Corn Flakes - Fred Meyer

A box roughly the size of my torso

Cereal Name: Corn Flakes (Fred Meyer Brand)

Type of Cereal: Snack Cereal

Primary Grain: Corn

Nutrition Information (based on 1-cup serving):
               Calories: 100
               Total Fat: 0g
               Sugar: 2g
               Fiber: Less than 1g
               Protein: 2g

Top Five Ingredients: Degermed Yellow Corn Meal, Sugar, Salt, Malt Extract

num-num encrusted almond-butter apple

Review: Well, these corn flakes tasted exactly the same as the Kroger Corn Flakes*. They also have the same ingredients and the same nutritional information which leads me to believe that  perhaps Corn Flakes have been around long enough that the patent on the very secret Corn Flake family recipe has finally been exposed to the public sector. This box (containing 24 cups of Corn Flakes) was $1.99 and worth every penny.

The one critique I have of large boxes of delicate cereal is that there are many more ditters (also known as the num-nums) at the bottom of the bag. I do not like the num-nums. I do not like how they turn into a paste when combined with milk. So, I got some apple slices, spread almond butter on them, and then dipped them in the ditters for a delicious snack.

*Yes, I realize that Kroger and Fred Meyer are the same brand. But they are marketed differently, so they get separate posts. Thank you.

Crispix

Cereal Name: Crispix

Type of Cereal: Snack Cereal

Primary Grain: Corn and Rice

Nutrition Information (based on 1-cup serving): 
            Calories: 110
            Total Fat: 0g
            Sugar: 4g
            Fiber: less than 1g
            Protein: 2g

Top Five Ingredients: Milled Corn, Rice, Sugar, Contains 2% or less of Salt,  Molasses

Review: This was the first time I had ever tasted Crispix (although I have, of course, heard of it before). This fascinatingly hexagonal fusion of corn and rice is reminiscent of Chex. However, even though it does have a similar form and function, it is not Chex, and I don't like it as much as I like Chex. The texture is gently crunchy and the flavor is good, but somehow, it's just not living up to my love of Chex (particularly Corn Chex). And I am unsure that it would be a successful substitute were it used to make Muddy Buddies. But really it's fine. Totally fine. Just fine.

Kashi GoLean Crisp! Cinnamon Crumble

Empty Box

Cereal Name: Kashi GoLean Crisp! Cinnamon Crumble

Type of Cereal: Breakfast Cereal/Dinner Cereal

Primary Grain: Oats and Wheat

Nutrition Information (based on 1-cup serving):
           Calories: 253.33
           Total Fat: 5.3g
           Sugar: 13.33g
           Fiber: 12g
           Protein: 13.33g

Yes, it bears a resemblance to bird food.

Top Five Ingredients: Whole Grain Oats, Evaporated Cane Juice Crystals, Soy Protein Concentrate, Wheat Sticks (Whole Wheat Flour, Kashi Seven Whole Grains and Sesame Flour (Whole: Oats, Hard Red Wheat, Rye, Brown Rice, Triticale, Barley, Buckwheat, Sesame Seeds), Calcium Carbonate) ___Wheat sticks apparently have MANY ingredients___, Brown Rice Syrup

Review: Well, I ate this cereal last week as well, but I neglected to take a picture of it because I eat it for breakfast, and at 5:50am I am not very enthusiastic about digging around for my phone and photographing my food. I enjoy the gentle crunch of the Cinnamon Crumble, but it lacks the additional chewy texture of the Toasted Berry Crumble. Also, I don't really notice a difference between the two cereals (other than the aforementioned lack in the former). My conclusion is that I would prefer adding a sprinkle of cinnamon to the top of my Toasted Berry Crumble to finding a mix of dried berries and adding it to my Cinnamon Crumble. The one very positive thing I will say about the Cinnamon Crumble is that one of my roommates (who has expressed disdain toward Kashi cereals in the past) stated that IF she were to eat a Kashi cereal, it would be this one. So there you go.

