posted
Presweetened cereals are the sort of cereals that are very popular with children such as Trix, Lucky Charms, Count Chocula, Franken Berry, Captain Crunch, etc. Yet I've heard some alarmist stuff about these cereals. One is the age old concern that letting children eat these is very unhealthy and is responsible for the alleged childhood obesity epidemic that's out of control.
So how bad are presweetened cereals? Are they the toxic junk that some adults make them out to be? Or are they not much different from other cereals?
IP: Logged |
posted
I think cereals aren't particularly good for breakfast, anyway, as very few of them contain much protein. That, of course, doesn't stop me from enjoying a bowl every now and then. My daughter, however, isn't a cereal fan at all, though. She'd rather have toast with peanut butter.
-------------------- "When a stupid man is doing something he is ashamed of, he always declares that it is his duty."--George Bernard Shaw Posts: 19266 | From: Nashville, TN | Registered: Jun 2002
| IP: Logged |
Cat in the Wizard Hat
The Red and the Green Stamps
posted
I don't think cereal is responsible for the obesity epidemic. While I agree that it isn't the healthiest food (especially the childhood ones), I'm sure it's just a small portion of the problem.
I think they're probably less healthy than an adult or unsweetened cereal, but I don't think they're some awful horror either. And, if eaten in moderation, they're not going to hurt anyone. People like to look for excuses, but it's up to parents to control amounts and frequency of junk food, which childhood cereals come close to.
IP: Logged |
Moosedog
The Red and the Green Stamps
posted
What do you mean "alleged obesity epidemic"? It has been quite well established. Aside from any scientific studies, just go to your local mall, Wal-Mart, or other places where people gather.
IP: Logged |
Karama
The Red and the Green Stamps
posted
The other thing about sugared cereals is that at least, you know how much sugar is in them. If you buy normal corn flakes, you have no way to know how much sugar your kids will pour over them to make them edible.
In my case and my brother's, it was a lot. My parents eventually gave up and started buying moderately sweet cereals.
Nowaday, I just read the label and choose something with a reasonable amount of calories for a 1 cup serving, whether or not it looks more sugary.
Harvest Crunch, which I thought was healthy until I started doing this, turned out to be very fatty and high in calories. But my parents never thought of it as one of the "bad" cereals.
Now if only I could remember what my point was... ah yes. I would say that how bad they are depends HOW sugary the cereal is, and whether or not the kid will add more sugar to it before accepting to eat it.
posted
You'll add much less sugar yourself than you would get pre-sweetened. I think I read somewhere that Frosted Flakes are 40% sugar. There's no way I would douse my corn flakes in that much sugar.
I love corn flakes with bananas and milk and just a spoonful or two of sugar.
Pay attention to that little line on the nutrition label that shows "Sugars" and gives a gram count. Lower counts are better.
Avril
-------------------- There is no failure unless one stops. --Ray Bradbury Posts: 2115 | From: Oklahoma | Registered: Aug 2002
| IP: Logged |
Frenchy
The Red and the Green Stamps
posted
Depends whose kid you feed... If the kid is verging on obese, then prob not a good idea. Otherwise, if it's part of a healthy diet, and that's all the kid will eat for breakfast, then it's best to eat that than have no breaky at all..
IP: Logged |
posted
Take a look at the label--even supposedly healthful cereals still have added sugar, like Special K, Rice Krispies, plain corn flakes, etc.
Posts: 239 | From: Minnesota | Registered: Jul 2003
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by fledibat: Take a look at the label--even supposedly healthful cereals still have added sugar, like Special K, Rice Krispies, plain corn flakes, etc.
posted
I've become a label reader when it comes to the sugar content in cereals. I figure I eat enough sugar/stuff that makes sugar throughout the day that I don't need so much in my cereal or other breakfast food.
