Kashi is a high fiber cereal that is gaining popularity. There are several different versions of this cereal. The more expensive grocery stores (Albertson's in my area) will carry several of the Kashi cereals however certain places such as Walmart may only carry 1 or 2 different kinds.
When I say that Kashi has different versions you could compare this to Cheerios. You have regular cheerios, honey nut cheerios and frosted cheerios. Kashi also offers a variety to choose from.
I have read several of the earlier reviews on Kashi Go Lean describing it as sweet, nutty and containing granola. I believe that more than likely 2 versions of Kashi are being confused. Kashi Go lean Crunch is the sweetened, granola cereal that Kashi makes. However Kashi Go Lean (minus the crunch) is not. This review is on Kashi Go Lean but I would like to take the opportunity to give a generalized overview of the different versions of cereal available and what in particular makes Kashi the cereal for you!
Below is a list of the cereals made by the Kashi company.
Kashi Heart to Heart (sweetened, crunchy hearts and O's)
Kashi Go Lean Crunch (Naturally sweet, low fat, granola-style cereal made with delicious multigrain crunchy clusters.)
Kashi Go Lean (soy protein grahams, high fiber twigs and Kashi’s special blend of seven whole grains & sesame Honey Puffs.)
Kashi Good Friends (crunchy trio of delicious flakes, twigs and granola is low fat and delivers 8 grams of fiber)
Puffed Kashi (those who are looking for a low calorie cereal with no added sugar or salt)
Honey Puffed Kashi (Light and crunchy honey-roasted Puffed Kashi)
Kashi Medley (A tasty mix of O's, flakes, nuggets, puffs, granola, apples and raisins.)
Kashi Baby and Me (Pure mixed grain instant cereal for infants 6 months and older. No fillers, sweeteners or preservatives. Fortified with iron)
In addition to this Kashi also makes hot cereals, protein drinks and snack bars.
Kashi advertisements are often strategically placed in magazines such as "Weight Watchers" for a very good reason. All the cereals are high in fiber and protein and fit quite well into any nutritional program. If you are familiar with Weight Watchers you will know that this system assigns points to a food item. As someone goes throughout the day they choose items and then subtract the points from their allowed amount. On the Weight Watchers system Kashi equals one point for 3/4 cup of cereal and 1/2 cup of skim milk. Usually when one figures up the "points" or calories for their food plan they will have to add additional points for the milk. On Weight Watchers system most all cereals come to 2 to 3 points. All Kashi versions however are 1 point and this is because of the fiber content. The more fiber a food contains the less it will be on the point system. Now we begin to see why Kashi is placing advertisements in Weight Watchers magaines and wisely so!
Kashi is more than just a cereal. It can be used for weight loss or for those individuals trying to keep "regular". At 10 grams of fiber per serving you will be heading to the bathroom more frequently if this becomes a staple in your diet.
For those interested in losing weight Kashi can be a wonderful way to assist in this endeavor. If you can stay committed, Kashi's family of healthy products can make it easier. Good Friends has 8 grams of fiber per 90 calorie serving with only 1 gram of fat. The original GoLEAN has 10 grams of fiber per 120 calorie serving with only 1 gram of fat. Kashi’s high fiber content helps you feel full for a longer period of time, which may help prevent you from snacking on junk food in between meals.
Many will choose to simply incorporate Kashi Go Lean cereals into their already existing food plan. For those interested in using Kashi as a complete weight loss program they have a complete line of foods for the "Go Lean Slimming system" and a food plan to follow incorporating all of them.
THE GoLEAN PLAN:
Breakfast: Have one serving Kashi GoLEAN or GoLEAN Crunch! cereal.
Lunch: Have either a GoLEAN Plus Powdered Shake Packet or a GoLEAN Ready-to-Drink Shake.
Snack: Have a GoLEAN Bar
Dinner: Have a healthy and nutritious meal of your choice.
Kashi Go Lean cereal has the following nutritional contents:
6.5g Soy Protein of which 13 mg are soy isoflavones. *
10g Fiber per serving
Only 1g Fat and 120 calories per serving
Kosher OU-D (Orthodox Union)
NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size 40g (3/4 cup)
Serving Per Container: 10
Calories 120
Calories From Fat 10
*Percent Daily Values (DV) are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Amount/Serving %DV* Amount/Serving %DV*
Total Fat 1g 2% Total Carbs 28g 9%
Saturated Fat 0g 0% Dietary Fiber 10g 40%
Cholesterol 0mg 0% Sugars 7g
Sodium 35mg 1% Protein 8g
Potassium 240mg 7%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 0% Calcium 0% Iron 8%
Phosphorus 13%
INGREDIENTS:
Soy Protein, Soy Grits, Corn Bran, Corn, Evaporated Cane Juice, Honey, Whole Oats, Long Grain Brown Rice, Whole Rye, Whole Hard Red Winter Wheat, Whole Triticale, Whole Buckwheat, Whole Barley, Wheat Bran, Oat Bran, Whey, Sesame Seeds, Salt.
