Which of these 2 Cereals should I eat? (Harder than I thought)

mollyreports
mollyreports Posts: 2 Member
edited March 2016 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi there,

We have individual cereal packets at work and I was trying to decide which to eat.

Goal: Lose weight (I am counting calories)

The choice is between Apple Jacks and Kashi's Toasted Oat cereal.
Obviously common knowledge says the Apple Jacks are bad, but after looking at the nutrition content I am unsure which is better for losing weight?

Check out the pictures below (Apple Jacks has 2 pictures), but here is a basic rundown of the stats that made me question my judgment below. Keep in mind that if I ate 2 boxes the gaps would increase even more:

A) Apple Jacks only has 100 calories, while Kashi has 150. (Winner: Apple Jacks)

B ) Apple Jacks only has 24g of carbs, while Kashi has 31g. (Winner: Apple Jacks)

C) Apple Jacks has 10g of sugar, but Kashi still has 6g. (Winner: Kashi)

D) Both are made from whole grain. (Winner: both?)

E) Apple Jacks has nurtrients like Zinc and Iron, but Kashi has much more of Vitamins like B, C, E, etc. (Winner: not sure)

Overall it is a pretty trivial question and I know that neither is really "healthy". But I thought this would be a valuable question to pose to the community that could represent the larger scale sugar vs. calories issue.

Let me know what you think is the best for Losing Weight!

Thanks

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Replies

  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    I know I don't like Apple Jacks and the other one looks like it might be okay based on the picture so I'd choose it. I'm not a big cereal eater though so what do I know.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    I would combine them. Weigh them separately and throw them in a bowl.
  • revolucia78
    revolucia78 Posts: 196 Member
    Both are fine for losing weight as long as you stay within your calorie goal/macros. It doesn't matter which one you eat unless you have individual goals such as eating more whole grain, eating less sugar, etc.
  • adinterim
    adinterim Posts: 18 Member
    Not the one that has "sugar" as it's first listed ingredient!
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    I would pick whichever one you like best. Trying to micromanage your diet down to only the "best" foods sounds depressing to me (and I've been there). Obviously if one fits your calorie or macro goals better, then maybe consider that one. But when they're as similar as two cereals, pick whichever you want.
  • ilex70
    ilex70 Posts: 727 Member
    Well I would vote Kashi because you are getting 40 grams vs. 27 grams and Kashi has 5 grams of protein vs. 1 gram in the Apple Jacks and I prioritize protein. The Kashi has more fiber too.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    edited March 2016
    Neither, as I hate cold cereal.

    The Kashi has more grams per serving size, though, and more protein (both are low), so might be more filling. Both 100 calories and 150 calories strike me as low for a breakfast (I assume you'd add milk or something).
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    I'd eat the Apple Jacks today and the Kashi tomorrow. Apple Jacks has 2/3 the calories and is almost as good with fiber.

    I look at calories first.

  • williams969
    williams969 Posts: 2,528 Member
    I don't like Apple Jacks, so I'd probably pick the toasted oats, based on taste. The extra vitamins mean little to me, as I take a multivitamin that gives me those already. Actually, I prefer Peanut Butter Multigrain Cheerios, but that's not one of the choices, lol.
  • Ninkyou
    Ninkyou Posts: 6,666 Member
    Eat the one that you like the taste of? Combine them?

    Both are fine. Fit it into your calorie goal and watch the magic happen.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    edited March 2016
    OOOOH tricky. The Kashi has almost twice the weight. Eat half a Kashi box.
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    I'd pick the Kashi - the serving size is a lot more than the Apple Jacks. To get a true comparison of the cereals you'd want to compare the calories/nutrients for an equal portion.
  • rachelr1116
    rachelr1116 Posts: 334 Member
    I'd probably go with Kashi because it has slightly more fiber and protein. Those are two of the things I have the hardest time hitting my goals on. Plus, the serving size is 27g for the Apple Jacks and 40g for the Kashi so more food with the Kashi.
  • 20yearsyounger
    20yearsyounger Posts: 1,630 Member
    I usually chose Kashi for the higher protein and fiber. but I get the ones higher protein grams.
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    The one you like best.

