Cereal and cereal with milk are cost-efficient breakfast foods for delivery of protein, whole grains and shortfall nutrients in US children’s dietary patterns

Abstract Background Limited data have compared the cost-efficiency of delivering whole grains and nutrients from routinely consumed American breakfast foods. Methods Data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used to determine shortfall nutrient intakes, percent daily nutrients, and whole grains in the total diet. In addition, the analysis examined the cost-efficiency of delivering nutrients and whole grains from typically consumed breakfast foods. Results Cereal intake provided meaningful nutrient density to children’s diets and ranked #1 as being cost-efficient for delivery of folate Dietary Folate equivalents (DFE), iron, zinc, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, vitamin A, B12, B6 and E. For every dollar spent on breakfast foods, cereal + milk ranked #2 for cost-efficiency in delivery of calcium. For every dollar spent, cereal + milk provided 622 mg of calcium/day, with milk being the most cost-efficient in delivery of calcium. Cereal and cereal + milk ranked #2 and #5, respectively, for cost-efficiency in delivery of dietary fiber. For every dollar spent, cereal provided 8.9 g of dietary fiber/day, with oatmeal being the most cost-efficient in dietary fiber contribution. Cereal + milk ranked #4 for cost-efficiency in delivery of potassium, and thus, for every dollar spent, cereal + milk provided 800 mg of potassium/day, with milk being the most cost-efficient in delivery of potassium (1370 mg of potassium per dollar spent). Cereal and cereal + milk ranked #3 and #2 for cost-efficiency in delivery of vitamin D, respectively. For every dollar spent, cereal + milk provided 8.0 µg of vitamin D per day, with milk being the most cost-efficient in delivery of vitamin D (i.e., 10.9 µg of vitamin D per dollar spent). Cereal and cereal + milk ranked #2 and #4 for cost-efficiency in delivery of whole grain, respectively and #5 for protein. For every dollar spent, cereal + milk provided 19.1 g of protein per day. Cereal ranked #1 as being cost-efficient for delivery of folate DFE, iron, zinc, niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, vitamin A, B12, B6 and E. Conclusions Cereal and cereal + milk are a cost-efficient option for delivering protein, whole grains, and shortfall nutrients to American children.