You will notice that Kashi Go Lean contains soy protein and it is this combination of soy protein and fiber that curbs cravings and, with exercise, helps you build muscle so you burn more fat.
From a personal opinion Kashi Go Lean does not have a very flavorful taste. It has a lot of the puffed kashi in it which tends to be extremely bland. It is not sugary or sweet. In my opinion with the other options available from Kashi it would be a better choice to opt for the more flavorful Kashi Go Lean Crunch. The difference in taste is astounding. The crunch version tastes very similar to Sugar Smacks. On the Weight Watchers system it is still a 1 point total for the cereal and skim milk but so much more satisfying. My 6 year old daughter requests Kashi Go Lean crunch regularly over other cereals which should say something for the taste! Another option is Kashi Good Friends. Although it is not as sweet as the crunch version it is equally satisfying and flavorful. It has a more substantial crunch to it and is similar to eating corn flakes. Many people will eat Kashi dry as a snack. Instead of munching on chips it is a healthy way to "snack" without throwing off your diet.
Depending on where you shop you may have difficulty finding Kashi. The best thing to do is to go straight to the source.
www.kashi.com
If you go to their website you can sign up to receive a free coupon, read success stories and even order Kashi direct if you choose. If you enter in your zipcode you will be given a list of stores in your area that carry Kashi.
As the importance of fiber in nutrition has been more publicized Kashi has become more popular and widely recognized. Kashi Company began selling its whole grain mix to health spas, and having it served at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Athletes, post cardiac rehab patients, people with diabetes, weight management clinicians, folks living vegetarian lifestyles, and animal rights activists all discovered the recipe for hot or cold meals made with whole grains, dramatically increasing the number of people choosing Kashi.
Since Weight Watchers introduced their points system which is largely based on fiber content Kashi has gained an even greater popularity among those seeking weight loss and a healthier lifestyle.
If you think Kashi is not versatile think again. Kashi is not merely a breakfast cereal. It can be used in a variety of ways to make many healthy recipes.
Kashi Go Lean can be used to make a great recipe for Apple Squares. Here is the recipe we use!
Makes 24 squares.
2 cups GoLEAN Original Cereal, crushed fine
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup raisins
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 cup evaporated cane juice crystals (or turbinado sugar)
1/2 cup egg substitute
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup canola oil (or oil of choice)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups apples, finely diced
Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, mix first 5 ingredients. Mix well, then set aside. In a large bowl, mix together applesauce, brown sugar, egg substitute, honey, oil and vanilla. Mix well, then add diced apples and mix well. Add dry ingredients to wet and mix well. Spread evenly in oiled and floured 9 x 13 inch bake pan and bake 40 minutes or until knife comes out clean.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 bar
Serving Per Container 24
Calories 90
Calories From Fat 25
Total Fat 2.5g 4% Total Carb 17g 6%
Saturated Fat 0g 0% Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Cholesterol 0mg 0% Sugars 11g
Sodium 35mg 1% Protein 2g
If you follow Weight Watchers you will find that one apple square is equal to one point. Not bad for a sweet treat!
The bottom line is that Kashi has many varieties. Kashi Go Lean is not the best tasting version but it still has many uses. Kashi is a staple in my house and I'm not ashamed to say I belong to the Kashi Fan Addict club and receive coupons and free samples regularly! If you visit the website you can too!
GOLEAN® cereal is a lightly sweetened mix of crunchy fiber twigs, crispy soy protein grahams and honey toasted Seven Whole Grains & Sesame puffs.Kosh...More at Maxvite Online Vitamin Store
GOLEAN® cereal is a lightly sweetened mix of crunchy fiber twigs, crispy soy protein grahams and honey toasted Seven Whole Grains & Sesame puffs.Kosh...More at Maxvite Online Vitamin Store
GOLEAN® cereal is a lightly sweetened mix of crunchy fiber twigs, crispy soy protein grahams and honey toasted Seven Whole Grains & Sesame puffs.Kosh...More at Maxvite Online Vitamin Store
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