Cereal is my life (in fact, Life cereal is my favorite cereal). It can be a meal or a snack, it’s hands down the easiest dish to “cook”, and until now, cereal has been regarded for its health benefits, but it turns out some cereals are so sugary, it might be better to scarf down that cinnamon bun instead.
A serving size of healthy cereal shouldn’t pass 10 grams of sugar, but the average box of cereal generally contains 19.8 grams of sugar for every 100 grams of cereal (one serving). Here are some of the most deceptively sugary cereals on the market.
1. Kellogg’s Cocoa Krispies
Even Rice Krispies, essentially bland puffed rice, has a hidden dark side when paired with cocoa. On it’s own, the cereal is within the healthy sugar range, but it spikes to 15 grams per serving with the addition of cocoa. Obviously, when you start adding candy to cereal, healthiness becomes questionable.
2. Kellogg’s Fruit Loops
Children’s cereals often have significantly more sugar. The fun, colorful loops pack 13 grams per serving.
3. Post Golden Crisp
With an alarming 14 grams per serving, it’s no wonder the mascot for this cereal is even named Sugar Bear.
4. General Mills Apple Cinnamon Cheerios
Just because regular Cheerios are the epitome of healthy cereal, doesn’t mean their cousins follow the same example. All of the sugar used to make that sweet apple cinnamon flavor brings up the sugar content from 1 gram in regular Cheerios to 12 grams in this version.
5. Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes
Frosted flakes will certainly give you energy with its 12 grams of sugar per serving, but athletes should probably find a healthier option.
6. Kellogg’s Raisin Bran
Surpringly, Kellogg’s Raisin Bran comes in at a whopping 18 grams of sugar per serving. This is probably due to the dried fruit — another deceptively “healthy” food.
#SpoonTip: Make sure you check the brand. Post Raisin Bran is even worse, coming in at 20 grams per serving.
7. Cap’n Crunch’s Oops! All Berries
Cap’n Crunch traditional cereal already clocks in at 12 grams of sugar per serving, but Cap’n Crunch’s Oops! All Berries brings this cereal to an overwhelming 15 grams. Fruit adds sugar, people, ESPECIALLY artificial fruit.
I couldn’t list every possible cereal, but I wanted to showcase some situations where companies try to trick people into eating unhealthily. Never trust cereals based off of candy, and be really careful of the cereals with dried fruit or honey. It doesn’t matter how much the product brags about its vitamins or its sources of fiber. If it’s it sweet, it’s sugar.