I was walking down the cereal aisle of a CVS today and was amazed at the variety of cereals. I was also kind of disappointed- not many of them were healthy choices. I remember as a kid always wanting Fruity Pebbles, Lucky Charms, and Cookie Crisp. I wouldn't eat Cheerios or anything like that.
Now that I'm on my own(for the most part), I have to restrain myself from buying all those cereals I wanted as a kid. I know they're unhealthy, and I know I'm already a bit overweight.
So, do you let your kids eat the unhealthy cereals, do you make them eat the healthy stuff(despite not eating Cheerios, I was a big fan of Raisin Bran), or do you mix and match the two, using the unhealthy stuff as a treat once a week?
Posted by Tante Shvester (Member # 8202) on :
The healthy stuff, and sometimes a box of the garbage to be used as a cereal "topping". A sprinkling of Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch cereal on top of the shredded wheats and Cheerios can be a nice thing.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
Cheap bag-o-ceral generic instead of the overpriced box of the same thing, with milk and juice and vitamin for healthy, but then again my son is dangerously under-weight.
Posted by maui babe (Member # 1894) on :
My kids only had packaged cereal on extremely rare occasions - certainly no more often than once or twice a year.
There are soooooo many other things to eat for breakfast... why would you want to eat any of that cr*p?
Posted by Lisa (Member # 8384) on :
Rice Krispies, Cheerios, Kix.
The only time she gets sugared cereal is on Passover. The Passover cereal is so gross that you need it sweetened.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Grapenuts, Cheerios, and Trader Joe's Maple Pecan Crunch (which is kind of like Honey Bunches of Oats if it came in a maple pecan flavor, but better and organic and healthier.)
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by Lisa: Rice Krispies, Cheerios, Kix.
Yup, yup, yup.
quote:Originally posted by ketchupqueen: Grapenuts
Yup. Sweeter things (Honey Bunches, Honeynut Cheerios, and similar -- nothing with funky colors or huge amounts of sugar) are once-a-week "Shabbos cereals."
Posted by Boon (Member # 4646) on :
My kids get to pick out ONE bag of crap cereal per month. I also buy generic Cheerios and lots of oatmeal and malt-o-meal. Once the cereal's gone, it's gone and too bad we won't be getting any more until next month.
I do insist they eat fresh fruit (or at least some of my mom's home canned peaches or pears) and yoghurt every morning too.
I also sometimes (maybe once a month, if that) make pancakes or "thin pancakes" for breakfast. We also sometimes have scrambled eggs with cheese and toast. But we still get our fruit and yoghurt every day.
Posted by Jhai (Member # 5633) on :
There are some healthy cereals that are still sweet enough to please a child. Special K, for instance, espeically if you get one with the child's favorite fruit. Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats are also sweet, and reasonably healthy. Chocolate-flavored malt-o-meal is very healthy, and was one of my favorites as a child. Of course, that's a hot cereal.
Posted by Libbie (Member # 9529) on :
My husband and I buy one box of crappy cereal per month that we use as "dessert" when we're really dying for something sweet after a healthy dinner. Usually it's Lucky Charms. But we are big consumers of breakfast cereal - usually Grape Nuts, Shredded Wheat, and Raisin Bran. I'm also a big fan of Special K Red Berries. Mmmmm.
Posted by Tinros (Member # 8328) on :
Judging from these responses, I wonder how much money those other cereals make. Also, I'm curious as to what kind of parenting is shown by those who only feed their kids what the kids want to eat.
Posted by Swampjedi (Member # 7374) on :
Nails. No milk.
Posted by Pelegius (Member # 7868) on :
My grandmother used to feed me Raisin Bran, and this was a special treat for me, because my parents never bought it (they were fans of the now-defunct Product-19 and of Corn Flakes). Now I alternate between various whole-wheat cereals. I am not sure as to the exact facts of this, but from what I have heard from my parents (both pediatricians) and athletic coaches, being whole-wheat is the most important part, more important than being low sugar. I am fairly sure that Frosted Flakes are healthy enough, for example.
Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
I used to mostly eat kix, crispix, chex. Now I mostly eat grape nuts and chex, if i eat cereal. My brother was the real cereal monster, though... he loves cereal. I always preferred toast or a bagel.
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
Frosted lard.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Oh, I love the Raisin Bran! Only Kellog's, though, more sugar.
And there's a balance between whole-grain and sugary, I think. I'd rather my daughter eat part-whole-grain cereal with a small amount of sugar than "100% whole grain" cereal whose second through fifth ingredients are different kinds of sugar.
Of course, why bother with either when there are things like the TJ's cereal out there-- organic, whole-grain, sweet but not too sweet. Posted by Artemisia Tridentata (Member # 8746) on :
The Malt-O-Meal brand of bagged frosted mini shreaded wheat is just as tastey as the National Brand and works for kids that don't go for the Grapenuts.
Posted by Jhai (Member # 5633) on :
Doesn't everyone here know that Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs are a part of every kid's wholesome nutritious balanced breakfast? They're tasty, lip-smacking, crunchy-on-the-outside, chewy-on-the-inside, and they don't have a single natural ingredient or essential vitamin to get in the way of that rich, fudgy taste.
The ones with marshmellow bits are the best. Posted by Paul Goldner (Member # 1910) on :
Go calvin and hobbes!
Posted by HollowEarth (Member # 2586) on :
Grapenuts are the world's worst cereal.
Posted by Valentine014 (Member # 5981) on :
Surely there are parents that feed their kids the sugary not-so-good-for-you stuff. They just don't want to admit it here.
My parents let me pick out what I wanted for cereal. They were just excited their kid ate a breakfast at all.
Posted by Artemisia Tridentata (Member # 8746) on :
quote:Grapenuts are the world's worst cereal
Say What? What would Euel Gibbons say? Now you just sit there and finish your russian thistle sprouts! Actually, I would take Grapenuts over any other mentioned product, except for the low number of servings in a box. (I still fill up the bowl.)
Posted by dawnmaria (Member # 4142) on :
My little girl like her Daddy's Frosted mini-wheats and my Special K with the yogurt bits. I also give her Cinnamon Life. She seems to like it all as long as she gets her own spoon!
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Can I count my husband as a kid? He acts like it sometimes...
He eats Fruit Loops and other sugar bomb cereals. Well, he sometimes eats other things for breakfast, too, but when he does cereal, he does sugar.
I, on the other hand, only eat bran. Yup, unflavored, unsweetened cardboard. Because there's so much rice in my diet here that that's what I gotta do. And that was more information than you wanted to know. I have it with kefir for the probiotic factor.
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
quote:Originally posted by Valentine014: Surely there are parents that feed their kids the sugary not-so-good-for-you stuff. They just don't want to admit it here.
My parents let me pick out what I wanted for cereal. They were just excited their kid ate a breakfast at all.
Several people here have admitted to it. I myself alternate between Honey Nut Cheerios and Cinnamon Toast Crunch. Cinnamon Toast Crunch is the most delicious meal on the planet that can be prepared in under one minute. And my kids will never have to worry about being fat, so . . . *shrug* There are worse things I could do than feed them a cereal we all enjoy.
Posted by Shanna (Member # 7900) on :
My brothers and I were allowed to pick our own cereal. My parents had veto power though. Occasionally, they'd let use get something uber-sugary as a treat. I liked the Reese Peanut Butter cereal when it first came out.
Most of the time it was Fruit Loops or Rice Krispies or Rice Chex (which I loved to top with fresh fruit.)
