Kids Dont Always Prefer Sugary Cereals

NEW HAVEN, Conn.Children served low-sugar cereal are more likely to eat a nutritious breakfast, even if they sprinkle on a spoonful of sugar, compared with those served high-sugar cereals, according to a  new study published in the journal Pediatrics.

Researchers at the Rudd Center for Food Policy followed children between the ages of 5 and 12 who were recruited from three racially diverse summer camps in New England. The children were randomly assigned to receive a breakfast that included either the choice of one of three high-sugar cereals or one of three low-sugar cereals. Along with cereal, each child was offered low-fat milk, orange juice, fresh strawberries and bananas, as well as packets of sugar. They were allowed to eat and drink as much as they wanted. Following breakfast, researchers recorded how much the children ate.

Children reported liking" or loving" the cereal they chose whether it was a high-sugar or low-sugar variety. The children who were offered the high-sugar cereals consumed twice the amount of refined sugar, even though the other children added sugar to their low-sugar cereals. In both cases, children consumed similar amounts of milk and total calories; however, children who were served low-sugar cereals consumed a greater proportion of those calories from fresh fruit, whereas the added sugar found in high-sugar cereals comprised the majority of calories in the high-sugar cereal meal.

These findings show that children will eat low-sugar varieties of cereals. And parents can make these options even more nutritious by adding fresh fruit to the bowl," said lead author Jennifer L. Harris, PhD, MBA. Even if parents add a small amount of table sugar, this strategy would reduce the amount of sugar in childrens diets while also promoting a balanced first meal of the day."