    For me, probably neither, cereal is one of the least filling foods for the calories as far as I'm concerned.
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    27g cereal vs 40g cereal

    I know which one I would have
  • Lextmg86
    Lextmg86 Posts: 102 Member
    The Kashi will fill you up much more than the some amount of apple jacks would.
  • MommyL2015
    MommyL2015 Posts: 1,411 Member
    adinterim wrote: »
    Not the one that has "sugar" as it's first listed ingredient!
    as opposed to the one that has 'cane syrup' as its second? lol don't be fooled by fancy words.
  • pondee629
    pondee629 Posts: 2,469 Member
    Apple Jacks serving size 1 box (27 grams).
    Kashi serving size 1 box (40 grams)

    Calories
    Apple Jacks 100 calories per 27 grams = 3.7 cal/gram
    Kashi 150 calories per 40 grams= 3.75 cals/gram. A wash

    Carbs
    AJ 24 carbs per 27 grams= .88 carbs per gram
    K 31 per 40 grams= .775 carbs per gram. "Pick'em"?

    Sugar

    AJ 10 grams sugar per 27 grams cereal= .37 gram sugar per gram of cereal
    K 6 grams sugar per 40 grams cereal= .15 gram sugar per gram of cereal Kashi Winner

    Are you really comparing a 27 gram box to a 40 gram box heads up?
    On an ingredients list if the first listing is sugar, you've got a problem.
  • queenliz99
    queenliz99 Posts: 15,317 Member
    MommyL2015 wrote: »
    adinterim wrote: »
    Not the one that has "sugar" as it's first listed ingredient!
    as opposed to the one that has 'cane syrup' as its second? lol don't be fooled by fancy words.

    But cane sugar is so much healthier ;)
  • Sued0nim
    Sued0nim Posts: 17,456 Member
    For the same quantity

    Your apple jacks would have virtually the same calories, with 0.75g saturated fats, 210 mg sodium .
  • enterdanger
    enterdanger Posts: 2,447 Member
    I vote for the Kashi because the serving size is bigger. Nearly double the apple jacks. However if it tastes bad I'd eat 2 of the apple jacks. lol
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    Eat the Apple Jacks because they have the iron you need.
  • smittybuilt19
    smittybuilt19 Posts: 955 Member
    queenliz99 wrote: »
    MommyL2015 wrote: »
    adinterim wrote: »
    Not the one that has "sugar" as it's first listed ingredient!
    as opposed to the one that has 'cane syrup' as its second? lol don't be fooled by fancy words.

    But cane sugar is so much healthier ;)

    It's frum naturre
  • Sweets1954
    Sweets1954 Posts: 507 Member
    Eat the one you like. It doesn't help to force yourself to eat something you don't like.
  • NikishaRichelle
    NikishaRichelle Posts: 32 Member
    You want to go with the food that's less processed and stripped of nutrients. Probably the one with less added sugar. The first ingredient on the apple jacks box is sugar. Mostly likely white refined sugar. The sugar on the Kashi is Cane syrup which is less processed and better for you. I'd go Kashi 100%. Calories are not the most important thing when your trying to lose weight. Not all calories are created equal, you should always eat nutrient dense foods. Try to stick with whole foods and eat lots of fruit and veg. Cereal is really garbage food, so if you are going to eat it I would do so in moderation. Maybe oatmeal ( the real kind ) or I like to cut up a banana heat up peanut butter pour it over the banana and sprinkle on granola and unsweetened dried fruit like blueberries. Its soooop good and easy.
  • cityruss
    cityruss Posts: 2,493 Member
    The one that you like the most.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    If you are thinking purely calories, Apple Jacks actually has almost the exact same calories as the other one if you take serving size out as a variable, so if you eat 40 grams of apple jacks you're getting about 150 calories total.

    It shouldn't be this hard, though. Try them both and ask yourself? Which one tastes better to you? That's the one you should have.
  • upoffthemat
    upoffthemat Posts: 679 Member
    Personally I would eat the Kashi for the protein, but I hope you are adding more to the breakfast than just that cereal.
  • adinterim
    adinterim Posts: 18 Member
    edited March 2016
    Proper explanation as to why Kashi is (in my eyes) the best choice.
    I haven't tasted either, so I can't say anything for the taste of it.

    Things to note:
    - Kashi serving is 40g as opposed to 27g for the AJ. This is ~30% more.
    - Kashi has more fiber - 5g vs 3g or 22% vs 12% and less sugar - 6g vs 10g.
    - Kashi has more protein 5g vs 1g.

    For me it's just that it has less sugar and it seems it will fill you up more.

    Final argument: If you like the AJ better, have that.

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