Breakfast not only is the most important meal of the day, but one consisting of cereal can be the most nutritious, as well.

According to research in Infant, Child & Adolescent Nutrition, children who start their day with a breakfast containing cereal tend to have lower body mass indexes and less chance of being overweight than those who eat other breakfasts or skip breakfast.

Kevin B. Miller, Ph.D., a senior nutrition scientist at Kellogg Company’s W.K. Kellogg Institute for Food and Nutrition, says that a serving of cereal and milk provides children with protein, fiber, calcium, Vitamin D and potassium.

According to an article in Drug Store News, a cereal breakfast, even ones that are presweetened, provides children a convenient, nutrient-dense and great-tasting way to start their day.

For children who love the great taste of a presweetened cereal to start their day, honey is the perfect sweetener. Honey is all-natural and provides 17 grams of carbohydrates per tablespoon, which is a great boost of energy for children at the beginning of the day.

Cereal manufacturers have recognized the convenience of presweetening cereal with honey. Kellogg’s Honey Smacks cereal is a honey-sweetened puffed wheat cereal with packaging geared toward children. Honey Smacks are also a source of Vitamin C, Vitamin D and Vitamin B12.

Post’s Honey Bunches of Oats offers 12 varieties of cereal blends all containing honey. Their Labels for Education campaign is geared toward adults getting kids to eat a healthier breakfast by collecting UPCs redeemable for free educational merchandise.

Honey Nut Cheerios by General Mills not only includes 12 vitamins and minerals, calcium and whole grains, but it also has a great online ad campaign featuring Buzz the bee and several bee-centered games.

Breakfast never tasted so sweet.

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Snack Food Sales Will Hit All-Time High by 2015, Ingredients Rise in Importance Thursday, April 25th, 2013

Snack food addicts worldwide can rejoice—there are more snacking options now than ever. With “snacking” no longer being a negative word and more a substitution for larger meals, consumers are seeking healthier and quicker choices to fill up with throughout the day.

According to Global Industry Analysts Inc., world snack food sales will top a third of a trillion dollars by 2015. Consumer demand equals more choices than ever before, with manufacturers working to meet increasing need.

FoodProcessing.com says that both health and indulgence are key needs of the snacking consumer, therefore different ingredients are battling for attention. The magazine lists cheese, bacon and spice as top ingredients on the indulgence side and chocolate on the sweet side. However, it’s a whole different came for ingredients once a healthy choice demand is called into play.

Nuts cover all ingredient needs, according to the magazine. They are high-energy, contain essential fatty acids, dietary fiber, phytochemicals, vitamin E, and are an excellent source of protein, calcium, iron and zinc.

Three examples of snacks with both nuts and honey are KIND Bars, which are made with honey, whole nuts, fruits and spices; Quaker’s True Delights Honey Roasted Cashew Mixed Berry Granola Bar, which contains zero grams of trans fat and is a great source of fiber, calcium and iron; and Kellogg’s Special K Cereal Bar Honey Nut, which is designed for the on-the-go snacker who needs a quick breakfast or meal replacement.

Salty and sweet flavors combined in one snack also is on the rise, and honey lovers can get the two for one deal with these great snacks:

thinkThin Mixed Nuts Crunch Bar combines the sweet flavor of honey with the saltiness of peanuts, almonds and cashews. LARABAR’s Uber Roasted Nut Roll Bar marries sweet and salty with honey, almonds, cashews and sea salt headlining the top flavors. Varieties include Apple Turnover, Bananas Foster and Cherry Cobbler.

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KIND Bars Friday, April 12th, 2013

KIND bars are made from ingredients such as honey, whole nuts, fruits and spices. The new Dark Chocolate Cinnamon Pecan is a combination of honey, pecans, almonds, cashews and peanuts drizzled in chocolate with a hint of cinnamon. This bar joins an entire line of made with honey bars, including the Blueberry Vanilla & Cashew, the Madagascar Vanilla Almond and the Cashew & Ginger Spice.

KIND was founded in 2003 by Daniel Lubetzky, a social entrepreneur. The company is based on the power of “AND” and holistic kindness. Daniel wanted a snack that was wholesome and convenient, tasty and healthy at the same time. KIND fruit and nut bars achieve this by ensuring that taste isn’t sacrificed for health and wholesomeness.

Have a question about formulating bakery and snack foods with honey? Email us at info@bakingwithhoney.com.

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