Semi healthy cereal?

[la79al]

My 2 year old DD has a love affair with cereal. I don't know if it's because we keep it where she can reach it or what but we will be over at a friends house and she will tell me she wants to go home and eat cereal. Right now the options are Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms or Frosted Mini Wheats. Give me some better options! I'm 99% sure she won't eat Cheerios of any flavor. She does like Rice Crispies and Life.

 

[AppleDumpling]

My 2 year old DD has a love affair with cereal. I don't know if it's because we keep it where she can reach it or what but we will be over at a friends house and she will tell me she wants to go home and eat cereal. Right now the options are Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Lucky Charms or Frosted Mini Wheats. Give me some better options! I'm 99% sure she won't eat Cheerios of any flavor. She does like Rice Crispies and Life.

I would look for anything with relatively low sugar content. Life and Rice Krispies are good ones. Try Kix, Honey Bunches of Oats, and Barbara's Puffins or Cinnamon Puffins. You can sweeten up an "adult" cereal and make it more appealing by adding fruit, for example, regular Corn Flakes with sliced banana pieces. Special K has many varieties now, like berries, fruit and yogurt, and chocolate. Or Raisin Bran.

 

[ronandannette]

At 2 she eats what you make available. If you're concerned about the sugary cereal just stop buying it and replace it with unsweetened whole grain something-or-other. She'll either develop a taste for what's there or get over her cereal "thing". Personally, I wouldn't worry about a bowl of cereal unless she's filling up on it and is then unwilling to eat adequate amounts of protein and vegetables.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I wish I could remember the name of it. I love cereals where I don't have to add sugar. I do use trvia. I love things that have nuts and oats and such. Does she like things like that? Because you dont need sugar and they are so good and crunchy. I will see if I can figure out the name. I know it is a name that is a higher quality.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Cracklin' Oats

 

[wenrob]

Have you tried Cheerios? I don't think I've ever met a kid that didn't like them. My kids liked Kix at that age. Beware that a lot of those "natural" cereals have as much and usually more sugar than kids cereals. Not that I think sugar is the debil but if less sugar is your objective it's something to be aware of.

 

[DLgal]

Those three options you listed are all pretty good. They are all made with whole grains, at least. Of the three , the mini wheats are the healthiest. Life is also a good choice.

Rice Krispies and Chex are empty calories (except wheat Chex). Puffed rice or corn provide zero nutrition and are just straight carbs with no fiber benefit.

If she likes Lucky Charms, try frosted cheerios. It is almost the same , except no marshmallows.

Don't be overly worried about sugar. Sugar content in cereals has come down quite a lot over the years. Most have less sugar than you would think.

 

[MamaLema]

It might be hard to switch to lower sugar cereals now that she is eating the ones you listed. I would start by mixing in a small amount of a similar cereal and gradually pare it down like putting half Corn Flakes and half Frosted Flakes.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

She will eat what you feed her. A 2 year old won't starve themselves. There might be a few meals that are a battle but eventually she will eat the healthier options when she's hungry enough.

 

[bcla]

I guess I'm lucky because my kid loved Cheerios from a young age. Also enjoys eating steel-cut oatmeal. It's really weird too since my kid loves candy, but doesn't like sugary breakfast cereals.

 

[DLgal]

She will eat what you feed her. A 2 year old won't starve themselves. There might be a few meals that are a battle but eventually she will eat the healthier options when she's hungry enough.

Sigh. No, it's not always that cut and dry. My now 11 year old almost ended up hospitalized after a 10 day hunger strike at age 2. He has autism and his oral sensory issues kicked in at that age and he literally stopped eating. Prior to that, he ate whatever you gave him. He is 11 now and only eats about 15 different foods after extensive feeding therapy. The same 15 foods that we figured out he would tolerate as a 2 year old. Cereal was not, nor has it ever been, one of those things. No matter how many times we offered it.

 

[Skippy918]

My kids like Crispix. It's nice and crunchy and not sweet.

 

[qa4ever]

When it comes to cereals, Cheerios, Shreddies, Rice Krispies, etc are lesser of the two evils compared to Frosted Flakes, Lucky Charms, or Cinnamon Toast Crunch, etc.

However, even the "healthy" cereals are pure carbs with no protein, and they convert to sugar within the body, so don't keep us full for long, and really aren't "healthy".

I just wouldn't buy those unhealthy cereals anymore and offer her other options.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

Sigh. No, it's not always that cut and dry. My now 11 year old almost ended up hospitalized after a 10 day hunger strike at age 2. He has autism and his oral sensory issues kicked in at that age and he literally stopped eating. Prior to that, he ate whatever you gave him. He is 11 now and only eats about 15 different foods after extensive feeding therapy. The same 15 foods that we figured out he would tolerate as a 2 year old. Cereal was not, nor has it ever been, one of those things. No matter how many times we offered it.

Sigh. Not every picky eater has autism and unless the OP specifies her child has a disorder we have to operate on the assumption that we are talking about a developmentally normal, healthy toddler, since that is the likelihood.

I'm sorry, but sugar content is of great importance. Cereal isn't healthy, it is akin to dog kibble, scientifically formulated fake food. Present her with whole grains (real whole grains) fresh fruits, plain yogurt, etc. It is much easier to halt the sugar addiction at 2 then when they are older.

We tend to eat sugary cereal as a treat, a snack, not a healthy breakfast.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

The upgraded (with berries & such) Special K varieties are actually pretty tasty. I don't know how healthy they are.

 

[EveDallas]

Ahhh, gotta love it when the perfect parents come out to share their wisdom with us lesser parents.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Well, there's my favorite, Raisin Bran (which does include some protein) http://smartlabel.kelloggs.com/Product/Index/038000596650
I like Gumbo's suggestion too http://nutritiondata.self.com/foods-special k000000000000000000000.html

 

[Jdbsfw]

Nothing remotely "healthy" about cereal, it really is lesser of two evils as stated. Look at the list of ingredients, not just calories and the macronutrient breakdown

 

[LilyWDW]

As long as the child is eating an otherwise well balanced diet, the cereal is not that huge of a deal. People act like sugar or carbs are the devil. They are not. They are perfectly fine in moderation. I wish people would stop with the idea that some foods are "evil" and the fear mongering.

 

[ronandannette]

Sigh. No, it's not always that cut and dry. My now 11 year old almost ended up hospitalized after a 10 day hunger strike at age 2. He has autism and his oral sensory issues kicked in at that age and he literally stopped eating. Prior to that, he ate whatever you gave him. He is 11 now and only eats about 15 different foods after extensive feeding therapy. The same 15 foods that we figured out he would tolerate as a 2 year old. Cereal was not, nor has it ever been, one of those things. No matter how many times we offered it.

Your situation is a specific example of a child refusing food for reasons beyond control - not because you tried to make a very reasonable and responsible dietary modification, as the OP is being advised to do. It is extremely highly unlikely doing so would have a similar result in her case.