Fruit Loops cereal was made famous by Toucan Sam, its bright and cheerful spokesperson. Kids are attracted by Fruit Loops' bright colors and parents can generally be persuaded to purchase them due to their claims of fortification with vitamins and minerals. It is important to review the nutritional content of Fruit Loops as a whole to make an informed decision as to whether it is a good choice for you and your family.
Serving Fruit Loops
The recommended serving size for Fruit Loops is 1 cup. When eaten for breakfast, they are generally served with 1 cup of milk. This may include vitamin D, low-fat, skim or soy milk. However, kids of all ages may enjoy Fruit Loops without milk as a snack.
Calories
On average, most adults who are moderately active consume approximately 2,000 calories per day. There are 120 calories in 1 cup of Fruit Loops if you eat them by themselves. Of these calories, 10 calories are from fat. Eating Fruit Loops with 8 oz. of skim milk or 8 oz. of plain soy milk adds 80 calories, making it a 200-calorie breakfast. Compared to the total number of calories you need in a day, this amount is minimal. You could consider also eating a piece of fruit with the Fruit Loops to create a more balanced breakfast.
Vitamins and Minerals
Fruit Loops is a fortified cereal, which means it contains a variety of vitamins and minerals. Each 1 cup serving of Fruit Loops contains vitamin C, iron, B-1, B-2, B-3, B-6, B-12 and folate. Although the recommendations for these vitamins and minerals vary, one serving of Fruit Loops contains 25 percent of the recommended daily value for each of these nutrients.
Dietary Fiber
Dietary fiber is an essential part of your diet. Fiber helps your intestines to break down foods more easily and excrete waste regularly. Women should consume between 21 and 25g of dietary fiber; men should consume 30 to 38g of fiber each day. One cup of Fruit Loops contains 1g of dietary fiber, which is not a significant contribution to daily needs. MayoClinic.com recommends you choose cereals with a minimum of 3g of dietary fiber per serving.
Sugar
You may be concerned about how much sugar you eat, especially when you are planning meals for your family. The American Heart Association recommends women limit their consumption of sugar to 6 tsp. and that men limit their intake of sugar to 9 tsp. each day. Each 1 tsp. contains 5g of sugar. This equates to a daily limit of 30g of sugar for a woman and 45g of sugar for a man. One cup of Fruit Loops contains 15g of sugar, or 3 tsp. This is a large amount of sugar as it accounts for 50 percent of a woman's daily allowance and 66 percent of a man's daily allowance.
Protein and Fat
To maintain a healthy energy level and keep muscle tissue healthy, you should get between 50 and 170g of protein each day. In addition, you should limit your daily consumption of total fat to between 44 and 78g. One cup of Fruit Loops contains only 1g of protein and fat, so it doesn't make a significant contribution to your daily requirements for these macronutrients.
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