The healthy cereal aisle is full of decisions...along with spiffy pitches for protein, healthy hearts, vitamin D, fruit, you name it. So it may come as a surprise that picking a better breakfast is as simple as 1, 2, 3, 4.
The cereal aisle is full of brightly colored boxes and flashy marketing…and many kids are full of opinions. Here are 7 tips to help you wade through your supermarket’s sea of cereal boxes together and choose a winner that’s rich in whole grains, not too sugary, free of food dyes, and kid friendly. We've included a list of more than two dozen healthy cereals for kids that fit the bill.
Finding a healthy hot cereal starts out simple: Look for whole grains. Most hot cereals are. (Exceptions: grits, Cream of Rice, and Cream of Wheat typically are refined.)
"Post Dunkin’ Caramel Macchiato Cereal is brought to life with crunchy cereal pieces and caramel-swirled marshmallows, creating the deliciously indulgent taste of the layered iced coffee beverage,” announced the Post/Dunkin’ joint press release.
The healthiest standbys don’t change much. They’re mostly unsweetened shredded wheat, whole wheat or bran flakes, and fruit-and-nut muesli. All have little or no added sugar and plenty of whole grains. Pretty simple stuff.
“The snack cake golden child is now a cereal!” gushes Post Hostess Twinkies Cereal. “The creamy, cakey, golden goodness that has enchanted the masses for generations is now making its debut on your breakfast table.”
It takes an avid label reader—and maybe a magnifying glass—to find an honest-to-goodness whole-grain cereal and sidestep most of the added sugar. That’s all in our guide to the best cereals.
Remember when hot cereal mostly meant oats?
Now it’s also quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat, bulgur, kamut, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, almond butter, you name it. Even cold “overnight” oats are hot.
And labels sport a flurry of hearts or claims about protein, probiotics, fiber, vitamins, and more. Confused? Here’s how to find the best hot cereals.
