Authors: Marcel Horowitz, MS, CHES, Christie Hedrick, BS, Angela Asch, BS, Sonia Fernandez, BS, & Katie Churchill, BS, University of California Cooperative Extension, Yolo County
Cereal is synonymous with breakfast in many households. It is a fast and convenient way to fuel up before heading out the door. It can also be a fast way to add sugar. Make sure to follow a few simple steps to get the most out of your morning meal.
Start by reading the Nutrition Label on the cereal box. Look for calories per serving and grams of sugar.
Substituting! Purchase a lower sugar cereal. Look for one with less than 8 grams (ideally less than 6 grams) per serving. While your palate adjusts, mix your old high sugar version in the same bowl with your new cereal, adjusting the ratio each time until it is all lower in sugar.
Sneaking-in! Add fruit to sweeten the switch to low sugar cereal. If it is hard to part with the sweetness, opt for the lower sugar cereal but add fresh banana slices, raisins, dried cranberries, or fresh berries to add a little sweetness, more fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Swapping! Ditch that giant cereal bowl. By switching to a smaller bowl, you will cut out extra calories and sugar and still feel satisfied.
Return to The Top Foods to Swap, Substitute, Shrink, or Sneak-in to Reduce Added Sugars and Solid Fats in Your Diet.