Posted by Luet13 (Member # 9274) on :
When I was a kid (8 or 9), my mom let me have one box of chocolate cereal, I believe it was Cocoa Puffs. She then drew up a contract that stated she would never buy me another box of chocolate cereal again. I signed at the x and she still has that contract somewhere! I am now 23. I am so amused that she has saved that thing after all this time. Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
You know, I hate sugary cereal. I can't stand the taste. I'll eat Frosted Flakes plain, but with milk it's just disgusting. Raison Bran is too sweet for me, although I'll eat it in a crunch.
I adore cheerios and corn flakes, eat them for more meals than just breakfast.
I know, I'm a mutant.
Posted by Alcon (Member # 6645) on :
I used to love Lucky Charms when I was a kid, but my parents never got it. They stuck to Life or Cheerios or Rice Krispies. But then I never much ate breakfast after elementary school. I usually just chugged a cup of tea.
These days I try to eat a bowl of Rice Krispies or Cheerios.
Posted by Silent E (Member # 8840) on :
We usually stock up on store-brand versions of raisin bran, corn chex, frosted shredded wheat, cheerios, and rice crispies. We also get Life (plain, though the cinnamon is to die for). We sometimes get some of the cereals that have dried fruit and no added sugar. My wife likes a couple of the cereals made by Kashi; so do my kids, at least their Mighty Bites.
Posted by Mrs.M (Member # 2943) on :
Aerin eats Cheerios or Special K. Mostly Cheerios. I measure out a baby serving (can't recall the amount right now, probably 1-3 ounces) and that's how much she gets. We don't exceed 3 servings per day. We have to be very careful about what she eats because of her reflux.
We do use Fruity Cheerios as a rare treat. It's sweetened with fruit juice so it's slightly less bad for her. We'll probably give her more when the time comes to put on weight for her surgery.
I never ate sugary cereal as a kid. I just can't stand the stuff. I ate mostly grits or oatmeal for breakfast or Crispix if there wasn't time for anything hot.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
When I go shopping we tend to have healthier cereals. When my husband gets sick of that, he'll go and get sugary cereals. Either way, my kids choose what they eat for breakfast (unless I'm making pancakes, oatmeal or something that actually requires something of me). They love Fruity Pebbles best.
Posted by ladyday (Member # 1069) on :
The kid likes cheerios but once in a great while she'll ask for fruity pebbles or fruit loops. Mostly she'd be happy eating the same thing every day but we let her mix it up when she wants to because it's really rare that she wants to deviate from the healthy cereal.
Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :
The only time Thomas has a sugary cereal is when he is sharing mine. Usually Peanut Butter Crunch. He's perfectly happy having fruit, or yogurt, or a bagel, or pretty much anything for breakfast. I'm the picky eater that loves some sugary cereals.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
Oatmeal. With milk, banana, and a little honey.
Cream of Wheat. Cooked with milk. With added banana and honey.
For cold cereals, you might try some of the Barbara's Organic cereals -- I get one box of the Fruity Punch Wild Puffs for those a.m.'s when I just can't fathom making a breakfast.
Other breakfast options:
Yogurt and granola with fresh fruit. Bagels and cream cheese with fresh fruit. Scrambled eggs, toast, and fresh fruit.
Weekend Special: French toast or banana-nut pancakes with rhubarb-apple sauce.
Personally, I have stopped eating breakfast beyond half of a piece of fruit and my juice and coffee. The food mentioned applies to my growing, active, very slender son. He needs the calories, I don't. *grin*
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
I am really lazy in the morning so I resort to lots of cold cereal. Kashi cereals, and from TJ's Triple Berry-Os. Toasted Oatmeal flakes, etc. Pretty healthy stuff. My kids have never tasted a sugar cereal. (They are 9, 7, and 4)
Posted by Libbie (Member # 9529) on :
quote:Originally posted by Paul Goldner: I used to mostly eat kix, crispix, chex. Now I mostly eat grape nuts and chex, if i eat cereal. My brother was the real cereal monster, though... he loves cereal. I always preferred toast or a bagel.
I'm with your brother. I would LIVE off of cereal if I could. At least I only crave the good stuff, though. I can't get enough Shredded Wheat. WITH RASPBERRIES ON TOP.
