Cereal is a staple breakfast food around the world. It is convenient, nutritious and delicious. Although there are countless number of cereal brands in the market, most of them are the trademarked brands of a few large companies, such as General Mills. General Mills markets more than 10 popular cereal brands.
Brands
General Mills has developed many cereal brands to meet different consumers' needs, including Cheerios, Chex, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Fiber One, Kix, Lucky Charms, Monsters, Total, Trix and Wheaties. Each brand also carries a variety of flavors for you to choose from.
Calories
The amount of calories in a serving of cereal is about 100 to 130 calories, depending on certain factors, such whether the cereal is unsweetened or sweetened, and whether it is made from bran, oats, corn or rice. For example, a serving of Cheerios provides about 100 calories while a serving of Lucky Charms provides about 110 calories. The main difference between the two cereals is that Cheerios does not contain added sugar and has about 1 gram of sugar per serving, while Lucky Charms is pre-sweetened and has about 11 grams of sugar per serving.
Nutrition
General Mills cereals serve as a good source of key nutrients, including essential vitamins, minerals and fiber. Each serving of General Mills cereals provides at least 8 grams of whole grain, with more than 20 cereal products containing 16 grams or more.
The brands that target children, including Kix, Chex, Lucky Charms, Cocoa Puff and Cinnamon Toast Crunch, are fortified with calcium and vitamin D in order to meet the needs of children's developing bones. Each serving provides about 10 percent of the daily value of calcium and vitamin D.
Benefits
The recommended intake of whole grains is 48 grams per day. Whole grain foods, such as General Mills cereals, are associated with many health benefits, including a lower risk of heart disease, and stomach and colon cancer, and better weight management. General Mills states that its cereals are responsible for about 10 percent of whole-grain consumption in America.
Considerations
If you have celiac disease or otherwise need a gluten-free diet, you should avoid products made with wheat. You can try General Mills' gluten-free cereals, such as Chocolate Chex, Cinnamon Chex, Corn Chex, Honey Nut Chex and Rice Chex. Look for the words "Gluten Free" on the label. However, since the ingredients may change, always check the food label before you purchase a product.
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