Bad cereal choices for kids

[n2doc]

Is it a candy bar or cereal?

The least healthy cereals are the ones most marketed to children, according to this report from the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University.

The scores, which range from 0 to 100, are based on a nutrient profiling system that's used in the United Kingdom to determine whether products can be advertised to children on television. Australia also uses the scores to determine whether health claims can be made. A score of 62 or greater is a "healthy" product.

Here are the advertised cereals with the poorest nutrition rankings:

Reese's Puffs--34
Corn Pops--36
Lucky Charms--36
Cinnamon Toast Crunch--37
Cap'n Crunch--37
Trix--38
Froot Loops--38
Fruity and Coca Pebbles--38
Cocoa Puffs--39
Cookie Crisp--40

more:

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/features_julieshealthclub/2009/11/bad-cereal-choices-for-kids.html

[redqueen]

1. I want this!

"a nutrient profiling system that's used in the United Kingdom to determine whether products can be advertised to children on television"

:bounce:

[brendan120678]

13. Yes...because even more restrictions on...

commercial speech is always a good thing.

[redqueen]

14. Yes, because sweeping generalizations make perfect sense, always!

:rofl:

Hint: context/nuance/etc. :think:

[brendan120678]

15. You said that you would be in favor of...

"a nutrient profiling system that's used in the United Kingdom to determine whether products can be advertised to children on television." Or rather, you said that you "wanted" it.

I therefore understood that to mean, that you supported the idea that the government should use a nutrient profiling system to determine whether products can be advertised to children on television. Or, in other words, you supported the idea that the government should be able to limit commercial speech; something that (in my opinion) already happens way too often.

[redqueen]

16. I do agree with that *particular type* of limiting commercial speech.

Your broad-brush reply to my comment was in need of a fair bit of tweaking, wouldn't you say?

I agree with the limits on advertising that are already in place, and I think we need more (e.g. pharmaceutical advertising).

[lurky]

17. Hmm. I would be interested in hearing some

examples of current restrictions on commercial speech that you think are excessive.

[virgogal]

2. Any parent with 1/2 a brain could figure this out themselves.

[n2doc]

4. We are talking about people, now- so many aren't going to be able to figure it out!

See Palin, Sarah and followers....

[gkhouston]

9. No kidding. Luckily, I've got a weird kid -- she likes homemade wholewheat toast

and yogurt or apple slices.

[Brickbat]

3. My kids eat oatmeal or Mini Wheats.

Once in awhile I'll get a sugar cereal for a lazy Saturday or the first day of school. But I try to really load them up with a good breakfast, esp. during the school year.

[NYC_SKP]

5. Oh man, I knew it. Cap'n Crunch does not score well. Curses.

Just thinking about those sweet golden crunchies brings back memories and makes me want to run out for some.

:P

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

12. Memory: Roof of mouth in bloody ribbons...

[NYC_SKP]

18. Yeah, a hard lesson to learn.

The Cap'n must soak in milk for 5-10 minutes or there's hell to pay.

:P

[NeedleCast]

6. With the exception of Cinnamon Toast Crunch

All those are delicious!

[crim son]

7. You know, just because your kids ask for it

doesn't mean you have to give it to them. Is there anybody out there who honestl believed Lucky Charms were healthy? I eat Captain Crunch myself, but not for breakfast.

[LynzM]

8. Yep...

My daughter pitched a small fit over this yesterday at the store, but there's no way I'm buying her anything for breakfast where the second or third ingredient is sugar.

[bobburgster]

10. Could ne worse....

I guess I'm half bad (Cinnamon Toast Crunch) half good(Mini-Wheats)


:thumbsdown: :thumbsup:

[Speck Tater]

11. Just reading the NAMES of those cereals makes my teeth hurt. nt