This week’s release of the report by Consumer Reports may have parents wondering what cereals they should be feeding their child/children. One way is to see what cereals are recommended by the WIC program.
WIC is a federally-funded health and nutrition program for women, infants, and children. WIC helps families by providing checks for buying healthy supplemental foods from WIC-authorized vendors, nutrition education, and help finding healthcare and other community services.
What makes a cereal a WIC Approved Cereal?
WIC-approved cereals are ones that are low in sugar and have a lot of nutrients, vitamins and minerals in them. Two of the vitamins included in many of the cereals:
Iron
Folic Acid
List of WIC Approved Cereals in California for Children
All of these cereal are low in sugar and high in nutrients like iron and folic acid. Any cereal specified on the food instrument Box or bags – 12 oz. package or larger except for brand Instant Oatmeal which may be an 11.8 or 12 oz. box General Mills
Cheerios (plain)
Kix (plain)
Kellogg’s
Corn Flakes (plain)
Frosted or Unfrosted Mini- Wheats (Big Bite or Bite Size)
B&G Foods
Cream of Wheat (1 minute, 2-1/2 Minute, 10 minute)
Post
Honey Bunches of Oats (Honey Roast)
Quaker
Life (plain)
Crunchy Corn Bran Store Brands (See list of authorized labels)
Crisp(y) Rice
Instant Oatmeal (Regular unflavored, in 11.8 oz or 12 oz. box of individual serving packets)
Cereals that Can not be Bought on WIC Programs
Brands or labels not specifically listed on WIC Authorized Food List and California Shopping Guide WIC Authorized Foods
Individual serving packets, except for store brand Instant Oatmeal – Packages smaller than 12 oz., except for store brand Instant Oatmeal
Honey (except for Honey Bunches of Oats, Honey Roast), frosted, cinnamon, or fruit flavored
Cereals with chocolate, fruit, nuts, marshmallows, or yogurt clusters/pieces
Results from a study released this week by Consumer Reports found that only four of the 27 cereals tested rank as “very good.” Those that were judged to be “very good” are Cheerios, Kix, Life and Honey Nut Cheerios.
The majority of the cereals (23 of the top 27 cereals marketed to children) reviewed were classified as “good” or “fair.”
Rice Krispies only ended up with a “fair” rating. Although low in sugar it is also low in fiber. Cocoa Puffs and Frosted Flakes ended up in the “good” category because they had some fiber (1 gm) and were a good source of iron. Fruit Loops ended up with a “fair” rating, with a low fiber amount and 12 grams of sugar.
Two childrens’ cereals Honey Smacks (15 gms) and Golden Crisp (14 gms) classified as “fair” are more than 50 percent sugar by weight; this is as much sugar per serving as a glazed donut from Dunkin’ Donuts. This amount of sugar is less than the amount of sugar in a serving of yogurt.
The Classifications
Very Good – Relatively low in sugars, with some fiber; high in iron and a good source of calcium.
Good – Room for improvement in sugars and/or figer; high in or a good source of iron.
Fair – Eat only occasionally; most have a lot of sugar and too little figer; most are high in or a good source of iron, but not calcium.
The Good Cereals
Cheerios topped the list with only 1 gram of sugar and 3 grams of fiber per serving.
Cheerios
Kix
Honey Nut Cheerios
Life (Quaker Oats)
These four cereals earned points for relatively lower sugar and higher dietary fiber, the two categories weighed as most important.
Cereal Not Just for Children Anymore
While sugary cereals are heavily marketed to children ($229 million advertising dollars per year) an estimated 58 percent of children’s cereals are consumed by those over 18 a strong indication that childrens cereals are not just for children anymore.
Watch Serving Sizes
Another issue when eating cereals is to watch the serving size. Most children and many adults serve themselves 50 to 65 percent more than the serving size on the package or have a second serving which ultimately increases the number of calories eaten.
One student several years ago in my nutrition course admitted to eating a very large bowl of cereal, one that would hold three to four servings.
Paid subscribers can view the entire list of cereals reviewed at the Consumer Reports Website or for free at My Fox Twin Cities.
