Pouring a bowl of cereal and topping it with milk makes for an easy meal, and according to cereal diet plans, it makes for an easy way to shed pounds, too. Although cereal diet plans are convenient and simple to follow, they don't teach dieters the food and lifestyle habits necessary to maintain weight loss after the diet is over. Consult your health care provider before starting any diet.
Special K Challenge
The Special K cereal diet offers dieters different plans to suit individual needs. The classic plan is for those who want the essentials; the mix-it-up plan is for those who like variety; the on-the-go plan is for busy people; and the chocolate lover's plan is for those who crave chocolate. Dieters can choose a plan and get detailed instructions at the Special K website. All of the plans are followed for two weeks, and require replacing two meals and snacks each day with Special K cereals, protein shakes, cereal bars or protein bars. Special K provides recipes for healthy, low-calorie meals for the third meal each day.
Cheerios Diet
The Cheerios diet plan recommends a total of 1,500 calories per day. Cheerios dieters eat a breakfast of 1.5 cups of Cheerios topped with 1 cup of skim milk, along with a choice of low-fat yogurt, grapes, eggs, carrots or an apple, depending on the day of the week. Mid-morning and afternoon, dieters eat 1/2 cup of dry cheerios for a snack, along with fruit, yogurt or a low-calorie ice cream sandwich. For the remaining two meals, dieters are advised "not to stress counting calories," and that they'll find themselves naturally making healthy food choices.
Kashi GoLean Diet
The Kashi GoLean diet is based on Kashi GoLean original cereal. Dieters are instructed to replace breakfast and lunch with a bowl of cereal, and then have a dinner consisting of 3 oz. of lean protein and a few servings of vegetables. Dieters can have up to two fruits as snacks, if needed. Low-carb dieters can replace the cereal with Kashi GoLean Plus, a high-protein shake. Kashi GoLean cereal bars can also act as substitutes for the cereal. There were some complaints of intestinal gas from Kashi GoLean dieters.
Cereal Diets and Weight Loss
Cereal diets do work. Replacing meals with a portion-controlled serving of breakfast cereal can promote weight loss, according to a study by Richard D. Mattes, M.P.H., Ph.D., R.D., Professor of Food and Nutrition at Purdue University, reported in the December 2002 issue of the Journal of the American College of Nutrition. Cereal brand did not compromise effectiveness in the study.
References
- Journal of the American College of Nutrition; "Ready-to-eat Cereal Used as a Meal Replacement Promotes Weight Loss in Humans"; Richard D. Mattes, M.P.H., Ph.D., R.D.; December 2002 "
- Special K: Step 1: Choose the Plan that's Right for You
- Cheerios Diet: Cheerios Diet Meal Planner
- Diet Choices: Kashi GoLean Diet
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