Consumer Reports ranks best-tasting healthy cereals

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Cereal is a staple in 91 percent of American households. Most eat it for breakfast, but 11 percent have cereal for dinner, according to the market research company Mintel.

There are so many choices in the cereal aisle with healthy claims on the labels, so Consumer Reports set out to find which healthy cereals also taste the best.

So what is healthy?

Look for cereals that contain at least five grams of fiber or more, a maximum of three grams of fat, a maximum of 140 milligrams of sodium, and under eight grams of sugar per serving.

Also important is a short ingredient list.

"When you have fewer ingredients in a cereal, you tend to have less artificial ingredients and more natural ingredients," said Adam Kaplan with Consumer Reports.

Consumer Report's expert sensory panel was asked if cereal can be healthy and not taste like cardboard. The answer: yes!

Topping the ratings was Bob's Red Mill Old Country Style Muesli. It is loaded with fresh-tasting raisins, dates, nuts, seeds, and raw oats.

Kind Vanilla Blueberry Clusters with Flax won panelists over with its large oat clusters, puffed rice, and tasty blueberry flavored bits that nearly fooled the sensory team.

Another cereal that rated very well is regular Cheerios. It has simple toasted oat flavors, and it goes great with a banana.

In all, Consumer Reports recommends 13 healthy, good-tasting cereals that will begin your day on a yummy note.

There are plenty of reasons to eat breakfast. Studies show it may protect you against heart disease, reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes, and may even improve your mind.

Research on adults and children found that having breakfast can enhance memory, attention, and verbal abilities by stabilizing your glucose levels. So eat up!

Here are the 13 healthy cereals Consumer Reports rated as tasting the best:

• Bob's Red Mill Old Country Style Muesli
• Kind Vanilla Blueberry Clusters with Flax
• Regular Cheerios
• Cheerios Multigrain
• Post Grape-Nuts The Original
• Post Shredded Wheat 'n Bran Spoon Size
• Alpen Muesli No Sugar Added
• Kellogg's All-Bran Original
• Total Whole Grain
• Quaker Oatmeal Squares Brown Sugar
• Nature's Path Organic Flax Plus Flakes
• Kix Crispy Corn Puffs
• Post Shredded Wheat Original Spoon Size