Cocoa Puffs are one of the most delectable chocolate cereals. Simply adding Cocoa Puffs to a bowl of milk makes a quick and filling breakfast.
Yet, many have been reconsidering Cocoa Puffs as their breakfast choice, as cereals are usually perceived as being unhealthy.
As more and more people are looking for healthier alternatives for their breakfasts, cereal lovers’ question; are Cocoa Puffs healthy? Read further to find out!
The Taste of Cocoa Puffs
Cocoa puffs are pillowy chocolate-flavored corn puffs. It mainly contains dark cocoa, and thus its taste is a balance between slight bitterness and sweetness.
When added to milk, cocoa puffs cause the milk to taste similar to store-bought chocolate milk. Therefore, apart from breakfast, people also like to have it as a snack, either with milk or just by itself.
The best part is, there are many varieties of Cocoa Puffs available according to your preferred size (small to giant) and flavors. Besides the original, the different flavors include the popular ice cream scoops and brownie scoops Cocoa Puffs.
However, some have complained that the flavor of the newly released Cocoa Puffs with added cocoa has slightly deteriorated.
Besides the cereal, Cocoa Puffs has also released other snack-based items, such as the Cocoa Puffs popcorn and cereal bars. This has caused thrill amongst consumers adoring this brand.
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Are Cocoa Puffs Healthy?
The nutritional value of a box of chocolate cereal cannot obviously be compared to that of a salad. Yet, in contrast to the several other sugary kinds of cereal available in the market, cocoa puffs are one of the healthiest to exist. But what exactly makes them healthy? There are several contributing factors that have been discussed below.
Packed with Nutrients:
As Cocoa Puffs are made with whole-grain corn, it contains many nutrients essential for the body, such as vitamin A, vitamin D, calcium, iron, etc. As whole grain corn is also rich in fiber, it helps you to feel full and aids in maintaining digestive health.
This also makes Cocoa Puffs a good source of antioxidants, which helps to protect against several diseases.
Low Percentage of Added Sugar:
Cocoa Puffs offers cereal boxes with 25%, and 75% less added sugar for people being conscious of their daily sugar intake.
Consuming excess amounts of sugar causes many obesity-related diseases. Therefore, Cocoa Puffs are a great choice for people looking for low-sugar chocolate-flavored cereals.
No Artificial Flavoring:
Most cereals use food dyes and such to make them look more appealing. Unlike them, Cocoa Puffs are naturally flavored and do not contain any sort of artificial color.
The color of the cereal comes from cocoa powder; cocoa itself is a healthy ingredient and contains many beneficial properties, such as reducing inflammation.
Low in Saturated Fat:
Cocoa puffs are extremely low in saturated fat. This type of fat causes the cholesterol content in the blood to increase. Excess consumption of saturated fats results in severe heart diseases and can even cause a stroke. Thus, the consumption of Cocoa Puffs is also risk-free from this perspective.
Provides Energy for the Day:
Cocoa Puffs are rich in carbohydrates. As mentioned previously, breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Since carbs are crucial for providing energy, every meal in the morning should consist of a decent amount of carbs.
Therefore, Cocoa Puffs and milk in the morning are great options for breakfast.
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Cocoa Puffs in Desserts
Usually, Cocoa Puffs are eaten with milk, but nowadays, they are also used to make various desserts. For example, crushed or ground Cocoa Puffs can be used as the base of a no-bake cheesecake.
People have gotten creative and used Cocoa Puffs to make pudding poke cake as the base of pies, an addition to fruit parfaits, and much more.
Nowadays, it is also used to make healthier versions of existing desserts. For example, a layer of Greek yogurt and Cocoa Puffs is a much healthier alternative to cream cheese and graham crackers.
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Why Do People Prefer Cocoa Puffs?
Apart from their taste, there are many reasons as to why people prefer Cocoa puffs. Two common reasons have been stated below:
Consuming Them Is Guilt-Free:
We often crave sweet treats but end up feeling guilty after eating them. As Cocoa Puffs provide alternatives that are low in sugar but sweet in taste, they are a suitable snack choice.
A regular bowl of Cocoa Puffs has approximately 37 grams of sugar. Technically speaking, it takes about 17 minutes of jogging to completely burn off a serving (one cup) of Cocoa Puffs.
A Go-To Choice of Parents:
Many prefer Cocoa Puffs as their children’s cereal choice as not only is it rich in nutrients, but it also provides enough energy to make it through till lunch. Parents often find it difficult to feed their children food that is important to obtain the necessary nutrients.
Although Cocoa Puffs aren’t obviously as healthy as vegetables, children willingly eat them and reap the benefits. Low in saturated fat, high in nutritional value, parents are bound to prefer this cereal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Below are some of the most frequently asked questions about Cocoa Puffs.
Are Cocoa Puffs a healthy choice for cereals?
Compared to other cereals in the market, Cocoa Puffs are much healthier as they are low in fat and rich in fiber.
What is the recommended serving size for Cocoa Puffs?
1 cup or 36 grams is the recommended serving size for Cocoa Puffs.
How many calories are there in a bowl of Cocoa Puffs?
A serving contains 147 calories, with 1 g protein, 23 g carbs, and 1.5 g fat.
How long can Cocoa Puffs be stored after being opened?
It is advised to finish your box within 3 months of being opened as the quality of the cereal deteriorates after that.
How many types of Cocoa Puffs are there?
There are more than 5 types of Cocoa Puffs: Brownie Cocoa Puffs, Oatmeal Cocoa Puffs, Swiss miss Cocoa Puffs, etc.
Final Words
During this era of increased health problems, numerous people have started to become more conscious about their overall well-being. This has caused many to reconsider their cereal choices and some to completely omit it from their diet.
But the good thing is, if your choice of cereal is Cocoa Puffs, you do not have to exclude cereal from your life. As mentioned earlier in this article, Cocoa Puffs are great in several ways. Therefore, if you ever hear someone question are cocoa puffs healthy, be sure to let them know that they are!