-------------------- Nothing makes sense, so let's have no more nothing and stop making sense. Posts: 1353 | From: Pennsylvania | Registered: Apr 2004
| IP: Logged |
Cowgal
The Red and the Green Stamps
posted
I like the Kashi cereals. They only have 70 calories in cup, high fiber. and are high in protein. And 0, yes that's a zero, sugar grams.Fiber is good because *apparently* it decreases hunger and is heart healthy.
Plus, they're really tasty!I get ridiculed when people say "Why do you like those!?" I always say "Why do you like pizza?" and then I go into this whole health boesity etc talk.
I also like instant oatmal, but that's a treat for weekends only. It is higher in fat, calories and sugar.
IP: Logged |
posted
I love Lucky Charms! That's one of the few children's cereals that I eat. I also like Life, Cinnamon Life, and Corn Chex. Sometimes plain old cornflakes, but only if I add bananas, strawberries, or blueberries.
-------------------- If ignorance is bliss, then why aren't more people happy? Posts: 332 | From: Arizona | Registered: Apr 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
While I don't think sugared cereals are always the best choice, I think the alarming rise in childhood obesity is more linked to soda than anything. I think kids today *drink* much more sugar (and/or corn syrup) than they "eat."
Posts: 1093 | From: Pittsburgh | Registered: May 2003
| IP: Logged |
quote:Originally posted by Cowgal: I like the Kashi cereals. They only have 70 calories in cup, high fiber. and are high in protein. And 0, yes that's a zero, sugar grams.Fiber is good because *apparently* it decreases hunger and is heart healthy.
Plus, they're really tasty!I get ridiculed when people say "Why do you like those!?" I always say "Why do you like pizza?" and then I go into this whole health boesity etc talk.
I also like instant oatmal, but that's a treat for weekends only. It is higher in fat, calories and sugar.
Ah, another of my long-suffering Kashi comrades! I love the stuff; my father says it's like eating sticks.
-------------------- ÒIf you shut up truth and bury it under the ground, it will but grow, and gather to itself such explosive power that the day it bursts through it will blow up everything in its way.Ó -Emile Zola Posts: 1046 | From: Massachusetts | Registered: Apr 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
I believe non-sweetened cereals are more likely to have added essential vitamins and minerals.
Me, I loooove Cheerios, and I use Corn Chex or Corn Flakes crumbs for breading on pork (yum!)
-------------------- "Long ago, when we all lived in the forest..." Who are you? Who? Who? Posts: 1587 | From: Wisconsin | Registered: Oct 2001
| IP: Logged |
posted
Cereal is my downfall. I ADORE cereal, all sorts, the healthy kinds, and the sugary kiddie kinds. I wish I didn't love cereal so much because even the healthy ones have so many calories and carbs. I've tried a few of the low-carb cereals to no avail, they all taste like kibble.
Reese's Puffs is by far the most tempting of all the sugary cereals. I challenge ANYONE to resists it's sugary grasp! I am putty in it's hands... er... box!
I think the key to sugary cereals though is moderation. I wouldn't even let my kid (if I had a kid) have Lucky Charms, every morning before school, but maybe on a Saturday morning as a treat.
-------------------- "That would be really dangerous, you know. Indiscriminately extricating someone from the petrified corpse of a supernatural creature." - My Husband Posts: 4308 | From: Massachusetts | Registered: Jun 2003
| IP: Logged |
If obesity is a problem, sugar should not be part of your breakfast (or your kid's, if that is an issue for them).
If it is not a problem, then no worries.
My kids eat pre-sweetened cereal every once in a while, but both also eat Fiber One every once in a while too. Both of my kids are below their ideal weights for their ages and heights. If they started to gain too much weight, we would adjust their diet at every meal and their amount of "outside time" accordingly (not owning a video game system helps, I imagine).
We virtually never put sugar on any cereal. Why? It's just a matter of what you are used to.
When I eat cold cereal (perhaps 2 times a week), it is either Fiber One or Low Carb Special K. Of course, no sugar added and skim milk only.
