Breakfast Cereal Recommendations from RealSimple.com

This article showed up on Yahoo.com this morning and, as always, I checked out the "who" that is touting this "best" list. Real Simple is a Time Inc. magazine that started in 2000, has expanded to a TV show on TLC and involves Registered Dietitians in food and health articles. Glancing through their offerings I can see how this could be another resource for folks looking for information, recipies and great home ideas to improve eating choices.

The Best Breakfast Cereals

The Classics

Many breakfast-cereal concoctions come and go (R.I.P., Donkey Kong Crunch; adios, Urkel-O's). Then there are the beloved stalwarts-raisin bran, corn flakes, crispy rice-that will be breakfast staples forever. But which brands in these traditional categories are best? Real Simple testers ate their way through 42 boxes to find out. (Note: All cereals tested in this story were free of high-fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils.)

The Best O's: Cheerios

The pure oaty flavor and the hearty crunch of these whole-grain rings, which contain just one gram of sugar per serving, easily won over testers. “No wonder my toddler can’t get enough of them,” one enthused.

To buy: $4 for 14 ounces.

The Best Crispy Rice: Erewhon Organic Original Crispy Brown Rice

Made with brown rice (a nice twist on the traditional white), these delicate puffs have “a pleasing nutty flavor,” a staffer raved. “Topped with strawberries, they would make a great light breakfast.”

To buy: $4 for 10 ounces.

The Best Shredded Oats: Life

Mikey liked it back in the 1970s, and Real Simple testers feel the same way today. The thin oat squares strike a tasty balance of salty and sweet.

To buy: $4 for 15 ounces.

The Best Raisin Bran: Cascadian Farm Organic Raisin Bran

“The plump, juicy raisins aren’t overwhelmed by the number of flakes,” said a fan. “Plus, the fruit is free of that awful coating of sugar so many companies use.”

To buy: $4 for 14 ounces.

The Best Corn Flakes: Trader Joe’s Organic Corn Flakes

“These large, sturdy flakes hold their shape, have a strong corn flavor even when drowned in milk, and don’t develop a slimy film like some other versions,” said one appreciative tester.

To buy: $2.50 for 12 ounces.

The Best Frosted Wheat: Three Sisters Sweet Wheat

These bites have a dusting of icing on one side that adds a touch of sweetness to the milk. Bonus: The resealable plastic bag cuts down on wasteful packaging.

To buy: $3.40 for 15.5 ounces, Whole Foods Market.


The Best High-Fiber, Low-Fat

Cereals touted for their nutritional profile can’t always make the same claim for taste. Real Simple staffers sampled 77 options―all containing at least 3 grams of fiber, no more than 10 grams of sugar, and less than 2 grams of fat, as recommended by Marilyn Tanner-Blasiar, a registered dietitian and an American Dietetic Association spokesperson. Here are the breakfast champions.

The Best High Fiber: Kashi Go Lean

A medley of bran twigs, honey whole-grain puffs, and mini soy graham crackers, this won praise for being hearty and delicious. One of the healthiest of all the winners, it packs 13 grams of protein and 10 grams of fiber into a single serving.

To buy: $4 for 14.1 ounces.

The Best Shredded Wheat: Kashi Autumn Wheat

Passionate shredded-wheat devotees raved about how the squares “absorb the milk just enough, without soaking it up like a sponge.” Said one of them, “It’s tightly woven and yet has a lovely, airy crunch.”

To buy: $4.20 for 17.5 ounces.

The Best Crispy Whole Grain: Multi-Bran Chex

Molasses perks up the flavors of corn, wheat, and rice in these woven brown crisps. “Forget toast in the morning. This reminds me of my favorite wheat bread, but with a more robust, nutty flavor,” a panelist said.

To buy: $3.30 for 14 ounces.

The Best Whole Wheat Flakes: Organic Weetabix Crispy Flakes

This flake version of a popular English cereal has a pleasant, grainy texture and a slight sweetness, thanks to cane juice and a touch of sea salt.

To buy: $4.50 for 12 ounces.

The Best High-Fiber Twigs: Fiber One Original

Many twigs are thin and brittle, said a taster. “This sturdy example stands up well to milk and fruit.” For an afternoon snack, try the cereal solo or sprinkled on yogurt. Half a cup contains a whopping 14 grams of fiber.

To buy: $4.20 for 16.2 ounces.

The Best Flax: Nature’s Path Organic Flax Plus Multibran

It’s easy to get more heart-healthy omega-3s in your diet with these golden flakes. “They have a cute, cuplike shape that holds the milk,” commented a fan.

To buy: $4.60 for 13.25 ounces.

The Best Kids'

Remember when you loved visiting Susie Schumacher’s house because her mom bought “sugar” cereal? It’s still a special treat today. A panel of 32 elementary-school testers munched their way through 93 contenders, none exceeding 15 grams of sugar (the limit for registered dietitian Tanner-Blasiar). These picks hit the sweet spot.

The Best Puffs: EnviroKidz Organic Gorilla Munch

“Super crunchy!” one youngster said of this gluten-free corn cereal with 8 grams of sugar (the lowest per serving of the bunch). “I’d eat them during recess as a snack,” another noted.

To buy: $4.60 for 10 ounces.

The Best Cinnamon Squares: Total Cinnamon Crunch

The “fresh cinnamon-stick taste” of these small, ultra-crispy squares enticed many panelists to go back for seconds.

To buy: $3.90 for 15.4 ounces.

The Best Marshmallow: Three Sisters Marshmallow Oaties

Testers liked that the white, pink, and purple marshmallows in this addictive cereal didn’t dissolve. “They keep their shape until the very end,” one noted.

To buy: $3.40 for 12.5 ounces, Whole Foods Market.

The Best Honey-Nut O's: Honey Nut Cheerios

“Drinking the flavored milk is the best part,” one tester proclaimed after sampling this honey-and-almond classic made with whole-grain oats.

To buy: $3.80 for 12.25 ounces.

The Best Fruity: Apple Jacks

Red flecks of dried apple cover these frosty-hued O’s. Made of corn, wheat, and oats, this cereal gets extra sweetness from apple juice and cinnamon.

To buy: $3.80 for 12.2 ounces.

The Best Cocoa: Erewhon Organic Cocoa Crispy Brown Rice

“I could eat these all day,” said one 10-year-old panelist of the airy rice pebbles. “They stay crisp in the milk but seem to melt in your mouth. And they taste like hot chocolate.” (For a fourth grader, that’s a good thing.)

To buy: $4 for 10.5 ounces.