If you are one of those who loves to start the day with a bowl of cereal, you have likely come across vector cereal.
Vector cereal is one of the most popular breakfast cereals produced by the Kellogg Company. It is made from a combination of rice, whole-grain wheat, sugar, and oats and is fortified with various vitamins and minerals.
The cereal comes in three main flavors, i.e., meal replacement, maple crunch cereal and apple cinnamon crunch.
And while Vector cereal tastes crunchy, sweet and delicious, is it healthy for you?
Short answer: Vector cereal is not very healthy for you as it is high in sugar content and contains unhealthy ingredients like vegetable oil and BHT. Though, it can be a part of a balanced diet in moderation.
Let’s dive deeper into Vector cereal, including its ingredients, protein and fiber content, downsides, and more.
Also read: Are Triscuits Healthy? The Truth About These Crackers
Ingredients in Vector cereal
Here are the key ingredients you would find in Vector cereal flavors.
| Vector cereal flavor | Ingredients |
|---|---|
| Meal replacement | Rice, Whole grain wheat, Sugars(sugar, corn syrup, blackstrap molasses, honey, malted barley syrup), Roasted soybeans, Vegetable oil, Soy protein concentrate, Whole grain oats, Rice flour, Salt, Natural flavor, Wheat flakes, Cinnamon, Baking soda, Soy lecithin, and vitamins and minerals. |
| Maple crunch cereal | Whole grain whole wheat flour, Sugars (sugar, blackstrap molasses), Soy protein, Rice flour, High amylose corn starch, Whole grain corn flour, Wheat bran, Natural flavor, Vegetable oil, Salt, Turmeric, Annatto, Calcium carbonate, Stevia leaf extract, Vitamins and minerals |
| Apple cinnamon crunch | Whole grain whole wheat flour, Sugars (sugar, blackstrap molasses), Soy protein, Rice flour, High amylose corn starch, Whole grain corn flour, Wheat bran, Natural flavor, Vegetable oil, Salt, Turmeric, Annatto, Calcium carbonate, Stevia leaf extract, Vitamins and minerals |
Let’s know a little about some of the ingredients from Vector cereal.
Sugar: Sugar is one of the main ingredients in Vector cereal. It uses a variety of sugars like table sugar, corn syrup, blackstrap molasses, honey and malted barley syrup.
We will know more about these sugars in the Vector cereal downsides section.
Vegetable oil: It is a type of oil derived from vegetables. However, what vegetable oil is used in Vector cereal is not specified.
Soy lecithin: It is a natural emulsifier derived from soybeans that help to keep the ingredients in a food product from separating. It also makes the food more shelf-stable.
High amylose corn starch: It’s a food additive made from corn starch that gives the cereal a crispy texture and a longer shelf life.
Annatto: It is a natural food color made from the seeds of the achiote tree. This color gives the Vector cereal the yellow and orange color.
Stevia leaf extract: It is a natural sweetener made from the stevia plant leaves.
How much fiber is in Vector cereal?
Vector cereal is a moderate source of dietary fiber containing 3.3g per serving(55g) in a meal replacement, 4g per serving(44g) in maple crunch and apple cinnamon crunch.
Fiber is one of the most important part of your breakfast. It helps to promote digestion, regulate blood sugar levels and promote the feeling of fullness.
As per guidelines, the daily recommended fiber intake for adults is 30g daily.
Consuming a single serving of Vector cereal can provide around 11 to 13% of the daily value.
Though this may not sound like a lot, it can help you feel satisfied for some time.
Here is a table showing the comparison of the fiber content of Vector cereal to other popular breakfast cereals:
| Cereal brand | Serving size(g) | Fiber(g) |
|---|---|---|
| Vector meal replacement | 55 | 3.3 |
| Vector maple crunch | 44 | 4 |
| Vector apple cinnamon crunch | 44 | 4 |
| Quaker Harvest crunch original | 45 | 4 |
| Cinnamon toast crunch cereal | 31 | 2 |
| Chex gluten free cinnamon cereal | 40 | 2 |
| Jordans morning crisp cereal | 55 | 3 |
| Oatmeal crisp almond | 58 | 5 |
| Lucky charms cereal (original) | 27 | 2 |
How much protein is in Vector cereal?
Vector cereal is a moderate to good source of protein, depending on the flavor you choose.
The meal replacement flavor is a moderate source of protein containing 5.7g per serving(55g). While maple crunch and apple cinnamon crunch are good protein sources, containing 10g per serving(44g).
The protein in Vector cereal comes from healthy ingredients such as whole-grain wheat, whole oats, roasted soybeans, and soy protein.
If you are looking to increase your daily protein intake, Vector cereal can be a good breakfast option. Particularly the maple crunch and apple cinnamon crunch flavors.
Here is a table showing the comparison of the protein content of Vector cereal to other popular breakfast cereals:
| Cereal brand | Serving size(g) | Protein(g) |
|---|---|---|
| Vector meal replacement | 55 | 5.7 |
| Vector maple crunch | 44 | 10 |
| Vector apple cinnamon crunch | 44 | 10 |
| Quaker Harvest crunch original | 45 | 5 |
| Cinnamon toast crunch cereal | 31 | 1 |
| Chex gluten free cinnamon cereal | 40 | 2 |
| Jordans morning crisp cereal | 55 | 5 |
| Oatmeal crisp almond | 58 | 6 |
| Lucky charms cereal (original) | 27 | 2 |
How much sodium is in Vector cereal?
