7/27/2019 Cereals Reading

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Some kids' cereals pack more sugar than a Twinkie

Breakfast is a healthy start to everyones day, and its especially important for children and theirschool

performance. Nothing could be easier than a bowl of cold cereal and milk. While were all aware that some

popular cereals contain whopping amounts of sugar, a new report by the Environmental Working Group

reviewed 84 popular brands, and revealed some eye-popping comparisons of the sugar content with some

popular cookies and snack cakes.

At nearly 56 percent sugar by weight, three cereals (Kelloggs Honey Smacks, Post Golden Crisp, and

General Mills Wheaties Fuel) weigh in with 20 grams of sugar in a skimpy one cup se rving. Thats a

whopping five teaspoons of sugarroughly the same as one Twinkie snack cake. And with today'soversized cereal bowls, a typical serving size is likely to be double that amount, or closer to two cups.

A single one-cup bowl of an additional 44 cereals, including the popular Honey Nut Cheerios, Apple Jacks

and Capn Crunch, are equivalent to eating three Chips Ahoy cookies about three teaspoons of sugar.

Read back package labels (not the front!):Dont be fooled by the front of the box nutrition claims. Look

at the nutrition panel on the back, and make your own decision. Grams of sugar per serving doesnt connect

with most people, so translate this into teaspoons of sugar by dividing the sugar grams on the label by four.

A cereal with 20 grams of sugar contains 5 teaspoons of sugar. And skip the good source of whole grains

on the front; instead, look for three grams of fiber per serving, found on the back.

Cut the sugar in half by mixing with low-sugar cereals: Many brands of cereals contain a low-sugar

basic with higher-sugar product. Mix original Cheerios in equal parts with Honey-Nut Cheerios, and cut

the sugar by 50 percent. This works for any high/low combination of cereals.

Add some fresh, frozen or dried fruit to low-sugar cereals:Boost the nutrients and provide natures

sweetness by adding fruit to a low-sugar cereal. For pricey berries, try frozen bagged fruits like blueberries,

or strawberries, two kid-friendly options.

Use the high sugar cereals as a dessert: Portion out a single serving (about 1 cup) in a small bag for your

child to enjoy as a treat or dessert, instead of a cookie or other treat.

And remember to choose low fat or non-fat milk, or soy milk(if there is a health reason for excluding

dairy). These are calcium- and vitamin D-rich optionsimportant for kids of all ages.

I. Mark True or False:1. The best way to check the amount of sugar is to check the front of the box.2. Fruits add sweetness to cereals.3. When you mix various types of cereals there portion contains less nutrients.4. Soy milk is a good low fat option.5. One serving may contain up to 20 grams of sugar.

II. Explain the underlined phrases.