OH NO...MUST GO TO GROCERY STORE AND BUY RASPBERRIES...RIGHT...NOW. THE SHREDDED WHEAT IS CALLING TO ME.
Posted by Libbie (Member # 9529) on :
quote:Originally posted by Mrs.M:
We do use Fruity Cheerios as a rare treat. It's sweetened with fruit juice so it's slightly less bad for her.
Oh, man. Fruity Cheerios is the greatest invention of the 21st century.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
I feed my kids PhlebotomOs! They love it when the milk turns red.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
Does anybody else have a cut up mouth after eating Fruit Loops? I know I have to let the milk soak in for about 1 minute before I can start eating it, then its a race to stay ahead of excess sogginess.
I'm a huge fan of Honey Nut Cheerios, it just seems nice and sweet but not unhealthy. Reces Peanut Butter Cups though my favorite candy, utterly abhore me as a cereal. My kids in the future can have,
Rice Krispies, Special K, Corn Flakes, Cheerios (of any variety) maybe even Frosted Flakes, but beyond that I'm guarded.
My wife on the other hand loves junk cereals, and it was only after having honey nut cheerios for the first time in over a decade that she realized it tasted just fine and the nutritional facts were much better.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
I used to have that every time I ate original flavor Cap'n Crunch, BlackBlade, but I bought a box a couple of months back and discovered that they'd changed the way they were made. I've never had that with Fruit Loops, though. Do Apple Jacks do the same thing to you?
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
quote:Originally posted by Noemon: I used to have that every time I ate original flavor Cap'n Crunch, BlackBlade, but I bought a box a couple of months back and discovered that they'd changed the way they were made. I've never had that with Fruit Loops, though. Do Apple Jacks do the same thing to you?
Yes. I hated it growing up, all those shreads of skin. I always thought my mouth would toughen up, but that has not been the case.
Posted by ElJay (Member # 6358) on :
We ate crap cereal growing up. And poptarts! And those really bad for you toaster strudels, with the little packets of frosting.
>_>
<_<
We had healthy lunches and dinners, though. Mostly. Oh yeah, and we drank HiC and Tang instead of real juice. So there.
Now I eat Puffins cereal, and you should too. Reasonably healthy, tastes great. The peanut butter ones are like candy, I keep a box of them around for snacks when I need something sweet at night.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Me too, ElJay. Well, the poptarts and toaster strudels didn't come along until I was in junior high and being exposed to them at other kids' houses, but we got junk cereal on a fairly regular basis. It was kind of a treat item, and we ate lots of healthier cereal--Grape Nuts* has been my favorite cereal all of my life--but I never wanted for Lucky Charms or Fruit Loops.
*From pretty much the time I could eat solid food and articulate my demands until mid-grade school, my breakfast of choice was a bowl of grape nuts sprinkled with sugar and a mug of hot Tang.
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
The Special K Red Berries is actually really, really good. And Honey Nut Cheerios. Right now, I'm alternating between a couple varieties of Total. I mean, how big does your breakfast have to be? If you're going to add other things, probably stick with the lower calorie stuff, like Special K or something. But if you're just looking for food you can eat really quickly in the morning (or afternoon...or middle of the night), I really like the various Totals. Which is not to say I do not also appreciate the glory that is a box of Cocoa Rice Krispies.
I can't stand Pop Tarts. In fact, when I was a kid I rarely ate breakfast. I'd have a glass of chocolate whole milk before I went to school. 'course, a lot of times I'd be late for school because I was reading a book, and I was underweight as a child anyway.
-pH
Posted by DaisyMae (Member # 9722) on :
My kids (3 and 1) are both in the very picky, very skinny category. I allow them to eat ANYTHING they will put in their mouths and swallow as long as it can even vaguely be called food. I offer them anything and everything and they make their own restrictions. They actually ingest a fairly well balanced diet. They will eat yogurt, fruit, beans, carrots and other such healthy treats. I allow any and all cereals and they choose healthy ones (cheerios, chex, special k) just as often as non (fruit loops, cocoroos). I don't stress too much about it. My only food rule is that they can't have candy without eating "real food" first.
