In 1961, General Mills introduced the first Total Cereal to the market, and some of its current varieties are Whole Grain, Cranberry Crunch, Cinnamon Crunch and Raisin Bran. All Total Cereals provide at least 100 percent of the daily value for 11 essential vitamins and minerals, and they have whole grains. As you consider the dietary facts of Total Cereal, think about the amounts of calories, sugar and other nutrients in the different varieties.
Nutritional Overview
Some of the biggest variations in the dietary facts of Total Cereal are in serving sizes and macronutrients. Whole Grain Total has 100 calories per three-quarter cup or 30 g serving, while a serving of 1 cup, or 53 g, of Honey Almond Flax Total Plus Omega-Three has 200 calories. Whole Grain Total has 23 g carbohydrate, 3 g dietary fiber and 5 g sugars, and 1 cup or 53 g serving of Raisin Bran Total has 40 g carbohydrates, 5 g dietary fiber and 17 g sugars. The cereals have about 2 g to 3 g protein per serving, and up to 1 g fat.
Vitamins
Total provides 100 percent of the daily value for Vitamin E, an antioxidant vitamin that also supports a healthy immune system. It also has 100 percent of the daily value for the B vitamins riboflavin, thiamin, niacin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, folic acid and pantothenic acid. Cranberry Crunch Total and Raisin Bran Total do not provide vitamin C, but the other varieties of Total provide 100 percent of the daily value. The cereals have 10 percent of the daily value for vitamin A, and 25 percent of the daily value for vitamin D, which helps the body to absorb calcium.
Minerals
You need calcium for healthy bones and teeth, but some Americans may be at a higher risk for bone fractures because they do not get enough. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services emphasizes adequate calcium intake from dairy foods or fortified sources such as cereal. Total provides 100 percent of the daily value for calcium. Some women and growing children may need extra iron to prevent iron-deficiency anemia, and the cereals provide 100 percent of the daily value for iron, as well as for zinc.
Whole Grains
Whole grains provide antioxidants and dietary fiber, and eating more whole grains instead of refined unenriched grains may reduce your risk for developing coronary heart disease. The 2005 Dietary Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommend getting at least half your grains from whole grain sources. General Mills makes all of its cereals, including Total, with whole grains, and the company claims that Americans consume more than 10 percent of their total whole grains from General Mills' cereals.
Omega-Threes
According to the Linus Pauling Institute Micronutrient Information Center, omega-three fatty acids may improve cholesterol levels in your blood and reduce the risk for heart disease. You can get long-chain omega-three fatty acids from fatty fish, and shorter chain alpha-linolenic acid is in vegetarian sources such as walnuts and flax. For someone on a 2,000-calorie diet, the daily value for alpha-linolenic acid is 1.6 g. Total Plus Omega-Three's Cereal has a Honey Almond Flax flavor, and it provides 160 mg alpha-linolenic acid.
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