According to a December report from the US Environment Working Group (EWG), a vast majority of popular cereals marketed to kids in the US, 56 out of 84 in the study don't meet nutritional guidelines for sugar and salt content. Also, a bowlful of some cereals contains more sugar than a Twinkie.

Three-fourths of a cup of Kellogg's Honey Smacks, for example, contains 20g of sugar, compared to 18g in a Twinkie.

The top offenders, including Honey Smacks, Apple Jacks, Froot Loops, and Quaker Cap'n Crunch, all contain more than 41% sugar (by weight). Current nutritional guidelines for ready-to-eat cereals recommend no more than 26% added sugar by weight.

The EWG also found in its evaluation of 84 cereals that many contain more sodium and fewer whole grains than what is recommended.

For parents aiming for more nutrition in their child's breakfasts, an app called Fooducate lets you scan the barcode on food products in the US to get a quick grade from A to F.

Similarly, International Consumer Research & Testing and Consumers International issued their own study a few years ago that involved 32 nations. They found that some cereals sold in the US contained more sodium and sugar than the same brands sold in other countries.

Honey Smacks sold in Germany, Slovenia, and Switzerland had about 40 percent sugar, compared with 55% sugar in the US product. Consumers International hoped the World Health Organization would develop international guidelines that would restrict advertising and marketing to children of foods high in sugar, fat, or sodium.-Relaxnews