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Cereal that saves the planet doesn't save taste buds, says NYT


cereals from the new york timesWhy do you buy your breakfast cereal? Peace Raspberry Ginger cereal carries a quote from Mother Teresa, along with a promise to send 10% of profits to a "foundation for peace." Barbara's Bakery, which makes the Cinnamon, Peanut Butter and Honey Rice Puffins cereals, sends a percentage of its profits to a wildlife refuge (to help puffins... maybe). Envirokidz Panda Puffs (my fave of the brands mentioned) has a box 10% smaller than other cereals to contribute to "global sustainability."

They're part of a growing trend of "alternative cereals," says Marian Burros in the New York Times. But: "one thing few of them can boast about is taste. I sampled about 100, and words like cardboard, sawdust, soggy and stale often came to mind. And natural dried berries don't taste any better than artificial ones."

After reviewing all the labels and pointing out the offending high-sugar (Peace Maple Raisin and Mother's Cinnamon Oat Crunch) and high-sodium (Peace Mango Passion, Cascadian Farm Hearty Morning 360) varieties, Burros picks out only five that she would eat, if she ever gives up stone-ground oatmeal: Arrowhead Mills Shredded Wheat, Cascadian Farm Wheat Crunch, Kashi Mighty Bites, Kashi 7 Whole Grain Puffs and Kashi 7 Whole Grain Flakes. And then she predicts that consumers won't put up with tasteless cereal for long, even if it is sustainable and high in fiber.

I don't find that to be true in my family - we eat the healthy, organic varieties and I actually enjoy them. I've even found that some varieties are quite low in sugar. I'd add Mother's Peanut Butter Bumpers and the yummy, low-sugar Heritage Flakes from Nature's Path. Do you eat planet-healthy cereals? Do you like them?

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Tip of the Day

Drying fruit is easy, mostly hands-off and yields a sweet and healthy snack.

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