Cereals cannot be taken away from your toddlers' breakfast menu. It makes sense since it is easy to prepare and inexpensive; however, you need to ensure that you are giving the best cereal for your child.
Sometimes, cereals get a bad rap for being packed with low nutritional value but the abundance of picks in the supermarket aisle means there are still healthy options hiding behind the box.
Now, let us have the list of nutritional values you need to check out before paying in the cashier. Start scanning the nutrition facts on the side or at that back -- ignoring the claims in front.
Sugar
The Parents posted that 92 percent of cold cereals and all cereals marketed in the U.S. contain added sugars. If a cereal has 10 grams of sugar and a serving size of 30 grams that means the cereal is one-third sugar and is already good as a candy. Choose something a little lesser.
Whole Grain
Always check if you are really purchasing whole grain cereals. Do not get deceived by the label that it is made with whole grain; instead, look at the nutritional facts. Look for the statement that says it has 100 percent whole grain. Hence, if it does not have that kind of label, it means it is made from refined grain.
Fiber
Cereals are usually fiber loaded and Bundoo suggests that it is a good starter for your little kid's day. When choosing a cereal, make sure it is not less than 3 grams of fiber. But have a keen eye on oat fiber, corn fiber and soy fiber because they are not proven to have health benefits.
Added Fruits
You think that added fruits are good? The raspberries and strawberries that float on your cereals are usually made from powder. Artificial fruits are made from mixtures of food dyes and gelatin. If you see fruits on the label try scanning the facts and see if there is a statement saying that a real fruit is included in the ingredients.
According to CNN, learning to review nutrition labels to verify and correct deceptive information can help you make smarter choices. Be conscious on what to place on your child's breakfast table when fueling his usual morning kickoffs.
