Through media and other outlets we’ve all learned that checking the nutrition labels on the back of food boxes is incredibly important. According to a news article published by TimesLeader.com, everything is not as it seems. Though the article focuses on a few different types of food, what I think is the most important deals with cereal:
Whole grains. Thanks to new federal rules, schools are required to serve healthier food and drinks in vending machines starting this month, and many are switching to whole-grain products. This, theoretically, is good because whole grains are processed less and retain more nutrients and vitamins.
But when it comes to products such as whole-grain Double Chocolate Cookie Crisp cereal, don’t be fooled. The claim means 51 percent of the flour is made from a whole-grain source, but the rest of the flour can come from refined grains. And it often does.
I know that in this health-conscious nation, I should care about the nutritional value of my cereal. That said, I couldn’t care less. Give me a big bowl of sugar laden, artificially colored and flavored Froot Loops and leave me be.