-------------------- "I've argued in front of every judge in this state, often as a lawyer." Posts: 1021 | From: Northwest Indiana | Registered: May 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
Breakfast cereal is evil. Period. Sugar or no. It's a nasty evil habit that will catch up with all of you very soon. I hate, loathe and detest breakfast cereals. Use it as breading? Ugh. Eat it as a snack? Oh, just cut off my fingers. I can't even be around people eating cereal. Why is it supposed to be acceptable to eat a huge mouthful of something you slurp into your mouth and then crunch like a golem eating bones? *shudder*
posted
The parent group backlash against sugar sweetened cerials began in the 1970's, after sugar sweetened cerials had been common for many, many years. The child obesity epidemic began in the 1980's.
No, the child obesity epidemic was not caused by sugar sweatened cerials.
Posts: 374 | From: Brighton, Michigan | Registered: Dec 2002
| IP: Logged |
ranran yousei
The Red and the Green Stamps
posted
I would think, pinpointing one cause of obesity in children, or adults, is ludicrous.
There are lots of things to look at. Not just one source. Sodas, junk food, sugary cereals, tv, video games... If the majority of your day consists of sitting around (work, school, tv, video games, driving, computer) and very little of your day is being active... and all you eat is processed food, sugared junk and Wonder Bread (with the token healthy meal tossed in)... you will likely gain weight. (Do remember, genetics do play some part in this.)
I remember being a teen and laughing at candy that advertized "no fat!"... because if you flip it over it had a lot of sugar, and if you eat a lot of sugar, and sit on your behind and do nothing with that energy source... it winds up on your behind.
I wouldn't say that Fruit Loops is making kids fat, but rather, it is one of the many many things that they eat throughout the day that compounds the issue along with the lack of excersize.
ranran "not part of this good breakfast" yousei
IP: Logged |
posted
Posts: 1344 | From: San Francisco | Registered: Feb 2001
| IP: Logged |
Cowgal
The Red and the Green Stamps
posted
It is also about portion control, don't let the kids eat so dang much. A cup of sugar cereal is better than a couple of cups of no sugar cereal, ands ome toast with butter and some fat-full milk.
IP: Logged |
ranran yousei
The Red and the Green Stamps
posted
Personally, I'd rather have my kids fill up on a bowl or two of un-presweetened whole grain cereal, whole grain toast with butter and some milk, whole or low fat (I'd prefer if they had juice though) than a single bowl of sugary stuff.
At least I'd know, that they were eating real food, with all the nutrients that should be there (not removed and particially added back, if lucky) and not filling up on empty calories.
Granted, protion control is important, and a bowl of sugary cereal now and then isn't going to do much harm, it also isn't going to go far in the energy department (the more simple the carbohydrate, the faster it turns to glucose, and the faster you need to eat again). Once used up, the person gets hungry again, and eats again.. so portion control becomes.. well, hard to control.
IP: Logged |
crb
The Red and the Green Stamps
posted
My daughter is 2. Currently her favorite food is the marshmellows in Boo Berry. Right up there with frosted flakes, french fries and ice cream. If I don't look directly at her she'll eat.
We had this discussion at work a couple of days ago. We all agreed that cereals are wonderful and were bemoaning the fact that we can no longer find Rice Crispies with marshmellows.
My husband could live off the stuff. And he only eats the sweetened kind. And usually adds sugar. But then he can do what he wants, he's 5'9" and weighs 142 lbs. (I'm really irritated with all this cross country running stuff, aren't you?)Other than an ACL that's acting up he seems perfectly healthy.
I blame him for the way my daughter eats, but other parents say they've had little luck getting their kids to eat anything either. If not for chicken, potatoes,burgers, waffles, cereal and pizzas, we think our children would starve.
