Who doesn’t love a nice bowl of cereals and milk in the morning? While your go-to grain can be delicious, it may be packed with low quality ingredients, says Tara Collingwood, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD/N, ACSM-CPT, a board certified sports dietist and co-author of Flat stomach cookbook for dummies. “Cereal brands (or specific cereals) that often contain ingredients of low quality-as artificial colors, preservatives, high fruiting corn syrup or refined barley-make them more like sugar-rich snacks than nutritious breakfast,” she says. Here are 6 grain brands with ingredients with the lowest quality and some to eat instead.
Rosna
Froot Loops (Kellogg’s) is one of the worst perpetrators Per Collingwood. “Light colors and fruity taste are created with synthetic additives, not fruit. One of the best perpetrators for the children’s cereals,” she says.
Low quality ingredients:
Artificial colors (red 40, blue 1, yellow 6)
Refined barley (mostly cornmeal)
Added sugar (several shapes)
BHT (preservative)
Cap’n crunch
Cap’n crunch (quaker) is another old favorite that you should probably avoid. “More sugar than most cookies per serving and includes artificial ingredients for taste and crunch,” says Collingwood.
Low quality ingredients:
Sugar is the first ingredient.
Artificial flavors
BHT
Refined cornmeal
Cake cheese stones
Cocoa Pebbles (post) is filled with lots of sugar. “Very processed, loaded with sweeteners and flavored to taste like chocolate without any real cocoa benefits,” says Collingwood.
Low quality ingredients:
Sugar and corn syrup
Artificial flavors
BHA/BHT
Refined rice
FAMILY: Breakfast # 1 you should never buy, according to experts
Lucky Charms
Lucky Charms (General Mills) is another on her list. “The” magical “marshmallows is a chemical cocktail of sugar and synthetic color,” she reveals.
Low quality ingredients:
Artificial colors (red 40, yellow 5, blue 1, etc.)
Modified cornstarch
Marshmallows with dyes and sugars
Trisodium phosphate (used as a processing agent)
Apple bakes
Apple Jacks (Kellogg’s) is not made with fruit. “No real apples involved – only processed carbohydrates and chemicals,” says Collingwood.
Low quality ingredients:
Sugar, corn syrup and high fruit corn syrup
Artificial colors (red 40, yellow 6, blue 1)
Artificial flavors
Honey smacks
Honey Smacks (Kellogg’s) is Ultra Sugary. “Almost 60% sugar in weight, making it one of the most sugar -containing grain on the market,” Collingwood reveals.
Low quality ingredients:
Sugar as ingredient no. 1
Hydrated oils
BHT
Regular red flags in cereals with low quality
Here are the usual red flags in low -quality cereals, per Collingwood:
The first ingredient is sugar or corn syrup
Artificial dyes (red 40, yellow 5/6, blue 1)
BHT or BHA (preservative)
Hydrated oils
No whole grains listed
Healthier options
Are you looking for healthier options? Here are some that Collingwood recommends:
Three wishes
Barbara’s puffins (original)
Nature’s path organic
Kashi 7 whole grain nuggets
DIY MIX: Oats + Nuts + Seeds + Cinnamon
The cereals after 6 with ingredients with the lowest quality first appeared.
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