Cocoa Krispies

Shown without milk. The elves had not yet arrived.

Cereal Name: Cocoa Krispies

Type of Cereal: Dessert Cereal

Primary Grain: Rice

Nutrition Information (based on 1-cup serving):
      Calories: 160
      Total Fat: 1.33g
      Sugar: 16g
      Fiber: 1.33g
      Protein: 1.33g

Top Five Ingredients: Rice, Sugar, Cocoa processed with alkali, contains 2% or less of semisweet chocolate (sugar, chocolate, dextrose), partially hydrogenated vegetable oil (coconut, soybean and/or cottonseed)

I neither cut nor shaped

Review: I had never had this cereal before last week. I bought it because it was on sale for $1.99, which is a very good cereal price (the Corn Flakes were an anomaly at $0.99). My first impression was that these krisp rices tasted not at all like chocolatey Rice Krispies, and more like very sweet chemicals. That's not to say that I didn't finish the box, because I did. But I will not be purchasing this cereal again. All in all it was fairly disappointing and I would have much rather spent my two dollars on a cup of coffee and a refill at my local coffee shop.

The best experience I had of this cereal was with soy milk, almond butter, and bananas. It was actually pretty dang tasty that way. But I would rather have had Corn Flakes. Or Chocolate Chex. Or, considering the amount of sugar and lack of nutritional value, some frozen yogurt.

Corn Flakes - Kroger

Best with a banana, but still delicious without.

Cereal Name: Corn Flakes

Type of Cereal: Snack Cereal

Primary Grain: Corn

Nutrition Information (based on 1-cup serving):
             Calories: 100
             Total Fat: 0g
             Sugar: 2g
             Fiber: Less than 1g
             Protein: 2g

Top Five Ingredients: Degermed Yellow Corn Meal, Sugar, Salt, Malt Extract (and that's IT)



Review: 

First, I have to say that this box of cereal was $0.99. I don't even remember the last time I came across a box of cereal that was under a dollar (unless it was a mini-bowl, or maybe someone had eaten part of the box already. . .).

I can't wait to try Fruit Whirls!!

Second, you should know that Corn Flakes are absolutely one of my favorite cereals. I don't know what it is about them, but I ADORE Corn Flakes. And I must say, the knock-off Kroger brand of Corn Flakes (while missing something in the packaging/branding -although quite patriotic-) are JUST as alluringly delicious as their more expensive counterparts (Kellogg's or even Trader Joes, etc.).

My favorite way to eat Corn Flakes is with soy milk and a banana, but I also like them plain, or with another cereal and yogurt, or even on toast with peanut butter. Seriously. Try it before you judge.

Honey Grahams

Cereal Name: Honey Grahams

Type of Cereal: Snack/Dessert Cereal

Primary Grain: Corn/Wheat

Nutrition Information (based on 1-cup serving):
         Calories: 173.33
         Total Fat: 4g
         Sugar: 13.33g
         Fiber: 1.33g
         Protein: 1.33g

Top Five Ingredients: Corn Meal, Whole Grain Wheat, Sugar, Molasses, Partially Hydrogenated Soy Bean Oil

Review: If it's not obvious by the name and the box, this is the Fred Meyer off-brand equivalent of Golden Grahams. Oddly I think that this cereal is actually preferred in our home to Golden Grahams themselves.

I find the Honey Grahams to be more robust than their Golden brethren. They are a bit on the sweet side for me, but they are still very good, and I feel confident that I could easily finish a box by myself in one sitting were this not socially frowned upon.

Some Quotes:

"The generic (Honey Grahams) gets soggier faster, so over time Golden Grahams are better, but at first, Honey Grahams are better. Also they have a delicious sugary coating."

"I am highly addicted to them actually"

So there you have it. Worth trying.