Vector cereal is a moderate source of sodium, containing 212mg per serving in meal replacement flavor. The other two flavors( maple crunch and apple cinnamon crunch ) contain 160mg of sodium per serving.
The American Heart Association recommends limiting daily sodium intake ideally to 1500mg a day for adults.
A single serving of Vector cereal contributes 14% towards this recommended limit, making it a suitable breakfast option, particularly for individuals on a low-sodium diet.
Here is a table showing the comparison of the sodium content of Vector cereal to other popular breakfast cereals:
| Cereal brand | Serving size(g) | Sodium(mg) |
|---|---|---|
| Vector meal replacement | 55 | 212 |
| Vector maple crunch | 44 | 160 |
| Vector apple cinnamon crunch | 44 | 160 |
| Quaker Harvest crunch original | 45 | 35 |
| Cinnamon toast crunch cereal | 31 | 180 |
| Chex gluten free cinnamon cereal | 40 | 250 |
| Jordans morning crisp cereal | 55 | 5 |
| Oatmeal crisp almond | 58 | 125 |
| Lucky charms cereal (original) | 27 | 170 |
Is Vector cereal a good source of vitamins and minerals?
Vector cereal is fortified with various nutrients, which makes it a good source of several vitamins and minerals.
In fact, Vector meal replacement flavor is marketed as packed with 22 vitamins and minerals.
These vitamins and minerals include vitamins A, E, and C, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, B6, folate, biotin pantothenate, manganese, copper, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, zinc, and iodide.
However, the meal replacement flavor doesn’t contain good levels of calcium, but the other two flavors provide 15% of the daily calcium value.
Overall, Vector cereal is a nutrient-packed breakfast option.
Are there any downsides to Vector cereal?
Up to this point, you learned about only the positive side of Vector cereal, but it’s also important to know its negative side.
Here are the 3 downsides of Vector cereal.
1. It is high in sugar
Vector cereal is high in sugar containing 12g per serving in all three flavors. That’s 3 teaspoons of sugar in every bowl of Vector cereal.
However, it is unclear how much of this sugar is naturally occurring, i.e., coming from the ingredients and how much is added.
Vector cereal contains sugar in various forms, such as table sugar, honey, corn syrup, blackstrap molasses and barley malt syrup.
According to the American heart association, the daily sugar intake limit for men is 36g, while for women is 24g.
Consuming just a single serving of Vector cereal provides 33% of the daily sugar limit for men and 50% for women.
Furthermore, most people add sugar from their side, increasing the sugar content even more.
2. It has a vegetable oil
Vector cereal uses vegetable oil as one of the ingredients.
While vegetable oils are not necessarily bad for health, they are often added to processed foods and add significant empty calories.
Moreover, the ingredients label does not disclose what type of vegetable oil has been used in Vector cereal.
3. It contains BHT
BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) is a synthetic antioxidant often used as a preservative in processed foods.
While the food authorities deemed BHT as safe, there is some evidence to suggest that it may negatively affect health.
For example, studies on animals have shown that BHT can have toxic effects on the liver, lungs, kidneys and reproductive system[1].
It might also damage healthy cells and cause a decrease in potassium levels[2].
However, the amount of BHT in Vector cereal might be within the safe limits of regulatory agencies.
Still, it is important to know the health risks associated with consuming BHT regularly, especially in large amounts.
Is Vector cereal good for weight loss?
Vector cereal is not ideal for weight loss due to its high sugar content and ingredients like vegetable oil.
However, because it contains protein and fiber, you can consume it in moderation as a part of a balanced diet.
If you want to lose weight, watch out for breakfast cereals with high protein, fiber, and zero or less sugar.
Remember that weight loss doesn’t depend on one specific food but on your overall diet and many other factors, such as regular exercise and adequate sleep.
Is Vector cereal good for muscle building?
Vector cereal, especially the maple crunch and apple cinnamon crunch flavor, can be considered a good choice for muscle building.
Both flavors have 10g of protein per serving(44g).
And when consumed with 200ml of skim milk, the protein content increases to 16-18g, making it a good option for muscle building.
However, relying solely on Vector cereal for muscle building might not be a good idea.
Consuming a well-balanced diet high in protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats is essential to building muscle effectively.
Is Vector cereal gluten-free?
Vector cereal is not gluten-free as it contains wheat as the main ingredient, a major gluten source.
It is also unsuitable for individuals sensitive to soy and soy-related food products.
Is Vector cereal vegan?
Vector cereal meal replacement is not vegan-friendly as it contains honey derived from bees. The other two flavors(maple crunch and apple cinnamon crunch) do not contain honey.
However, the Vector cereal flavors contain sugar, which most strict vegans don’t consider vegan-friendly due to mixing with animal bone char to achieve white color.
So as long as you are okay with the sugar, the maple crunch and apple cinnamon crunch flavors can be considered vegan-friendly.
Final words
After examining the various components of Vector cereal, it is clear that it has both positive and negative aspects to consider.
On the positive side, Vector cereal is made from whole-grain wheat. It is a moderate source of fiber and a good source of protein, vitamins, and minerals.
However, on the negative side, it is high in sugar content, has vegetable oil and contains BHT(a potentially harmful preservative).
So overall, Vector cereal is not a very healthy breakfast choice. Still, it can be part of your breakfast in moderation.
Furthermore, despite some downsides, Vector cereal is a nutritionally better choice compared to most other breakfast cereals.
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