Especially for you.... (Kellogg's Special K)

Member Name: emmachilcott

Product:	Kellogg's Special K
Date:	23/06/09 (74 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Healthy way to start the day

Disadvantages: Some varieties are not good

So, cereal is never going to be the most interesting thing in the world to review, but please bear with me, I'm going to do my best!

I really struggle to eat breakfast, and I always have done. Eating before 11 o'clock is an issue for me and just doesn't seem natural. I know that the situation is the same for many others, whether it is a time issue, or simply that you can't stomach food first thing in the morning (for me, it's a bit of both), but we all know that you are supposed to have "breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and supper like a pauper". Breakfast is the most important meal of the day apparently, so I thought that I would try to give it a go.

I am trying to lose a bit of weight, and we've all seen the Special K adverts with a woman in a red swimsuit, well; I want to look like that, so I bought some. Quite a lot of it actually because it was on offer! This cereal is usually around £2.90, but I picked mine up recently for £2 per box in ASDA. I got several boxes, because this is all that I intend on eating until I go on holiday! (I know, probably not the right way to diet, but it works for me!)

Special K comes in ten varieties: Purple berries, red berries, oats and honey, sustain, peach and apricot, yoghurt, strawberry and chocolate berries bliss, crunchy berry crunch, medley and original. There are also eleven types of Special K cereal bar available, but I have not tried any of these yet.

The Original Special K flakes are cornflake sized pieces, made of rice and wheat, and all of the other varieties just have extra bits added in with the flakes. I personally think that the fruit varieties are terrible. The dried fruit just seems really fake, and when it is rehydrated the "fruit" is slimy and has an artificially sweet flavour that I do not like. It is probably an advantage for me that you don't get many fruit pieces per box, but if you are expecting lots, you will be very disappointed! In the strawberry and chocolate variety, some of the flakes have a chocolate coating which is quite nice, but these flakes are few and far between!

Out of all of the Special K cereals, Oats and Honey is delicious, has a fantastic texture and so is my favourite. It has the original flakes, alongside lots of whole oats, honey coated oats and cereal crispies, which are a softer and a more natural tasting Rice Crispie. This cereal has a subtle honey flavour that is not too strong, but evident enough to liven up the original flakes. It seems to me like a lighter version of muesli and I feel quite healthy when eating it. Per 100g of cereal it has 383 kcal, 2.5g of fat and 0.3g of sodium, which is very good for cereals!

This cereal takes several minutes before it goes soggy which is an advantage if you take an age to eat breakfast, and it easily keeps you full until lunchtime without making you feel bloated and weighed down. It also has added essential vitamins, iron and protein, so there are worse ways to start the day.

Kelloggs have launched the Special K diet on several occasions, where you eat two bowls of cereal and a small balanced meal per day, and I really think that it is worth giving it a go. I have lost four pounds in one week on this diet and I have not felt hungry at all, although it can get a bit boring if you only like a couple of varieties. I'm not sure if it is a sustainable way to diet, but it definitely gives you a helping hand to start off.

Overall, I think that (putting aside the new gimmicky flavours) this cereal essentially tastes great, and I would recommend it as a meal, and not only as a breakfast item. It is a bit pricey compared to other cereals, but if you can stock up when it is on special offer, you are onto a winner!

Summary: Find your favourite flavours, and stick to them for a happier, slimmer you!