Do you really like those rabbit pellets???

[lindrusso]

Okay, sorry but I got a box of From Kashi to Good Friends to try to up my fiber and I find that it very much resembles cardboard in both texture and taste. To make it more palitable (sp?), I combined it with cheerios and lots of fruit.

I know many of you here profess to like these high fiber cereals. Emily's post about "bad" foods on the Good Food board got me thinking - do you all really love this stuff because you think it tastes good, or do you love it because it is good for you???

I can't even touch All-Bran or any of those - just can't get past the looks. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/rolleyes.gif

Are any of these more tasty than others? I'm just trying to get myself to eat some more fiber, but it's not easy when it comes to these cereals. Maybe I'll just have to eat more beans http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif !!

[m4star]

I kinda like the taste of bran cereals, but I sprinkle them on top of other cereals (like Cheerios or Chex). Have you thought about cooking with bran?? Bran muffins are tasty, and can be made very low fat using applesauce. I find that a good bran muffin is the All-Bran mix kind with added dried fruits or some nuts sprinkled on top. Each muffin has only 140 calories and little fat but a whopping 10 grams of fiber!

[beccathebaker]

I actually really like Kashi Good Friends. I mix it with granola and bran flakes and top it with vanilla silk soymilk and I think it's pretty great. It does get stale pretty quick so I try to keep it well sealed and eat it fast. I eat this stuff because I really prefer it, not because it's good for me. The granola is a nice addition because it adds some fat and flavor as well. I believe that our bodies tell us best what they want and you should just go with it. There are times when i crave oatmeal or sourdough bread with lots of peanut butter for breakfast. I've also been known to eat cold pizza or leftover chinese as well. I say that if it tastes like rabbit food to you...don't eat it! Have something that you enjoy! -Becca

[kwormann]

I like both Kashi GO Lean and ALl Bran......not the look, but if I add raisins, they are sweet enough.

Kim

[emilycat]

That's so funny, Alysha...when I read the title of your post, I knew exactly what you were referring to!

Anyway, yes, I love the high-fiber cereals...to be honest, I can't stand really sweet stuff in the morning, beyond something mildly sweet like a cinnamon-raisin bagel. I think oat and wheat bran flakes (except raisin bran; most of those have way too much added sugar) taste wonderful, and I do really like All-Bran as well. However, I had Kashi one time and absolutely hated it. Yuck. But whatever floats your boat! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by emilycat (edited 02-27-2001).]

[Laura Wick]

Haven't had any Kashi cereals in many years, but I can really relate to the cardboard taste proglem. I have been buying Uncle Sam's cereal with flax seed. It is full of fiber and EFA. In addition, it has a great nutty flavor.

[ChefChris]

What a great topic! I eat the Kashi Go Lean because it has more interesting things in it than the Friends one. I do mix it with fruit, flax seeds and some other cererals like Barbara's oat squares, cheerios etc. I can see why you say the cardboard taste, but I like it for some reason. I am sure the reason has become a combination of eating for taste with eating for health and now things that taste healthy taste good to me...does that make sense? There are sooo many ways to get good fiber I would not just look to this cereral unless you like it.

One other great fiber tip I found is a bread by Food For Life called "Bran for Life" it is 80 calories and 5 grams of fiber. I like it toasted with light butter on it. I buy it by the case from the health food store (and keep it in my freezer) because I like it so much and it is hard to find. The same company makes those Ezekial breads that you see in the freezer sectuion in Fresh Fields or any natural food store.

Chris

[iqueen]

I eat Kashi Good Friends almost every morning. I usually put 1/2 package of Equal, berries and skim milk on it and really enjoy it. I usually let it sit for a couple of minutes to soften up the harder pieces before eating.

[lindrusso]

Originally posted by emilycat:
That's so funny, Alysha...when I read the title of your post, I knew exactly what you were referring to!

Hee hee - just couldn't resist. And I hope that everyone takes this in the spirit it was intended - I'm really am just curious!

It's funny how everyone's taste buds are soooo different. My FIL always tries to tell me how you "just can't tell the difference" when it comes to low-fat frozen yogurt versus ice cream (yea right!) or how good those baked potato chips taste (the kind he was eating were really horrible, though some are okay). I'm glad he enjoys these healthier versions, but no thanks - it's just not for me!

