In my continuing quest for a good tasting, high fiber, high protein cereal, I tried another offering from Kellogg's - Fiber Plus Antioxidants Caramel Pecan Crunch. The front of the box describes it as whole grain wheat and rice flakes with caramel and pecan flavored clusters. I know what a flake is but clusters still mystify me. It seems they are lumps of ingredients held together by sugar and then baked. The front of the box also touts this cereal as providing 35 percent of the needed daily fiber and 24 grams of whole grains.

What's in it

Remember that ingredients in packaged goods are always listed in order from the highest percent of content to the lowest. I want my preferred ingredients to be among the first several and the less desirable ingredients to be near the end. I fear that wasn't always the case with Fiber Plus Antioxidants with Caramel Pecan Crunch. Here's the list:

Whole grain wheat, sugar", pecan clusters (consisting of rolled oats, sugar*, brown sugar*, pecans, almonds, oat fiber, corn bran, corn syrup*, wheat starch, yellow corn flour, canola oil, molasses*, fructiooligosaccharides*, natural flavor, caramel color, malt extract, salt, and BHT), rice, chicory root fiber, modified wheat starch, soluble corn fiber, malt flavoring, salt, natural and artificial flavor and then a bunch of added vitamins. Every ingredient I've marked with an * is some type of sweetener.

One half-cup serving has 170 calories, providing 9 grams of dietary fiber (split almost evenly between soluble and insoluble) and 3 grams of protein. There are 12 grams of sugars in every serving, the same as the fiber and protein combined.

The antioxidant in the name comes from having 100 percent of the RDA for Vitamin E. Each serving also provides 35 percent of the RDA for thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, B6, folic acid, and B12 (those are all B vitamins) and 25 percent of vitamins A and C. There is also 10 percent of the RDA for vitamin D, iron, and phosphorus and a puny 2 percent for calcium. Sodium is a respectable 200 mg and fat is only 1.5 grams including no trans fat or saturated fat.

Heart healthy?

The side of the box says "Diets high in fiber are found to be associated with a healhy heart," suggesting tht Kellogg's Fiber Plus Antioxidants with Caramel Pecan Crunch will provide heart health benefits. While fiber is important, too many calories from sugar tend to have the opposite effect.

There is a warning in very small letters in a yellow box under the ingredients cautioning people who don't each much fiber to increase their consumption gradually to avoid gastrointestinal upset. Frankly, I don't think eating an extra 9 grams of fiber a day is something to be concerned about unless you've been living on white bread and steak. But I am not a nutritionist or medical person, so use your own judgement.

How it tastes

Have you ever eaten Frosted Flakes? That's what the taste of Kellogg's Fiber Plus Antioxidants Caramel Pecan Crunch reminded me of with the added overtone of caramel. There was no discernible pecan flavor. The cereal was just way too sweet. It was pleasantly crunchy and it did stay crunchy in milk. The remaining milk in the bowl had such an over the top sweet caramel flavor I almost poured it out uneaten.

Not for me

I prefer high fiber cereals with less sugar and more protein. I tried Kellogg's Fiber Plus Antioxidants because it was a new product on a big sale at my store. I will probably finish this box but I won't buy it again. I plan to avoid cereals with clusters from now on. I don't recommend this product.

Recommended: No