The Holy Grail of Breakfast cereals - My story (Kellogg's Special K Sustain)

Member Name: allybally

Product:	Kellogg's Special K Sustain
Date:	22/01/08 (103 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: pretty tasty, healthy start to the day

Disadvantages: A bit pricier than other similar products

I want to share my story - my introduction to Kellogg's Special K Sustain, because if my story can help even one person desperately trying to find the holy grail of breakfast cereals than I will have helped make this world that little bit brighter.

Christmas indulgence is now but a distant memory and as we head towards the end of January, many of us have already forgotten the promises we made to ourselves on the 1st of the month - I have always been amazed at how much easier it is to Quit 'Quitting' than it is quitting anything else.

I, like 99 percent of the population had vowed to eat a healthier, more balanced diet. No more Kit Kat's at 10:00 washed down with a large (non-fat o ease the guilt of wolfing down the four-fingered kit kat) Cappuccino from Starbucks. Instead, I promised myself that I would wake up earlier to allow myself time to have breakfast, afterall, haven't we been told over and over again since, well, since ever that breakfast is the most important meal of the day?

So in preparation for the big countdown to the new year, I took myself off to Asda determined to stock up on plenty of healthy options for my new morning routine. I had avoided the cereals lane like a case of the bubonic plague in the past, and wasn't prepared for the terrifying array of grains promising all sorts of wondrous miracles that stood before me. I instantly felt myself going into meltdown, my legs were shaking and my palms were notably damp. I stood frozen in the middle of the aisle not sure I could make it passed the brightly coloured boxes of chocolate covered flakes, and honey coated nuggets to the sensible grown up and significantly more serious looking cereals at the end of what felt like a mile-long row of sugary goodness. Somehow, with the help of my three year old who prodded and pulled me in the general direction I needed to go on, I took my first feeble away from the promises of "that great chocolatey taste" to those that simply listed what ingredients it didn't have.

And then I saw it. Just as I was ready to turn and run away crying into the comfortable and familiar arms of the confectionery aisle, out of the corner of my eye I spotted the bright red words "Special K" on a simple, white box. Although no one else seemed to notice it, I am sure I saw a gentle golden glow eminating from around it and the sound of angels singing a sweet lullabye filled the air. Before I could become distracted by the luscious boxes of pure sugar neatly disguised as breakfast food, I grabbed the box and made a dash for the nearest till, my son only just managing to keep up with my pace.

What is this Special K Sustain stuff anyway and why is it supposed to be so good for us?
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Special K Sustain is the latest gimmick to be introduced by Kellogg's, a follow-up to the familiar and comparatively ordinary Special K.

Containing wholewheat flakes and wholegrain rice with a splash of honey to bind it, Sustain gives us a crunchier, clustier cereal that the original Special with a touch of sweetness. Because it contains a healthy dollup of protein and fibre, it is designed to keep us feeling satisfied longer - Surprisingly even longer than a mid morning Kit Kat!

Is it really that good for us?
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It's all relative. There is no doubt that we pay for the added honeyness and general taste At 135calories per serving, you could save yourself a further 50 calories by opting for the almost calorie-free (and totally taste-free) Shredded Wheat. And of course Shredded Wheat has no sugar, hardly any fat and plenty of fibre. However, Special K Sustain is much better for you as part of a healthy eating diet than you would imagine it is.

***Nutritional Information per serving

Calories: 135
Sugar: 8g
Fat: 0.8g of which only a trace are saturates
Salt: 0.5g
Fibre: 5g

But does it have any taste?
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I wasn't expecting great things. The best I was hoping for was sweetened card but I was expecting something more in line with the mouldy taste of a 200 year old book found in the back of an antique store. Instead, I found my taste buds didn't recoil in disgust and I didn't even need to hold my nose as I chewed.

For those of you who have tried Special K, Original, it doesn't taste dissimilar - a bit wheaty, like a sweetened Jacobs whole-wheat cracker shaved down into tiny pieces. Only, Sustain has an added nuttiness to it. There is no doubt that the cluster style gives it an added texture which not only fools you into thinking you are eating more, but also gives the flavour a more 3-D effect. First you taste the honey, then the nuts, then the cereal flakes. It's just a bit more exciting on the old taste buds when there's more going on.

Does it actually make me feel full?
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I really am a good girl. I've only skipped breakfast once since January 1st (Does it matter that I had three Millie's chocolate chip cookies before noon that day?) and Special K Sustain has played a pretty major role in my new eating practices.

Although I haven't quite managed waking up earlier - is there actually a time earlier that 5:45 anyway, I keep a box of Sustain at my desk and find toodling off to fill my bowl is an excellent way of wasting time I could be using to work.

Whether it is simply the concept of actually eating breakfast, or whether it is actually down to Sustain, I do find it much easier to make it through the morning without snacking. I do feel more full. Although, my chocolate moments usually have little to do with being hungry at all and more to do with a craving for the warm melting sensation of cocoa on my tongue, I have been doing quite well at resisting the urge and admittedly, it isn't all down to my incredible will power and strength of character - it has to do with starting my day eating something that I can easily forget is a "healthy" option and just enjoy the taste.

Ingredients (from Kellogg's website)
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***Things I recognize as actual ingredients not science experiment compounds
Brown Rice, Wholewheat, Honey Flavour Soy Clusters, Nuts and Crisps, Flour, Wheatflour, Barley FlourWheat Fibre and Sugar

***And the other stuff
Maltodextrin, Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Salt, Barley Malt Flavouring, Vitamin C, Niacin, Iron, Vitamin B6, Riboflavin (B2), Thiamin (B1), Folic Acid, Vitamin B12.

Availability
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Sustain is a relatively new product however most of the major supermarkets (ASDA, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Morrissons etc) will stock it.

And how much is this miracle breakfast?
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At £2.89 per 375g it is a bit more expensive than other similar cereals, but then what did you expect? Surely you knew there would be a catch somewhere! Sainsbury's have a 2 for £4 deal on now so get moving!

Is it worth the trauma of facing the cereal aisle?
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I've come a long way since that first brush with the cereal aisle. I now stroll through it confidently with my eyes firmly locked on the prize. In additional to being a great, healthy way to start the day, it tastes good enough to even fool my 3 year old into thinking it's just regular cereal. The Holy Grail of cereals? It may just be.

Summary: A breakfast cereal that promises to get your day started properly.