What's Hot for Breakfast? Eight Cold Cereals That Can Keep You Slim and Healthy
Still snap-crackle-and-popping your way through breakfast? Or spooning up frosty flakes? Here's some news that could change what's in your bowl: Research shows that eating 100% whole-grain cereals -- even just a few days a week -- will help you lose weight and will dramatically cut your risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Talk about worth it! But how on earth do you pick one, since a) there are 101 choices in the cereal aisle and b) you're sure some taste like cardboard? We hear you. So instead of giving you a long list of rules about grains and grams, fiber and sugar, yada yada yada, we scrutinized the labels and did the taste testing, so you don't have to waste time and $$ on things you'll never eat.
Here are RealAge's top picks -- eight cereals that can help you stay slim and healthy. And you'll like eating them, even if Tony the Tiger isn't on the box.
1. General Mills Fiber One Original -- "Tastes way better than it looks."
Nutty and delicious eaten right out of the box or with milk. Can be added to muffins and cookies. Note that the sweetness comes from aspartame.
Per 1/2-cup serving: 60 calories, 1 gram fat (0 grams saturated), 0 milligrams cholesterol, 105 milligrams sodium, 25 grams carbohydrate, 14 grams fiber, 0 grams sugars, 2 grams protein
2. Benefit Nutrition Simply Fiber -- "Stays crunchy long after other cereals are mush."
Add a handful of berries or nuts to kick the salt-free flavor up a notch.
Per 3/4-cup serving: 100 calories, 1 gram fat (0 grams saturated), 0 milligrams cholesterol, 0 milligrams sodium, 31 grams carbohydrate, 14 grams fiber, 0 grams sugars, 4 grams protein
3. Uncle Sam Toasted Whole-Grain Wheat Flakes Cereal – "Like raisin bran without the raisins, and a great yogurt topping."
It also doubles as a hot cereal -- just add milk and zap in the microwave.
Per 1-cup serving: 190 calories, 5 grams fat (0.5 grams saturated; the rest are heart-healthy omega-3s), 0 milligrams cholesterol, 135 milligrams sodium, 38 grams carbohydrate, 10 grams fiber, 1 gram sugars, 7 grams protein
4. Post Spoon Size Shredded Wheat 'n Bran -- "Even kids love it."
The bran makes it crunchier and nuttier than regular shredded wheat.
Per 1 1/4-cup serving: 200 calories, 1 gram fat (0 grams saturated), 0 milligrams cholesterol, 0 milligrams sodium, 49 grams carbohydrate, 8 grams fiber, 1 gram sugars, 6 grams protein
5. Ezekiel 4:9 Organic Sprouted Grain Cereal -- "Hearty, high-protein, and never gets soggy."
Not only does this unusual mix of wheat, barley, millet sprouts, and lentils (!) stay crunchy (even after an hour in milk), but it's almost sinfully tasty, too. We love it on yogurt or fruit.
Per 1/2-cup serving: 190 calories, 1 gram fat (0 grams saturated), 0 grams cholesterol, 200 milligrams sodium, 40 grams carbohydrate, 6 grams fiber, 0 grams sugars, 8 grams protein
6. Post Grape-Nuts -- "A classic. People have loved it for years."
These crunchy nuggets taste like freeze-dried malted milk. On cold days, add milk and warm in the microwave.
Per 1/2-cup serving: 200 calories, 1 gram fat (0 grams saturated), 0 milligrams cholesterol, 290 milligrams sodium, 48 grams carbohydrate, 7 grams fiber, 4 grams sugars, 6 grams protein
7. Arrowhead Mills Shredded Wheat
Tastes pure and natural because it is. Here's the entire ingredients label: "organic whole grain wheat, natural Vitamin E (to preserve freshness)."
Per 1-cup serving: 190 calories, 1 gram fat (0 grams saturated), 0 milligrams cholesterol, 5 milligrams sodium, 38 grams carbohydrate, 6 grams fiber, 2 grams sugars, 6 grams protein
8. Nature's Path Organic Heritage Multigrain Cereal -- "Sweetened with a touch of honey."
Extra rich and hearty, with a terrific mix of heirloom grains, including kamut and quinoa. You don't need to add a thing.
Per 3/4-cup serving: 120 calories, 1 gram fat (0 grams saturated), 0 milligrams cholesterol, 130 milligrams sodium, 24 grams carbohydrate, 6 grams fiber, 4 grams sugars, 4 grams protein
All of these cereals -- whether you have them for breakfast or for a snack -- help you hit your whole-grains goal. Opting for the healthier crunch of whole grains instead of processed grains can make your RealAge 1.2 years younger if you're a man and 2.3 years younger if you're a woman.
