What's for Breakfast: Cheerios

By Ed Bruske
aka The Slow Cook

Cheerios is a perfect example of how food served in D.C. Public Schools has changed just in the last few months. Last year, you'd be looking at a container of Apple Jacks containing nine grams of sugar (more than two teaspoons) per serving, or perhaps Chocolate Frosted Mini-Wheats with 12 grams of sugar (three teaspoons).

This serving of Cheerios contains less than one gram of sugar and may be the closest thing to a whole grain cereal you can find on a school menu. Of course it is processed: Those little "o's" don't grow on trees. Still, the oats and fiber in Cheerios are something to cheer about. Sugar-free cereals like this one should be the go-to choice for schools in an era of rampant obesity.

There's more than enough sugar in that cherry-flavored yogurt and the apple juice.

Here are the facts on Cheerios:

Cheerios Ingredients

Whole Grain Oats, Modified Corn Starch, Sugar, Oat Bran, Salt, Calcium Carbonate, Oat Fiber, Tripotassium Phosphate, Corn Starch, Wheat Starch, Vitamin E (Mixed Tocopherols) added to preserve freshness.

Cheerios Nutrition Information

Serving Size: 1 Cup (30g)

Amount per Serving:

Calories: 110
Calories from Fat: 18
Total Fat: 2g 4%
Saturated Fat: 0g 0%
Trans Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 0mg 0%
Sodium: 210mg 9%
Potassium: 200mg 4%
Total Carbohydrates: 22g 8%
Fiber: 3g 12%
Sugar: 1g
Other Carbohydrates: 18g
Protein: 3g 2%

Cheerios Vitamins & Minerals

Vitamin A: 10%
Vitamin B6: 25%
Vitamin B12: 25%
Vitamin C: 10%
Vitamin D: 10%
Folic Acid: 50%
Niacin: 25%
Riboflavin: 25%
Thiamin: 25%
Calcium: 10%
Copper: 2%
Iron: 45%
Magnesium: 10%
Phosphorus: 10%
Zinc: 25%

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.