oats Cap'n Crunch Original
6. Quaker Oats Oh!s
7. Kellogg's Smorz
8. Kellogg's Apple Jacks
9. Quaker Oats Cap'n Crunch's Crunch Berries
10. Kellogg's Froot Loops Original

So if any of these (or many of the others on their full listing) are in your cupboard, let me encourage you to make a change.  Next time you shop, go for unsweetened, unflavored oatmeal and add some nuts and (sulfite-free) cranberries.  Or, go really crazy and go for quinoa instead.  Not only a whole grain but a complete protein that I'll rave about in an upcoming post.  Better yet, skip the cereal all together and opt to start your day with a green smoothie!  Check out this previous post for an easy recipe.       

If you do want to stick with dry cereal, and I totally get it because I like it too, go check out the full study at EWG.org for a listing of good brands, both for big and little kids.  At home, because Corn Flakes used to be a staple as well, we like Nature's Path Organic Corn Flakes, which are sweetened with fruit juice not sugar.  That same company makes a great line of delicious, organic, reasonably priced cereals with very short ingredient lists, so see if your local grocer carries it and give it a shot!  No more Twinkies, no more Twinkies...