For most people, when they opt for a whole grain cereal to start their day, they think they’re putting a strong step forward as far as their diet is concerned.
But, are they really?
You really need to dig deeper into your cereal bowl to find out.
Sugar Content of Whole Grain Cereals
The big reason you’re choosing whole grain cereals is to limit the amount of added sugars you’re consuming, right? (assuming of course, you aren’t dumping on loads of brown sugar after pouring it into your bowl).
Unfortunately, you might not be much better off with this decision.
There are many whole grain cereals out there that while whole grain, also do contain a lot of additional sugar, sodium, or added fats, which get overlooked since people see ‘whole grain’ and think they’re on the path to good health.
Consider this.
Mini-Wheats, for each 96 calorie serving, contain 5.8 grams of sugar and only 2.9 grams of dietary fiber.
Honey Nut Cheerios, for a 110 calorie serving, contain 9 grams of sugar, and 2 grams of dietary fiber.
While the Mini-Wheats do come out on top, it’s not by a long shot.
Honey Bunches of Oats With Almonds contain 6 grams of sugar, 2 grams of dietary fiber, and 2.5 grams of fat.
Special K Regular, if you really want a cereal with a higher protein content and little fat, contain only 120 calories, but have 6 grams of protein and 0.5 grams of fat. They do contain 4 grams of sugar, but this is still lower than both the Mini-Wheats and the Honey Bunches of Oats.
Looking at Bran Flakes, which should be the king of healthy cereal, they contain 110 calories, one gram of fat, 3 grams of and 6 grams of sugar.
Now, if you compare all of these values with a 1/4 cup of dry oats, the dry oats contain 152 calories, 2.7 grams of fat, 6.6 grams of protein, and zero grams of sugar.
While there is some dietary fat in oatmeal, they really are superior as far as dietary fiber and low sugar levels are concerned, and are generally the best choice for your morning breakfast cereal.
So, before you dive into that morning bowl for breakfast, keep these cereals in mind.
Reference: Calorieking.com
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