Posted by Alcon (Member # 6645) on :
Oh yeah, when I was still in elementary school I used to have two ego waffles a day for breakfast. Back when they were still... you know... decently good Posted by Lupus (Member # 6516) on :
I used to eat poptarts and toaster strudels. I actually picked up some new poptarts the other day. I hadn't had any for years, but they have a new kind that you put in the freezer called milkshake poptarts that are actually very good.
Posted by Brinestone (Member # 5755) on :
When we had cereal, we would have six or seven boxes of stuff on the table, some healthy, some not. For a while everyone's favorite was Cocoa Puffs. So yeah, I at the "crap" stuff a lot growing up.
On the other hand, we only had cereal about three times a week. My mom was big on hot cereals, eggs, and bran muffins.
Posted by DDDaysh (Member # 9499) on :
My parents were big health nuts when I was a kid, and it's come back to bite me. As soon as I got out of their "no sugar, fifteen fruits a day, and squash and onions in EVERYTHING" household, I had absolutely no self control, and spent the next five years eating almost nothing but junk food. I'm trying to get my diet back to being balanced, because my metabolism really can't cope with so much junk food, but it's hard once you gain the weight, to take it back off.
For that reason, I've vowed to never completely RESTRICT anything from my son's diet. He's three now, and to be honest, eats MOST of his meals at daycare (I'm a single mom, I don't have a choice about that if I want to pay the rent.) However, at home, our favorite cereal is frosted mini-wheats (whatever brand is cheap at the moment). To me they're a good mix, there's lots of fiber, and most of them are vitamin fortified, but they've got that crunchy little crust of frosting that makes them super yummy.
However, I'm more an oatmeal than a cereal person. Nearly every weakday I eat breakfast at my dest at work. Apple-Cinamon quaker oats are easy to make in a cup, with hot water right out of the coffee dispenser.
When my son eats at home, he usually likes to have those "cereal bars" for breakfast. He also really LIKES fresh fruit, so I always keep banana's and grapes around. He'll eat them as often as "cookies" (gram crackers) for snacks. Since Halloween though, I've been fighting the candy battle. He really doesn't understand why he can't eat "his" candy whenever he wants... oh well...
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
My son loves Cheerios and Kashi cereals.
My daughter loves sugar cereals, and can have them for dessert, but not for breakfast.
Both love oatmeal.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
*fondly remembers when toaster strudels were kosher*
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
What changed, Rivka, the rules or the strudels?
Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
DDDaysh, I think you're right about restricting kids' diets causing problems a lot later. I mean, isn't that where the freshman 15 comes from? Kids aren't in their parents' homes anymore, where someone made sure they were eating semi-decent meals, and all of a sudden they're eating pizza and Ruffles every night.
I have a friend who's had trouble with weight from a young age, and I think a lot of it stemmed from a similar situation. Both of her parents worked, so they got her a lot of microwave-type foods. She's actually been losing weight since she went to school.
-pH
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by Elizabeth: What changed, Rivka, the rules or the strudels?
Heh. You're kidding, right? The ingredients changed, I believed.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Sadly, I was not kidding. Some religions change their rules-apparently, not the rules that define what's kosher.
Posted by DDDaysh (Member # 9499) on :
I thought it was funny when my Jewish boss signed up to bring the turkey AND ham for our thanksgiving luncheon.
I figure, as long as my son is eating a reasonably healthy diet, then letting him pick what to eat will be ok. Compared to alot of other kids his age, he's a great eater... and he's not fat or anything. He goes through chubby stages and then lean stages depending on his grown at the time, but nothing ever extreme on either. He eats almost anything, and has a tendency to like to eat ALOT... but will stop eating when he's full. He's also very active. My little cousin, on the other hand, is chubby and hardly EVER eats ANYTHING. Her parents consider icecream a food group, because it's one of the few things they can get her to consume that actually has something more than grease and sugar in it.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by Elizabeth: Some religions change their rules-apparently, not the rules that define what's kosher.