Online students look for an email message sent to your email of record with the college. If you are stuck logging onto the Blackboard Course System, see the Blog Page on Blackboard.
Face to Face students I will see you on Monday or Tuesday.
The most important thing for you to do during the first week is to take some time and determine a study plan.
Figure out when your exams and assignments are due, mark them on a calendar or day planner.
Decide how you are going to budget your time to learn the material and complete the assignments. The “Course” Page of this blog includes many helpful resources and assessments to help you figure out how to assess your study skills and manage your time.
Also included are suggestions and tips that I have compiled for the Nutrition students including Tips for Success in Nutrition & Wellness, Tips for Learning the Lecture Material and General Study Tips.
Taking a look at these resources early in the class, getting yourself organized for the semester will help you to succeed in the Nutrition and Wellness Course.
The “Online” Page of this blog includes a variety of Tips for students to improve their success in distance education.
This page includes “Are You Ready to Learn Online?” a great introduction from Cerro Coso College, on to determining if you are ready to take an online course. I highly recommend that all online students take some kind of self-assessment to determine if their learning styles, study and computer skills are in line with taking an online course.
There are also some Suggestions for Being a Successful Online Student, part of the Online Orientation for Columbia College Students along with links to Other Online Self Assessments.
For students who are near Columbia College, the College offers “How to Succeed as an Online Student” or CMPSC101 is offered both Fall and Spring semesters and is designed as an orientation to online learning and our current online course management system, Blackboard Learning System.
Labels for Sara Lee’s “Soft & Smooth Made With Whole Grain White Bread” will have to be changed to make it clear that the product is only 30 percent whole grain not as part of an agreement the company has reached with the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).
The consumer advocacy group had threatened in December 2007 to sue Sara Lee because the company’s claims of “whole grain goodness” on Soft & Smooth have been misleading.
The bread is really made mainly from refined white flour, not whole grains.
Other Misleading Product Statements
The Center for Science in the Public Interest also points out that plenty of food companies try to give consumers the impression that their white-flour-based products are “made with whole grain” even if there is only a small amount. Kraft uses phrases like “good source of whole grain” or “excellent source of whole grain” on labels even if the product is mostly refined white flour.
CSPI litigation director Steve Gardner points out that
Companies that use the phrase ‘whole grain’ absolutely have the legal responsibility under state consumer protection laws to disclose exactly how much whole grain is there.
Yet another case of Caveat emptor or Let the Buyer Beware.
This lecture was developed to help explain We’re All Winners, an educational activity, a day created to build self esteem, promote healthy eating and encourage children to be physically active.
We’re All Winners
“We’re All Winners” is an educational fitness activity designed to let young children have fun, learn a bit about being safe in the sun and then participate in a non-racing, solo running activity.
The main goal of the event is to create an environment in which each child gets to feel special, like a winner and goes home feeling and believing for at least one day that “I’m a Winner!” This is the message that we want them to internalize and to believe.
This educational activity an idea that I developed while my young daughters were in pre-school. We staged for five years in the pre-school or kindergarten setting and last year also put on a modified version for my older daughter’s first grade setting.
Thanks to Docstoc, you can watch the lecture online. Simply click on the arrow to start the presentation:
This guest lecture was developed for HHP 300, Fitness Maintenance course at Columbia College to teach life-long learners how healthy lifestyle choices regarding eating, exercises and stress management among others can help them to life a healthier life.
Thanks to Docstoc, you can watch the lecture online. Simply click on the arrow to start the presentation:
Results from a study released this week by Consumer Reports found that only four of the 27 cereals tested rank as “very good.” Those that were judged to be “very good” are Cheerios, Kix, Life and Honey Nut Cheerios.
The most important thing for you to do during the first week is to take some time and determine a study plan.
This page includes “Are You Ready to Learn Online?” a 
Labels for Sara Lee’s “Soft & Smooth Made With Whole Grain White Bread” will have to be changed to make it clear that the product is only 30 percent whole grain not as part of an agreement the company has reached with the 
“We’re All Winners” is an educational fitness activity designed to let young children have fun, learn a bit about being safe in the sun and then participate in a non-racing, solo running activity.
