Cereal #4: Kashi Cinnamon Harvest

Before this challenge I told myself I'd only buy Kashi under $3 a box. Hurray! I got it for $2.98 (with my Giant bonus card of course). I also stocked up on Kashi Crunch! Honey Almond Flax. I've never had this version of shredded wheat and it is AMAZING! It has one of the shortest ingredients lists... organic whole wheat, organic evaporated cane sugar, and organic cinnamon.

10 Health Benefits for Cinnamon

1. Studies have shown that just 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon per day can lower LDL cholesterol.

2. Several studies suggest that cinnamon may have a regulatory effect on blood sugar, making it especially beneficial for people with Type 2 diabetes.

3. In some studies, cinnamon has shown an amazing ability to stop medication-resistant yeast infections.

4. In a study published by researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Maryland, cinnamon reduced the proliferation of leukemia and lymphoma cancer cells.

5. It has an anti-clotting effect on the blood.

6. In a study at Copenhagen University, patients given half a teaspoon of cinnamon powder combined with one tablespoon of honey every morning before breakfast had significant relief in arthritis pain after one week and could walk without pain within one month.

7. When added to food, it inhibits bacterial growth and food spoilage, making it a natural food preservative.

8. One study found that smelling cinnamon boosts cognitive function and memory.

9. Researchers at Kansas State University found that cinnamon fights the E. coli bacteria in unpasteurized juices.

10. It is a great source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium.

And I found on some other random website that "cinnamon gets its scent and flavor from a chemical compound called cinnamaldehyde." New word of the day!

Cereal #3: Kix

Kid-tested, mother-approved. It now makes sense. I'm not a mother, but as a former nanny/babysitter, children consume WAY too much sugar. But at a tasty 3g sugar, 3g fiber, and 2g protein per 1 1/4 cup serving, why not? I'm no saint when it comes to modest sugar consumption, but its nice to know guilt isn't a problem with this cereal.

During the course of this blog you'll notice that I may contradict myself. On one hand I desire to eat healthy with consideration to sustainability and social conscientiousness. And I'm also a creature of convenience and comfort. Throw in some nostalgia and finding a balance between all that is tricky business! So humor me as I dance somewhere between awareness and knowing ignorance.

Back to Kix... other than milk, it also mixes well with nuts and dried fruit and chocolate in a trail mix. Or could be strung for Christmas decorations. Or used with a recycled egg carton to play mancala. Or thrown in lieu of rice at a wedding. Or used as ostrich eggs in a diorama for a school project on Africa...

Or for Kix on Stix, thanks to Betty Crocker!

Kix on Stix!

1/2	cup sugar
1/2	cup light corn syrup
1/2	cup peanut butter
3	cups Kix® cereal
20	raisins, miniature milk chocolate candy drops, small gumdrops, chocolate- or yogurt-covered raisins or miniature marshmallows
1	to 2 tablespoons multicolored candy sprinkles
20	thin pretzel sticks (2 1/4 inch)

	Print these coupons...
	About Concordance™

1.	In 3-quart saucepan, heat sugar and corn syrup to boiling over medium heat, stirring frequently. Remove from heat; stir in peanut butter until blended. Stir in cereal. Cool slightly, 2 to 3 minutes.
2.	Lightly butter hands. Shape 1 to 2 tablespoons cereal mixture into a ball around each candy. Immediately roll in candy sprinkles. Place pretzel stick into each cereal ball.
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): No change.

Cereal #2: Golden Grahams

This is what I originally craved when the concept was birthed. Easy decision! Golden Grahams are probably in my top 5 list. Unapologetically crunchy. The graham cracker and honey compliment the milk like no other. There was little sugary cereal in the cupboard growing up. No Lucky Charms. No Fruit Loops. No Cookie Crisp. Mostly Cheerios, Raisin Bran, Shredded Wheat, and Kix. And the occasional Golden Grahams. No judgement, mom. I made up for it in college.

Cereal #1: Honey Nut Cheerios

I love grocery shopping. Even if the budget is small, its fun to see how healthy and yummy I can feed myself on price cuts and sales (yay corporations). Life right now consists of living as meagerly and resourcefully as possible. This cereal thing doesn't seem to fit into that category.

WHERE TO BEGIN? Should I pick something I've never had before? Something that's cheap? The brightest one? The one with the cutest animal? Eh. I love Honey Nut Cheerios, swipe. I simply cannot allow myself more than five minutes in the cereal isle. Just not acceptable.

A friend recommended an amazing Radiolab (WNYC) podcast on the process of decision-making. We live in an age of choices (certainly in America) and we make a billion a day. Which is the best toothpaste? 2% or skim? Stop at the stop sign or roll through? Update Facebook status or stalk? Run or walk? Where to park? Who to marry? Spend money or save it? The fascinating part lies in how we come to these decisions. Some folks are incorrigible when it comes to making decisions and let others make them for them. Some know WHAT they want all the time and won't settle for substitutions. Others consider every possible contingency until their brains are fried. And some... just don't care. If you get the chance, listen to the podcast.

Putting into perspective the larger questions in life, I decided to make this cereal challenge simple. JUST PICK ONE ALREADY!

I found a commercial from 1984 that demonstrates even the unlikely celebrities enjoy Honey Nut Cheerios!

The first bowl was nothing monumental. I stood in the kitchen, bowl in left, spoon in right, slurping and crunching away. Mmm, just as yummy as I remember.