Just how much sugar is lurking in your kids morning cereal???

This article recently appeared in the Toronto Star.  Take a look at the amount of sugar in some of the most popular cereals today.  Instead of these health hazards, try one of my nutritious breakfast recipes, located on the blog.  Couscous cooked in vanilla almond milk or homemade granola are two of my kids' favorites.

How much sugar is in your favourite breakfast cereal?

December 7, 2011

ELIZABETH WEISE

USA TODAY

Most parents would never dream of giving their kids dessert for breakfast. But a survey by the Environmental Working Group finds that many cereals marketed to children have more sugar than sweet treats do.

For example, a one-cup serving of Honey Smacks has more sugar than a Hostess Twinkie, and a cup of Cap'n Crunch or Apple Jacks has more sugar than three Chips Ahoy! cookies.

With 17 per cent of American children classified as obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, moving to cereals with little or no added sugar could be a better way to start the day.

The 10 Worst Cereals in terms of sugar per cup

Cereal, grams of sugar per cup, teaspoons of sugar:

 • Kellogg's Honey Smacks, 20.0, 5 tsp.

 •  Post Golden Crisp, 18.7, 4.6 tsp.

 •  Quaker Oats Cap'n Crunch Original, 16.0, 4 tsp.

 •  Quaker Oats Oh! s, 16.0, 4 tsp

 • Quaker Oats Cap'n Crunch OOPS! All Berries, 15.0, 3.7 tsp

 • Quaker Oats Cap'n Crunch's Crunch Berries, 14.7, 3.6 tsp

 •  Kellogg's Froot Loops Marshmallow, 14.0,3.5 tsp

 • Kellogg's Smorz, 13.0, 3.2 tsp

 • Kellogg's Apple Jacks, 12.0, 3.0 tsp

 •  Kellogg's Froot Loops Original, 12.0, 3 tsp

Alternatives:

 • Post Shredded Wheat,* 0.0, 0 tsp

 •  Kellogg's Mini-Wheats Unfrosted Bite-Size,* 0.6, 0.15 tsp

 • Cheerios Original, 1.0, 0.25 tsp

 •  Kix Original, 2.4, 0.6 tsp

 •  Post Grape-Nuts Flakes, 5.3, 1.3 tsp

 • Quaker Oats Oatmeal Squares Cinnamon,* 6.0, 1.5 tsp

 • Post Bran Flakes, 6.7, 1.6 tsp

 •  Post Honey Bunches of Oats with Vanilla Bunches,* 8.0, 2 tsp

* The serving size for dense cereals was adjusted to a serving (2/3 cup) with roughly the same weight as a cup of most light cereals.

Source: Environmental Working Group