Be a Label Reader-

When you walk down the cereal isle it is pretty easy to spot the sugar filled cereals...or so you may think. Don't be fooled by advertising!

I am assuming most of us know how to read food labels.

If not you can check out this website to help you learn- http://www.fda.gov/food/labelingnutrition/consumerinformation/ucm078889.htm

I am usually a faithful food label reader. But I admit that sometimes I see something that looks healthy and throw it in the cart. It isn't until I get home that I really do the research and realize I have been tricked.

For example I occasionally like to buy Kellogg's Smart Start cereals. I know they aren't the most healthy choice (they taste way to sweet to not know this), but they seemed safe.

Although this cereal can claim 5g of fiber per serving it is "lightly sweetened" with 8 different sweeteners. According to the book Eat This not That by David Zinczenko this is more than any other cereal found in the supermarket. To go further, Lucky Charms, Frosted Flakes, Trix, Froot Loops, and Cocoa Pebbles all have less sugar per serving. Granted Smart Start does have more nutritional value than these cereals, don't forget that it comes with a price.

I am sure you have seen the commercials for the Special K diet on tv. If you look into the details the reason it can work in terms of weight loss is because you are eating so few calories. But when it comes to making your calories count, Special K is NOT the way to do it. Take a look at te ingredient list for this one-

Ingredients: RICE, WHEAT GLUTEN, SUGAR, DEFATTED WHEAT GERM, SALT, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, DRIED WHEY, MALT FLAVORING, CALCIUM CASEINATE, ASCORBIC ACID (VITAMIN C), ALPHA TOCOPHEROL ACETATE (VITAMIN E), REDUCED IRON, NIACINAMIDE, PYRIDOXINE HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B6), RIBOFLAVIN (VITAMIN B2), THIAMIN HYDROCHLORIDE (VITAMIN B1), VITAMIN A PALMITATE, FOLIC ACID AND VITAMIN B12.

It doesn't even have any whole grains in it.


If you are trying to eat healthy try these cereals instead-

Quaker Oatmeal Squares (10g of sugar compared to the 17g in Smart Start)
Cheerios- It is a classic for a reason. Here you get low sugar, low calorie and a decent amount of fiber. Add some blueberries if you need a little more sweetness. BTW...one pint of blueberries (the normal container you purchase blueberries in) contains only 160 calories, 18g of sugar (all natural here!), and 10g of fiber, plus tons of antioxidants.
Multi-Grain Cheerios- Only 110 calories and 6 g of sugar per serving. Plus these are delicious.