The Source of Cereals' Vitamins
A serving of most cereals provides 10 to 25 percent of the daily value for 10 or more essential nutrients. But Mother Nature did not put them there. Unprocessed grains are naturally rich in fiber, the B vitamins and minerals.
But when the grains are milled, many of the nutrients are lost. So cereal makers add some back with a little extra for good measure. Some vitamins and minerals are added to the cereal dough as it is mixed. Others are sprayed on before the cereal is baked.
About Fortified Grains
Eating fortified cereal is an easy way to get more of the nutrients that we tend to be short on, such as iron, vitamin B6 and folic acid, a vitamin that has been linked to lower incidence of birth defects. If you have milk with your cereal, it's also an excellent source of calcium.
Not Just for Breakfast Anymore
There's no reason not to dine on a bowl of cereal and milk at the end of the day. It's fast, nutritious and filling. "You could live a long time on just cereal and milk," says Joanne Slavin, Ph.D., R.D., professor of food sciences and nutrition at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. A serving of cereal with low-fat milk is also one of the better things to snack on.
Compare Cereal Nutrition Facts
Glycemic Index of Cereals
