HEALTH

Wellness

In the news: Your breakfast cereal packs more sugar than a Twinkie

Be honest. How many of you indulge in a bowl of Froot Loops or Cap’n Crunch before school? If so, you may want to reconsider your choices. According to a recent study by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), many children’s cereals contain more sugar than a Twinkie!

According to a Time article, the cereal industry has been working to raise the legal limit of sugar in cereal from 26 percent to 38 percent. Without that high increase, there are already 46 cereals that contain more sugar than three Chips Ahoy cookies.

The EWG reports that the top five worst children’s cereals due to sugar content are Kellogg’s Honey Smacks, Post’s Golden Crisp, Kellogg’s Froot Loops Marshmallow, Quaker Oats’ Cap’n Crunch’s OOPS! All Berries and Quaker Oats’ Cap’n Crunch Original. All five cereals contained over 44 percent of sugar based on their weight, close to that of a Twinkie.

The study also showed that children who eat high-sugar cereals for breakfast tend to have more problems in school. They become frustrated more easily than their peers and have a hard time working independently.

Resolve to skip the sugar-packed cereals and opt for healthier choices, like homemade oatmeal topped with a sprinkle of cinnamon or scrambled eggs. Yum!

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by Ana D’Ambrogi | 2/1/2016
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