Try explaining to a 2 yr old that m&m's are not a food group.
posted
I've been trying a food experiment on my daughter, who is 3 1/2. Since she has been able to speak, so she could ask for things, I have not made her sit down to established meal times, and SHE decides what she wants to eat when she is hungry. This is weird, I know, and most of my friends with kids think I am nuts. However, because she has always had the choice, she more often than not makes healthy choices. She eats small amounts about 6 times a day, and since cookies, candy, etc. have never been off limits, they don't seem to have that power over her where she wants them all the time, and she never gorges. Her favorite foods are fruit and vegetables, yogurt, and peanut butter. It is very common for her to not finish a dessert, because she's had enough. We have both types of dry cereal in our house, and although she might choose Lucky Charms one day, the following two days she will choose Cheerios or Raisin Bran. The pediatrician says she's healthy as a horse, and her weight is in the 25th percentile for her age.
ETA: She will have days where she only seems to want one type of food, such as bananas on Tuesday, peanut butter on Wednesday, and whole-grain bread on Thursday. I kept track of this once, and even though it seemed weird, over the period of a week, she had had enough servings of each food group to average out to a very balanced diet.
-------------------- Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength; loving someone deeply gives you courage. Lao Tzu Posts: 1544 | From: Northern California | Registered: Jul 2004
| IP: Logged |
crb
The Red and the Green Stamps
posted
Deosn't sound crazy to me. But I still have emotional attachement to food so it's hard for me not to translate her dislike of what I made for dinner into not liking something I did. I'm getting over it, though. I'm starting to figure it out.
My daughter seems to have some of those tendencies too. She's got a sweet tooth, yes. However, she'll also eat rice, potatoes, peanut butter, cheese, bananas and bread. And like you said she'll get stuck on a food. One day she ate nothing but graham crackers.
For all my complaining, I'm not big on the idea of making her sit for a meal and eat everything on her plate. Look where it got the members of my family who are overweight. I'm trying to retrain myself to eat less more often and get to where I can let myself not finish just because it's there. My husband eats until he's full; he doesn't go back for seconds unless he's really hungry.
She sits at the table with us because she likes being there with us, but when she's full she gets down and goes on with all her very important two year old business. I think it has something to do with amassing a teddy bear/rabbit army. I think we're invading the guest room next week to stage a coup against the reigning crazy moose. At least, I think that's what she said. It all seemed very serious and dire.
But that could have been the marshmallows talking.
quote:Originally posted by Gayle: Breakfast cereal is evil. Period. Sugar or no. It's a nasty evil habit that will catch up with all of you very soon. I hate, loathe and detest breakfast cereals. Use it as breading? Ugh. Eat it as a snack? Oh, just cut off my fingers. I can't even be around people eating cereal. Why is it supposed to be acceptable to eat a huge mouthful of something you slurp into your mouth and then crunch like a golem eating bones? *shudder*
Just stay away from me with that nasty stuff.
Issues? Moi?
A lot of pediatricians reccommend giving Cheerios to a child that is just learning to eat finger foods. It helps with small motor function. It's oats so its quite healthy and it is also heart healthy. Don't condemn all cereals.
When I was growing up I wanted my mom to buy Cookie crisp cereal. She flatly refused and would not budge. Cookies for breakfast? Never!! Now that I am a mom...I am the same way. I compromise I buy only 1 sugar cereal per shopping visit. the rest are non sugar types. Waffles, oatmeal and the like.
-------------------- "How many frickin' times do I have to say, 'In the form of a question', people?!?" - Alex Trebek Posts: 64 | From: Central New Jersey | Registered: Apr 2004
| IP: Logged |
posted
If one were to pinpoint a single reponsibility for obesity in kids today, it's got to be lack of activity. My generation ate presweetened cereals and had an open fridge just the way kids do today. We also figured out how to buy our own candy and junk at the store pretty young. But we also spent a lot (read all) more of our time outdoors being active.
Beach...nd getting around was by bicycle, not mom and dad's car...Life!
UBBFriend: Email this page to someone!
Printer-friendly view of this topic