Honey-Comb

Cereal Name: Honey-Comb

Type of Cereal: Snack/Dessert Cereal

Primary Grain: Corn/Oat

Nutrition Information (based on 1 cup serving*):
          Calories: 86.67
          Total Fat: .67g
          Sugar: 6.67g
          Fiber: .67g
          Protein: 1.33g
*Please note that this cereal is hefty in size, so the one cup serving does not actually contain very many pieces of cereal. The nutrition information is therefore a bit misleading, though the proportions are correct.

Top Five Ingredients: Corn Flour, Sugar, Whole Grain Oat Flour, Whole Grain Corn Flour, Honey

          Review: Honey-Comb was chosen for two reasons.
1) It was on sale.
2) I had not eaten it for a really really long time. I think the last time I had Honey-Comb was at my babysitter's house like twenty years ago. I had fond memories of this very special treat (as the only cereals in my home growing up were along the lines of Cheerios, Rice Krispies, and Grape Nuts)

This puffed, gently crunchy cereal is a bit reminiscent of Kix, but in disc-form, with perforations. Despite its questionable tagline ("me want honey-comb") it is quite delicious both with milk and without.

Though it is very white and contains virtually no nutritional value, it is light and delicately satisfying. The perfect cereal to eat outside on a weekend evening, seated on the sun-warmed steps in front of one's home.

"It's like a little bite of heaven." -Roommate

Chocolate Cheerios

Cereal Name: Chocolate Cheerios

Type of Cereal: Snack/Dessert Cereal

Primary Grain: Corn/Oats

Nutrition Information (based on 1 cup serving):
          Calories: 133.33
          Total Fat: 2g
          Sugar: 12g
          Fiber: 2.67g
          Protein: 1.33g


Top Five Ingredients: Whole Grain Corn, Sugar, Corn, Corn Syrup, Cocoa Processed with Alkali

In snack form

Review: The Chocolate Cheerios were given to me by a coworker who knows how much I enjoy cereal (and whose children apparently were unable to make it through the Costco size box). To me, Chocolate Cheerios are the kind of sad gerbil to Chocolate Chex's puppy. I would probably like them a lot if Chocolate Chex didn't exist, but they do.

Chocolate Cheerios get the Cheerio slime coating when they have been in milk for a little while and they just don't have that same chocolate zing that makes Chocolate Chex so irresistible. And honestly, they're just a little too sweet for me. Apparently that extra 1.4g of sugar per serving just threw me over the edge. Overall though, it's a good cereal. I wouldn't buy it, but I did eat an entire box of it by myself this week, so that says something, right?

Kashi GoLean Crunch! Honey Almond Flax

Cereal Name: Kashi GoLean Crunch! Honey Almond Flax

Type of Cereal: Breakfast Cereal/Dinner Cereal

Primary Grain: Everything Ever

Nutrition Information (based on 1 cup serving):
              Calories: 200
              Total Fat: 4.5g
              Sugar: 12g
              Fiber: 8g
              Protein: 9g

Top Five Ingredients: Kashi Seven Whole Grains & Sesame Blend (Whole: Hard Red Wheat, Brown Rice, Barley, Triticale, Oats, Rye, Buckwheat, Sesame Seeds), Evaporated Cane Juice Crystals, Soy Protein Concentrate, Brown Rice Syrup, Chicory Root Fiber

Review: Kashi Cereal (containing GMO's) number two. This was my favorite for a while before I discovered the GoLean Crisp. I enjoy the almond slivers and flax seeds and the overall variety of texture. However, I've found this cereal to be overly crunchy, like could-possibly-break-your-teeth crunchy. For this reason, I would recommend eating this cereal only after it has soaked in milk for quite some time. I did eat it in yogurt (per my usual breakfast), but found that the yogurt didn't have quite the same level of effectiveness in de-crunchifying the cereal as the milk did. Anyway, this cereal has good flavor and was recommended to me by a roommate (when we noticed that all Kashi cereal was on sale, surprise surprise).