We ask for low sugar cereal for the Berkeley Food Pantry (BFP) or lots of reasons like “who needs more sugar in your life?” But did you know that, generally speaking, the lower the added sugar content of breakfast cereal the higher the IRON content? Check out the Nutrition Facts label on the side of the cereal package; IRON is listed under the heavy line halfway down the label. We are looking for an IRON content of 40% Daily Value or more.
Iron is especially important in the diet of toddlers because of their developing brains. Once they are over 1 year they are typically off their good iron sources of babyhood but not yet eating iron-rich older kid foods. The iron in cereal can help bridge this gap. Most all toddlers love learning how to feed themselves, chasing cereal pieces around a highchair tray or fishing them out of a small bag or container. They also tend to like iron-rich cereal in a little milk. Iron-rich cereal is a good food for anybody getting groceries at the BFP.
Thank you to all of our donors of cereal and peanut butter! We love supporting the Berkeley Food Pantry to feed our hungry neighbors! You’ll find us at the table in the Hall of Entrance every Sunday morning. Mary Fujii, Birtukan Beyenssa, & Anne Rowe