Study Ranks Worst Kids' Cereals

Parents wanting to start kids off with a healthy breakfast might have to rethink their menu plans when it comes to cereal. A new study from the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that plenty of popular cereals pack tons of the sweet stuff—some with more sugar than a Twinkie.

The EWG study analyzed the nutritional content of 84 popular cereals. The biggest culprit is Kellogg’s Honey Smacks. A single one-cup serving is 56% sugar by weight. Second on the list is Post Golden Crisp, weighing in at 52%. Shockingly, a serving of Honey Nut Cheerios, Apple Jacks, or any one of 42 other kids’ cereals has more sugar as three Chips Ahoy! chocolate chip cookies. And three Cap’n Crunch cereals make it on to this dubious top ten list: Cap’n Crunch’s OOPS! All Berries, Cap’n Crunch Original, and Cap’n Crunch’s Crunch Berries. Who knew the jolly seaman was hiding a secret so sinister?

Read the full Best and Worst list here.

Plus: 15 On-the-Go Breakfast Recipes

Rest assured that families searching for a quick breakfast can still turn to cereal. Smaller health food brands like Go Raw and Grandy Oats cut down on sugar, and Kix Original and Cheerios Original are big-brand healthy options.

What’s your go-to breakfast for your kids?