Top 3 Myths about Rice Krispies and Why They Are Not True

top 3 myths about rice krispies and why they are not true

Rice Krispies – a popular breakfast cereal enjoyed by millions of people around the world – is also one of the most hotly debated product in health-circles. Some say it’s a great low calorie, high fiber breakfast that tastes great. Others call it the evil mothership of sugar, carbs and preservatives. But what do you do if you love a bowl of these delicious snap, crackle and pop rice krispies for breakfast? Well, today we’ll but all the myths going around and help you figure out what the real deal is with rice krispies and why, if at all, they are good for you.

Myth 1 – Rice Krispies are full of harmful chemicals

Truth

Rice krispies are simply made from puffed rice grains that become crispy and crunchy. The main ingredients in rice krispies are:

  • Rice
  • Sugar
  • Salt
  • Barley Malt Flavoring

Barley Malt flavoring is used to enhance the nutritive value as well as flavor of rice krispies and it’s easy to figure out that malt can only be good for your health. Yes, some may argue that barley malt has a small percentage of gluten, but for those with celiac disease or another form of gluten sensitivity, non-malted rice krispies are easily available that have no malt, and sometimes use molasses for the flavor. Plain ones are available too, which are pretty much all rice and nothing else.

Now, a lot of people when saying that rice krispies is full of harmful chemicals, are actually referring to rice krispy treats, which are a popular snack made from rice krispies. A number of people have a number of different ways to prepare rice krispy treats, many of which contain marshmallow cream, butter and some more additives. But that is completely independent of the actual, original rice krispies which are a breakfast cereal meant to be consumed with just milk and maybe some fruits and nuts, clearly steering away from any chemical additives. So there, myth busted. Rice krispies are a chemical free, healthy breakfast.

And for those still thinking about the aforementioned rice krispy treats, there are several healthy and nutritious ways to prepare your own treats, using healthy ingredients like nut butters and date syrup to name a few. This way you can bypass the marshmallow cream and added sugar that lends the bad rap to rice crispy treats.

Myth 2 – Rice Krispies are fattening

Truth

One serving of rice krispies constitutes to 33 grams, and contains just 130 calories. None of these calories come from fats because rice krispies have zero fat. Adding a half cup of skimmed milk will bring the total calorie count to 170. So the breakfast as such is not high in calories unless additional items like chocolate chips or sprinkles are added. On the other hand, adding fruits and nuts can further increase the health value of the breakfast. Additionally, one serving of rice krispies gives you only 4 grams of sugar, making it a savior among other sugary cereals. So as far as the myth goes, no, rice krispies on their own aren’t fattening unless they are mixed with other ‘fattening’ ingredients.

More importantly, having a healthy breakfast has long term positive effects in terms of weight loss that a lot of people lose out on due to skipping breakfast. Rice krispies, being easy, quick and delicious, are easy to work into your busy morning routine, making sure you never miss breakfast and stay healthy as well as achieve long term weight loss goals. So rather than being fattening, rice krispies can actually be healthier. Even when compared to other alternative sugar laden breakfast cereals, rice krispies are a much better option.

Myth 3 –Rice Krispies are low on vitamins, fiber and protein

Truth

Rice krispies may not be the biggest source of proteins in your daily diet, but they do offer 1g of protein per serving and furthermore, there are many ways to make your rice krispy cereal more protein-rich. You could add a handful of almonds, walnuts or other seeds of your choice. You could make your own high protein rice krispy treats in a matter of minutes. A simple Google search will reveal an abundance of recipes you can pick from.

Conclusion

Not everything that comes in a box is evil. Sure, a lot of them are, but rice krispies are just a simple, healthy breakfast cereal derived from natural rice grains and processed under strict control. They have no harmful chemicals, no fattening additives and are a healthy breakfast any day of the week. If you exercise portion control and do not mix in any additional indulgent ingredients to your bowl of rice krispies, all you have is a healthy, wholesome and delicious breakfast.