Cereal, ‘smerial, it’s just breakfast, isn’t it?!

I Recently viewed a television commercial in which a family happily walks down the grocery aisle as the announcer touts the benefits of eating breakfast each morning.  Smiling, they tossed a few boxes of cereal into their cart and go their merry way.

Although I agree that breakfast is important, the type of cereal they were gleefully placing in their basket was appalling! They might as well have tossed Oreo’s into their cart! Oh wait . . .  didn’t they try that breakfast cereal already?  Didn’t last – went the way of the Mr T cereal.

Anyway, parents please!  Just because a child demands a certain cereal doesn’t mean it’s good for them. If they wanted cocaine, would you give that to them too? Hopefully not! As parents, encourage a child in the way they should go in all their spiritual, mental and physical endeavors.

Proverbs 22:6  ” Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” 

A child lives what he learns.

Submitting to increased daily sugar/fat intake is one of the worst things you can do to your child. It’ll set them up for a possible  health challenges later on. I saw the results of hyperactivity first hand twenty years ago while working with physicians. I suggested eliminating chemicals, preservatives and dyes if possible. Recently studies confirmed that chemical relationships can be linked to hyperactivity and ADD.  I pity the poor teacher who had children ‘climbing the walls’ from the chemical rush obtained from these breakfast choices.

Unfortunately, most cereals on the shelves are loaded with sugar,chemicals, preservatives, dyes, trans and hydrogenated fat.  Sometimes the proclaimed bonus of ‘fruit’ consists simply of flavored gelatin and dyes. Hmm, think those yogurt cereals contain real yogurt with its good bacterial properties? Not unless you create your own cereal/yogurt parfait from scratch.

Let’s look at several of the worst offenders:

Kellogg’s Honey Smacks:  This product (3/4 cup serving size) contains 15 grams of sugar, (56%!)  What that means to you in “dog years” is this:  There are 4 grams in a teaspoon. Divide 15 by 4 and you are consuming almost 4 teaspoons of sugar. Take a moment and visualize placing 4 teaspoons of sugar in that bowl.  You could give your child 6 Hershey Kisses for less sugar!

Captain Crunch:  Sugar content is 3 teaspoons.  Bad enough but look at the chemical ingredients added to this: Yellow dye 5 & 6, Red dye 40, Blue dye 1 and BHT, a preservative.

Quaker Oats OOPS All Berries: Same as above with its red dye #40, Yellow #5, Blue #2,  Blue #1 and 46% is pure sugar.  Fill a measuring cup and visualize for yourself. Quite an eye opener.

Sometimes children request a cereal simply because of the cartoon character on the box. conveniently located eye-level on the shelves. That’s manipulation of children and corporate greed! Rather than risk a public temper tantrum, the parent gives in.

Hardly any of these child-targeted cereals contain healthy fiber, which allows sugar to be released more slowly into the system. Choose cereals with  less than 5 grams of sugar but at least 5 grams of fiber.

Now parents I know you love your children. You should love the Lord even more.  You are killing your children with kindness by being a pushover!   Search for good wholesome cereals such as Shredded Mini-Wheats, Raisin Bran, Shredded Wheat and Bran, Wheat or Bran Chex, Grape Nuts, any Kashi cereal or oatmeal.

If your child wants something sweet on their cereal add real blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, raisins or bananas. All packed with nutrients that will assist with brain productivity and produce a much healthier child.