Reading nutrition labels can improve your overall health. Here's why.
The first thing you'll find on the label is the serving size, followed by its number of calories and then the nutrients contained therein.
cereals
"The ingredients list shows you what’s in a food," says Karen Collins, a registered dietitian and nutrition adviser to the American Institute for Cancer Research. She explains that such ingredients are listed in descending order by weight so that the first ingredient shown is the most prevalent ingredient and the last ingredient listed consists of the smallest quantity. Because of this, "it’s easy to check items like breads and <anchor>cereals</anchor> for whether a whole grain is actually listed first," she offers as one example.
Healthiest cereal: Fiber-rich, nutritious options to try
Healthiest cereal: Fiber-rich, nutritious options to try

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Cereals and grains

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# What is the healthiest cereal? Pour yourself a bowl of these fiber-rich options.

[![Portrait of Clare Mulroy](/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2024/06/03/USAT/73954566007-clare-mulroy-headshots-02.jpg?crop=2972,2973,x0,y421&width=48&height=48&format=pjpg&auto=webp) Clare Mulroy](/staff/7713150001/clare-mulroy/)

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Is breakfast really the most important meal of the day?

It’s more than just a saying – studies suggest regular breakfast intake in children results in higher [academic performance](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3737458/) in the classroom.

A 2021 Ohio State University study found 15% of adults [skip breakfast](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/06/210615132207.htm), but those who miss out on the first meal of the day also miss out on important nutrients and have an overall lower diet quality.

Cereal is one of the [quickest breakfast options](/story/life/food-dining/2023/05/21/what-is-healthiest-breakfast/70209352007/), but how does it impact our overall nutrition profile? Here’s how to get the most out of your meal.

## What is the healthiest cereal?

The healthiest cereal is going to be a fiber-heavy, fortified cereal made with whole grains.

Here’s the good news – you don’t need to break the bank to get a nutritionally-dense, healthy cereal option. In fact, many pricey organic cereals are not fortified. [Fortified food](https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/fortified-food) has added nutrients, making the item like a “multivitamin,” says [Chris Mohr,](https://www.mohrresults.com/meet-our-team) a registered dietitian and founder of Mohr Results.

“Ready-to-eat cereal is actually one of the top sources of nutrition for kids in particular,” Mohr says. “A key element of breakfast cereal is that fortification because then you’re getting those vitamins and minerals that you’re usually not otherwise getting.”

Regular breakfast consumers generally have a higher intake of dietary fiber, B vitamins like folate, calcium, iron and [magnesium and zinc](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2161831322008973).

Mohr recommends searching for “whole grains” on the back ingredient label. Whole grain cereal [has the grain kernel completely intact](/story/life/2023/04/16/what-is-the-healthiest-bread/11551845002/) rather than removing the germ and bran in processing, which casts aside many important vitamins, minerals, fibers and phytonutrients, which prevent cell damage.

You should also keep an eye out for fiber content. Cereals are among the [highest source of fiber](https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/resources/2020-2025-dietary-guidelines-online-materials/food-sources-select-nutrients/food-0) for Americans. Mohr recommends choosing a cereal with at least three grams of fiber per serving, though many cereal types offer much more fiber than that.

But in general, any type of cereal is going to add a certain amount of fiber and nutrition to your breakfast, Mohr says.

**How to make a healthy breakfast:** [Follow these 3 steps](/story/life/food-dining/2023/05/21/what-is-healthiest-breakfast/70209352007/)

## Is cereal healthy?

Added sugar is one of the biggest concerns with cereal intake, but it’s not as big of a problem as you'd expect, Mohr says.

Cereal makes up only 7% of the U.S. population’s [added sugar intake](https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov/sites/default/files/2021-03/Dietary_Guidelines_for_Americans-2020-2025.pdf#page=56), fifth on the list of the top sources of added sugars. It’s far below sugar-sweetened beverages (24%) and desserts and sweet snacks (11%). Even coffee and tea add more sugar to our diet than cereal.

“They're getting more nutrition even if they are getting a little bit more sugar because in the grand scheme of things, it's pretty low on the list of added sugar in the U.S. diet,” Mohr says. “If you’re eating cereal as breakfast with your fruit and milk and a hard-boiled egg to get some more protein, you’re certainly aligned with the dietary guidelines.”

Searching for cereal with less added sugar (the average cereal has about eight to 10 grams per serving, Mohr says) is certainly a healthier choice, but it doesn’t mean you should avoid cereal with added sugar in general.

"At the end of the day, foods that taste good people are more likely to eat," Mohr says, noting the nutrients you'd be missing without eating cereal.

You’ll also likely be eating your cereal with milk, which adds additional calcium and vitamins to your diet. A breakfast of cereal and milk compared to an empty stomach positively affects [cognitive function](https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00394-021-02506-2) at school for children, studies show. And according to a 2019 study, children who regularly ate cereal had a [29% higher dairy intake](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6769511/) and 61% higher overall whole grain intake.

Mohr recommends pairing your bowl with some [fruit](/story/life/2023/03/12/what-is-the-healthiest-fruit/11383241002/), granola or extra protein like an [egg,](/story/life/health-wellness/2023/04/26/how-much-protein-egg-yolks-whites-and-weight-loss-benefits/11727501002/) yogurt or [nuts](/story/life/2023/04/02/what-is-the-healthiest-nut/11392199002/).

## Are Cheerios healthy for you?

Have you seen the heart on the front of a Cheerios box? It’s not just marketing – the [main ingredient](https://www.cheerios.com/products/original-cheerios) in the cereal is whole grain oats and oat fiber is known to [lower cholesterol](https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm?fr=101.81).

One serving of Cheerios contains only 1 gram of added sugar, four grams of dietary fiber and two grams of soluble fiber.

## Discover more health tips for your daily diet:

- **Healthiest fruit:** [This one has cognitive and cardiovascular benefits](/story/life/2023/03/12/what-is-the-healthiest-fruit/11383241002/)
- **Healthiest butter:** [Look for this kind at the grocery store](/story/life/food-dining/2023/05/28/what-is-the-healthiest-butter/70233684007/)
- **Healthiest oatmeal:** [Try building a bowl with these ingredients](/story/life/food-dining/2023/12/31/what-is-the-healthiest-oatmeal/72012622007/)
- **Healthiest eggs:** [Best preparations for protein gain, weight loss](/story/life/food-dining/2024/01/07/healthiest-way-to-eat-eggs/72000310007/)
- **Healthiest yogurt:** [This type packs the most protein](/story/life/health-wellness/2023/07/20/is-yogurt-good-for-you-healthiest-yogurt-and-downsides/70369642007/)

## Just Curious for more? We've got you covered

USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From ["What vitamin comes from the sun?"](/story/news/health/2023/03/23/vitamin-from-sun/11460846002/) to ["Where do peanuts come from?"](/story/life/2023/03/30/where-do-peanuts-come-from/11420760002/) to ["How often should you water succulents?"](/story/tech/science/2022/08/17/how-often-to-water-succulents/10099383002/), we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our [Just Curious section](/just-curious/) to see what else we can answer for you.

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