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Breakfast Cereal

My little Amelia turned 3 today!  Growing up, every year on my birthday my mom would give me breakfast cereal.  Not just any breakfast cereal - but my favorite sugary kind.  It was the one time per year that we got sugary cereal.  I usually chose Captain Crunch - and I actually still like it - probably the nostalgia is what I really like about it.  Anyway I have decided to carry on the tradition with my children.  So today Amelia was the lucky recipient of a large box of Cookie Crisp.

I was looking at the Nutrition label, because that is just what I do,  and I noticed that this particular cereal only has 9g of sugar.  Not bad for a cereal that claims it is like having cookies and milk!   This reminded me of some information I have read regarding breakfast cereal.

For children ages 4 to 12, cereal is the number 1 source of many key nutrients including iron, vitamin A, folate and zinc. Also it has been shown that breakfast cereals account for only about 5% of the sugar in most kids diets. So out of the 10 main groups that provide sugar, cereal is about 7th out of 10. Guess what #1 is?   Ok I will give you the list (I know you are dying to read it)
  • Beverages: 28%
  • Milk and milk products: 23%
  • Fruits: 14%
  • Candy and sweets: 12%
  • Desserts: 8%
  • Other grains: 6%
  • Cereal: 5%
  • Vegetables: 2%
  • Meat, poultry and fish: 1%
  • Miscellaneous: 1%
Now this is where is gets really interesting: A study was published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association which followed 2,000 American girls over a 10-year period. It found that girls who demonstrated a consistent cereal-eating pattern had healthier body weights and lower BMI than those who did not. Frequency of breakfast consumption and cereal declined with age, but girls who continued to eat cereal frequently maintained a healthier body weight through adolescence. It concluded that the number of days eating cereal -including presweetened cereal - remained predictive of lower BMI and high nutrient intakes.
And a little info on breakfast in general:
  • Breakfast eaters tend to have better nutrient intakes
  • On average, breakfast contributes less than 20 percent of daily calories, while delivering more than 30 percent of needed calcium, iron and B vitamins
  • People who eat breakfast tend to consume less fat, less cholesterol and more fiber over the course of their day
  • Kids who eat breakfast tend to perform better in school and have fewer disciplinary problems. Breakfast also tends to help kids stay alert.

So what is your favorite breakfast cereal??

Posted In Uncategorized | Jan 17, 2012
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Comments

Allison
01/17/2012 2:03pm
How funny! My husband's family did this growing up, but on Christmas. So, this year, my 3 year-old was the happy recipient of a wrapped box of Cookie Crisp as well! He's enjoyed snacking on it since, but actually doesn't like the "sweetness" of it for breakfast. ;)
Tonya R.
01/17/2012 2:29pm
My 5 year old has been begging for Cookie Crisp cereal so on is birthday (in December); he got to have his own box! Thanks for the information!
sallyjrw
01/18/2012 1:16am
I loved Cookie Crisp and Captain Crunch growing up, too! Now my favorites include Kashi Honey Sunshine and Autumn Wheat. I like that they stay crunchy longer.
Lisa Smith
01/18/2012 8:04am
How sweet. My Children get to choose their own cereal when we are on vacation. I can put up with Cocoa pops for one week a year!!
The Sneaky Chef
01/18/2012 9:34am
It can be so hard to find a breakfast cereal that isn't packed with sugar that the kids will eat. I usually opt for breakfast ice cream instead! http://www.thesneakychef.com/free-recipe-breakfast-ice-cream-tropical-twist.php
Lauren@KidEats
01/19/2012 8:44pm
This is such a neat tradition! I can't wait to incorporate it on WP's next birthday... and see his little face light up on the cereal aisle!
Healthy Inside out
01/25/2012 12:33pm
I love this fun idea/tradition will start in Feburary. Thanks for the cereal info too good stuff!

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