Release date 08/31/2009
YONKERS, NY — Consumer Reports evaluated 18 high-fiber cereals and found seven especially flavorful choices. The report notes that most Americans can stand to double their intake of fiber which can help control appetite and weight, and might help lower the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Consumer Reports’ trained tasters noted that high-fiber cereals have come a long way from those of over a decade ago when testers said these cereals tasted “more like straw than grain.”
Per serving, the cereals that Consumer Reports tested have 25 to 50 percent of the dietary guideline for a 2,000-calorie diet, which is 28 grams. Here are the seven standouts from the tests:
Consumer Reports’ nutrition scores are based on calories per gram of food, as well as the amount of fats, sodium, sugars, iron, calcium, and fiber the samples contain. The report notes that cereals with dried fruit tend to have more sugar than those without because of fruit’s natural sugars. All cereals tested provide a good amount of fiber. The complete report is available on www.ConsumerReports.org.
DID YOU KNOW? Cereals can be labeled with one to three serving sizes, depending on their density. A serving of most of the Consumer Reports tested cereals is about 55 grams: ¾ to 1¼ cups.