Lucky Charms, an oat-based cereal with firm marshmallow pieces, may be magically delicious— as the leprechaun in the iconic commercials claims — but it is also quite nutritious.

Refined sugar is prevalent in processed foods, including simple carbohydrates such as white bread, flours, candy and desserts.

Decadent Belgian waffles covered with syrup, berries and whipped cream are the foods that dreams are made of; but are they healthy? People often convince themselves that certain foods are good for them then their nutritional content is at best dubious. But waffles, when prepared correctly, might actually make the cut.

A balanced breakfast makes for a better morning, and it plays an important role in the overall quality of your diet and your day. Eating a healthy morning meal helps your body function at its best, both physically and mentally.

When you're hungry or low on cash, a trip to your storage room may yield a box of expired cereal. Before you crack open the box and dig in, ensure that you're willing to eat old cereal. While safety-wise it should be fine, it may not have the best taste or texture and also could have lost some nutritional value.

Most people enjoy a stack of pancakes for breakfast, but if you’re trying to lose weight or eat healthier, you may consider them a calorie-laden indulgence. However, prepared with whole wheat flour, they can be healthy.

The most popular "nutri-grain cereal" came from the Kellogg's company, which still sells the cereal in Australia and New Zealand but has discontinued it in the United States. Kellogg's Nutri-Grain is billed as "the Iron-man food," promising to promote health and energy for those who eat the cereal.

Although Starbucks is best known for its beverages, the coffee chain also offers several types of foods as well. Starbucks' Perfect Oatmeal uses whole grains, and it can be ordered plain or made-to-order with your choice of nuts, dried fruits or brown sugar.

The first Cracker Barrel Old Country Store opened in 1969 in Lebanon, Tennessee, and it served "quality food at good prices," according to the Cracker Barrel website. The original Cracker Barrel Store gained popularity, with 19 stores opened by 1977.

Kellogg's Froot Loops is a multicolored, sugar-filled processed breakfast cereal marketed to children by the cartoon character Toucan Sam. The front of Froot Loop's colorful packaging boasts fiber and whole grains, but not the high sugar content. Froot Loops does not have the nutritional value of a healthy cereal.

Children choose cereal based on the latest television advertisement or the cute yet useless toy that comes in the box. As a parent, you want them to eat a cereal that offers vitamins and minerals and sends them off on their day feeling full.

Cereals include a wide spectrum of choices. Picking out the right cereal when shopping may be confusing. Start by looking at the nutrition labels to ensure adequate vitamins and minerals are included. Many varieties are fortified with added beneficial vitamins.