[LGBurns]

I'm with you Alysha, I don't like cereals like All Bran (never tried the Kashi). But I do have a recommendation for a high fiber cereals that does taste good (IMHO): Health Valley Golden Flax Cereal. It's lightly sweetened (but not super sweet) and I think it tastes very good particularly with yogurt and fruit on it. If you want to have more fiber in your cereal, you might want to give it a try.

[lindrusso]

Thanks for the suggestion LGBurns! Now my next problem will be trying to find it in my grocery store - the midwest is not big into health food/unusual food!! When our second grocery store came to town I was shocked to find puffed Kashi and Puffins!

[Don]

Hi Lindrusso,

I have to agree with you. Bran cereals are terrible. When my dietitician told me to try eating bran cereal in the morning, my response was "why bother, I can just eat the backing off the carpet." Fortunately, she was happy enough if I would eat Mini Shredded Wheat or Total. I'm willing to do a lot to improve my health, but bran cereals make life not worth living.

[LGBurns]

My Dominick's carries it (although they charge way too much for it). I get it at a place called People's Market in Evanston because it's cheaper there. Are you near a Trader Joe's? I think they carry it and it's pretty cheap there as well. Any Wild Oats or Whole Foods would carry it too.

[lindrusso]

Don - thanks for reminding me about shredded wheat - I do like that - but it has to be the frosted kind! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/redface.gif

LGBurns - I wish, I wish, I wish. I'm stuck in the northeast corner of Indiana and there's nothing like any of the stores you mentioned around (I had a taste of Whole Foods when I lived in Texas - love it!!). Some of the stores in Ft. Wayne may well carry a larger variety - but I don't generally make it to the grocery store when I'm there (with a 3-year-old in toe, I have to pick and choose my stops very carefully! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif ).

[hhcowgirl]

Everyone thinks I am so strange, but I genuinely like the taste of all this stuff. I love bran cereals, including kashi (my favorite, though, is the special K that comes in the milk carton--I highly recommend it, plus it is chock full of your RDA of SOOOO many vitamins/minerals). I also truly like Baked Lays/Baked Ruffles better than real potato chips--in fact, I don't even remember what "real" ones taste like! And I agree about the frozen yogurt--aside from gelato, I think no ice cream is extraordinarily better than fro yo. Most of all, though, my family is appalled at my affinity for fat-free cheese, fat-free cream cheese, and "light" butter, but honestly they all taste just as good to me.

[pammy]

How funny, I just had a bowl of "To Good Friends" for breakfast this a.m. with a load of raisins on top. I do like Go Lean better, and I took a look at the Stark Sisters granola in Wegmans last night, 9g. of fat per serving - yikes! Plus, they looked pretty sweet. I have a problem with really sweet stuff in the a.m., too. I crash by 9:30 or 10 if I have too much sugar. I like posts like this, I'm always looking for a new breakfast item for some diversity. LGBurns, I'm going to look for that HV cereal you talked about.

[emilycat]

hhcowgirl,

I totally agree! Of course nothing compares to gelato, but I think my taste buds are so accustomed to lighter versions of everything, and the rich, fat-laden stuff just appeal to me any more at all!

[Lynn B]

This thread is cracking me up!

I honestly and truly like the high-fiber cereals! I like All-Bran, Bran Buds, Kashi Go Lean, and the (ever-controversial!!!) GRAPE NUTS!!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif (I am not crazy about Fiber One, but that's because of the Nutrasweet after-taste.)

Lynn

[cindyluwho]

I like All-Bran too, particularly the little pellet ones. It has a sort of nutty sweetness that is very unique. Try it--you might like it in spite of the unappealing appearance!

[lindrusso]

LGBurns,

To my great surprise, my local supermarket does indeed carry the HV Golden Flax cereal and I found it quite tasty. I'll mix it with the Kashi to make the Kashi more tasty!
Thanks for the suggestion - and I'm getting those Omega-3 fatty acids as a bonus!

[emilycat]

I somehow overlooked the reference to Health Valley earlier, but I love all of their cereals! The flax flakes are really good, but I also love the Healthy Fiber, Amaranth and Multi-grain ones. And I have some Blue Corn Flakes cereal, too, from HV that's just yummy. I know it sounds quite odd, but they're great.

[LGBurns]

Alysha: I'm so glad you found them! I actually haven't had them in a while and now I've got a hankerin'.

Wanted to also add that I like Grape Nuts, too occassionally but I tend to get tired of them.

Emily, I have tried the other HV products and do like the Blue Corn flakes but I generally stick to the Flax 'cuz it's my favorite.