How to Choose Healthy Kids' Cereals

Faced with an aisle bulging with a million multi-colored cereal boxes, all aimed at media-happy children, the parent must make his or her choice wisely. Choco Munchies or Sugar Crunchies? Step one is to read the ingredients before you buy. But on the other hand, if you decide you don't want to spend an hour in the cereal aisle, simply use these quick tips.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Scan the ingredients. If there are more than five or six, consider placing it back on the shelf.

2. Skim the ingredients for the word "sugar" or "corn syrup". If this is first or second on the list (or even third, if you want to be a stickler for the sweet stuff), return the box to where you found it.

3. Check the organic or healthy aisle for their choices and a quick ingredients check. Realize that "cane syrup" is another word for sugar.

4. Double check the side of the box for fiber content rather than sugar content. Choose the cereal with the highest amount of fiber in milligrams (listed as 2 mg, 3 mg or 4 mg per serving). This is a handy way to choose bread as well.

5. Go for bulk granola. It may be sweetened, but kids do get the definite benefit of fiber through the oats. Ambitious parents can make their own granola. Many recipes call for maple syrup as a sweetener.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid brightly colored and character-linked cereals. These almost guarantee ingredients like Red No. 5, said in some research studies to contribute to ADD (attention deficit disorder) and other disorders.

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