Great grains: find out which MF-tested cereals scored—and which ones bored

Nate Millado

Don't be swayed by leprechauns and rabbits hawking fruity, frosted flakes. The Harvard Medical School reports that it's the high-fiber bowl fillers that help you stay lean and energized and reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, even cancer. But which fiber-rich cereal tastes like something you'd actually want to eat? We tried the top brands to make sure you buy the right box.

Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats

CALORIES: 240 FIBER: 6 g CARBS: 48 g SUGAR: 12 g LOOKS LIKE: Miniature bales of hay. TASTES LIKE: Vanilla-flavored bread crust. MILK FACTOR: Once submerged, turns to mush in minutes.

*** (out of five)

Kellogg's Smart Start Healthy Heart

CALORIES: 270 FIBER: 5 g CARES: 49 g SUGAR: 17 g LOOKS LIKE: Slightly burnt wood chips. TASTES LIKE: French toast minus the syrup. MILK FACTOR: Holds its own, without becoming soggy.

****

Post Shredded Wheat 'n Bran

CALORIES: 240 FIBER: 8 g CARES: 48 g SUGAR: 1 g LOOKS LIKE: Crushed saltine crackers. TASTES LIKE: Flavorless rice cakes. MILK FACTOR: Decent crunch, even after five minutes in milk.

**

Post Raisin Bran

CALORIES: 230 FIBER: 8 g CARBS: 46 g SUGAR: 19 g LOOKS LIKE: A perfect mix of flakes and fruit. TASTES LIKE: Oatmeal and raisins. MILK FACTOR: Flakes absorb milk but stay crispy.

****

EDITOR'S PICK General Mills Fiber One Honey Clusters

CALORIES: 210 FIBER: 14 g CARES: 47 g SUGAR: 5 g LOOKS LIKE: Shredded cardboard. TASTES LIKE: Honey graham crackers. MILK FACTOR: Ten minutes dunked in milk--still crunchy.

*****

Kellogg's All-Bran Extra Fiber

CALORIES: 90 FIBER: 13 g CARBS: 20 g SUGAR: 0 g LOOKS LIKE: Twigs. TASTES LIKE: Dirt (our third-grade memory of dirt, anyway). MILK FACTOR: Shockingly, once wet, it turns to instant sludge.

*

Kellogg's Cracklin' Oat Bran

CALORIES: 240 FIBER: 6 g CARES: 35 g SUGAR: 15 g LOOKS LIKE: Small whole-grain doughnuts. TASTES LIKE: Granola. MILK FACTOR: Although delicious, it quickly disintegrates in milk.

****

Kashi Good Friends

CALORIES: 170 FIBER: 12 g CARBS: 43 g SUGAR: 9 g LOOKS LIKE: Dog food. TASTES LIKE: Particle board. Or so we're told. MILK FACTOR: Holds its shape, just like Styrofoam.

*

Nutritional breakdowns for cereal plus 1/2 cup skim milk

COPYRIGHT 2006 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning