{"id":1060,"date":"2023-07-13T21:54:43","date_gmt":"2023-07-13T21:54:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/upmail.co.in\/kindhubs\/sustainable-cereal-choice\/"},"modified":"2024-11-06T08:27:08","modified_gmt":"2024-11-06T08:27:08","slug":"sustainable-cereal-choice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/upmail.co.in\/kindhubs\/sustainable-cereal-choice\/","title":{"rendered":"Is cereal a healthy breakfast?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The facts<\/span><\/h3>\n

With humble beginnings in 1863, when James Caleb Jackson created the first cereal with dried graham flour dough, to today where annual cereal sales in the USA tops $23B, cereal is distinctly an American breakfast phenomenon. In China, the next largest consumer of cereal, sales are a fraction at $6B. Cereal is convenient, non-perishable and inexpensive, so we choose this grab and go option without even thinking.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Currently, Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch as well as Kellogg\u2019s products make up 60% of all consumed cereal. <\/p>\n

\u2022 Rising prices haven\u2019t dampened Cereal\u2019s popularity. Sales have remained consistent despite an average increase of $2\/per box over the last 10y. <\/p>\n

\u2022 Cereals are primarily grains (corn, oats, wheat etc.) which are processed and flavored to create the ultimate product which we often enjoy in a big bowl of milk. <\/p>\n

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The big picture.<\/span><\/h3>\n

Every morning we have a choice, \u201chow are we going to start our day?\u201d. For many, grabbing a bowl of cereal is almost automatic. In fact, It is estimated that on average, each person in the USA consumes a little over 15 lbs of cereal\/year and 30% of us eat cereal 3 times a week or more. We love cereal\u2013in milk, as a snack, or even as a crunchy coating for chicken. But is cereal a healthy breakfast? For that we have to look at it in multiple dimensions\u2013what it contains, how it is produced, and how it is eaten. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\n \u201c<\/span>On average, each person in the USA consumes a little over 15 lbs of cereal per year and 30% of us eat cereal 3 times a week or more\u201d<\/span>\n <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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So, is cereal a healthy breakfast\u2026 and a kind choice?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

To truly understand the impact of cereal, let\u2019s dive into what it contains, how it is produced, and how it is eaten. These clues will give us the tools to make an informed decision for how to start our day. <\/p>\n

Cereal Production<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The grains used in cereal production are mostly derived from industrial grain farming which in the USA has a pretty dismal track record for environmental impact. Grain farming in America is primarily concentrated around soybeans and corn. Not only does this kind of mono-agricultural practice deplete the soil, but 90% of the grain grown in the USA is used to feed livestock (for beef) and for ethanol, instead of feeding humans. That\u2019s right, less than 10% of all land farmed in the USA is used to feed humans. And while cereal isn\u2019t the worst byproduct of grain farming, the grain industry as a whole is a significant driver of water pollution, soil erosion, biodiversity loss and heat-trapping emissions, adversely impacting the environment, soil and human health. In addition, many of the new cereals on the market are advertised as grain-free, deriving their protein source from animal products.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Cereal Consumption<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This topic gets really interesting when we look at the impact of the way we eat our cereal\u2026 with a big bowl of cow\u2019s milk. Despite the growth of dairy alternatives, more than 9 in 10 consumers<\/span><\/a> prefer to use dairy milk with their cereal. <\/p>\n

Milk production is highly energy intensive and in the case of factory farming, not a humane process. Counter to the natural reproductive cycle, dairy cows are forced to remain pregnant and make milk all year long. The average dairy cow makes 6-7 gallons of milk a day or approx 2100 gallons of milk every year; as compared with the natural cycle of cows where a cow will produce 1 gallon of milk per day, only when pregnant.<\/p>\n

Milk production demands a lot of water, in fact it is in the milk where one of the bigger problems in cereal consumption arises!<\/p>\n

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Image courtesy GetGreenNow<\/a><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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Changing the type of milk we consume is an easy way for us to instantly make kinder choices. <\/span><\/h4>\n

Take a look at this chart showing the impact of switching 1 cup of dairy milk to non-dairy.<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n
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Cereal Nutrition<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

One of the biggest concerns with cereals is their nutritional value. The majority of cereals are processed, refined, and sugar laden. Research has shown that foods high in sugar and\/or refined carbohydrates and low in fiber, lead to weight gai<\/span><\/a>n<\/span><\/a> and increased risk of diabetes<\/span><\/a> over time. This is particularly relevant since many cereals are marketed towards children<\/span><\/a>. Dietary habits start in childhood and limiting exposure to sugary, empty-calorie foods is critical.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look at the nutritional value of two cereals, both commonly available at all grocery stores, one very popular unhealthy one and another that is much healthier. By reading the labels we can begin to see that a choice that is lower in sugar, higher in fiber, and higher in protein will give us more energy for less calories, a win-win for our bodies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Cinnamon Toast Crunch<\/strong>
General Mills
<\/em>(1 cup 41g)<\/p>\n

Calories 170<\/p>\n

Total Carbohydrate 33g<\/p>\n

Dietary Fiber 2g<\/p>\n

Total Sugars 12g<\/p>\n

Protein\t 2g <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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Cinnamon Toast<\/strong>
Catalina Crunch
<\/em>(1\/2 cup 36g, equal weight<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Calories 110g<\/p>\n

Total Carbohydrate 14g<\/p>\n

Dietary Fiber 9g<\/p>\n

Total Sugars\t0g<\/p>\n

Protein 11g<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The choices.<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n

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Life-focused<\/h3>\n

If your focus is on being kind to living things, reducing your dairy footprint by replacing milk with your favorite non-dairy milk will go a long way to help you make a kinder choice.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

If you are going to eat cereal, choose nutritionally dense cereal by reading the nutritional label. Look for high fiber, low sugar and optimally some protein. Watch for hidden ingredients like gelatin which are usually cheaply sourced.<\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, look for hidden animal byproducts in cereals like Frosted mini-wheats, Lucky Charms and in cereals branded as healthy such as <\/span>Magic Spoon<\/span><\/span><\/a> which has a high dairy content. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n