One of the differences between traditional (i.e., Orthodox) Judaism and the heterodox is that the rules don't change.
(This is likely to be debated by members of the heterodox.)
Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
My daughter's big into Cheerios, Shredded Spoonfuls, and Chex. The aforementioned Malt-o-Meal Frosted Shredded Wheat and instant oatmeal envelopes are about the sugariest things that make it into the cereal bowl.
Although lately, my daughter wants a smoothie with every meal. Which isn't too bad a thing (milk, juice, frozen strawberries, yogurt, occasional bannana or other fruit)
quote:Doesn't everyone here know that Chocolate Frosted Sugar Bombs are a part of every kid's wholesome nutritious balanced breakfast? They're tasty, lip-smacking, crunchy-on-the-outside, chewy-on-the-inside, and they don't have a single natural ingredient or essential vitamin to get in the way of that rich, fudgy taste.
"Actually, they're kinda bland until you scoop sugar on them." -Calvin
Posted by littlemissattitude (Member # 4514) on :
This is a really interesting discussion to me. Can't directly contribute because I don't have kids, but I've been fascinated by the people who still love the "kids" cereals after all these years.
My mother never, ever gave me any of those...Fruit Loops, Kix, Cap'N Crunch, or like that...and I never asked for them. Didn't sound good when I was a kid, and don't sound good now. If she gave me cold cereal, it was corn flakes or Rice Krispies or Cheerios or shredded wheat. I rarely eat cold cereal now, although every once in a while I get a craving for flakes or krispies. Oatmeal was a big thing, and I still love that. When I was growing up, I also sometimes got a fried egg and toast for breakfast, with milk or orange juice. Pancakes were strictly a Sunday thing when I was growing up.
These days, more often than not, my breakfast consists of a slice or two of sourdough toast and an orange or a couple of tangerines. This isn't to say that I don't like breakfast foods, but anything elaborate often ends up being dinner instead of breakfast. Pancakes are still a favorite, as is french toast. I adore eggs, but I don't eat those too often and often when I want to make scrambled, I use no-cholestorol egg substitute instead of the real thing without really missing anything.
Posted by Tinros (Member # 8328) on :
I don;t ever really eat breakfast- I have cereal in my room(Honey Nut CHeerios, plain Cap'n Crunch, and Fruity Pebbles- I used to have a box of Lucky CHarms as an occasional treat, but one of my roommates ate half the box without asking me), but I don't eat it often, at least not at breakfast time. Granted, I normally get up at noon, since my first class is at 12:30 most days, or else I go to my first class then go back to bed... but oh well.
When I'm home, my parents make us special breakfasts on Saturdays or Sundays, depending on our schedules. These can be eggs, toast, and bacon, bacon and pancakes, or something like that(we rarely get my mom to make sausage gravy and biscuits, but she does sometimes).
Actually, recently, I've only been eating one meal a day, a cross between lunch and dinner. I don't know why, I just haven't had an appetite. Probably from being sick.
Posted by Icarus (Member # 3162) on :
Seems like many of you don't know the wonderfullness that is Cinnamon Toast Crunch.
That's a good thing all around. For you, it's good because you don't know how addictive it is. For me, it's good because there's more of it.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
Eh. I've had it. It's not bad, but it goes soggy too fast.
Posted by Tinros (Member # 8328) on :
I used to eat cinnamon toast crunch as a dry snack, but I can't stand it in milk. unless I'm dipping it in milk.
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But we are big consumers of breakfast cereal - usually Grape Nuts, Shredded Wheat, and Raisin Bran. I'm also a big fan of Special K Red Berries. Mmmmm.
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