There is such a thing as too sweet when it comes to breakfast cereal, nutrition experts say. Some popular brands aimed at youngsters have more sugar than three Chips Ahoy cookies or a Twinkie. A new report says more than half of the 84 brands tested have at least 12 grams of sugar per serving -- three teaspoons' worth, per serving.

Only one out of four cereals checked by the Environmental Working Group, a public interest center in Washington, D.C., met proposed federal guidelines for food nutritious enough to be marketed to children. These standards are aimed at reducing childhood obesity.
The three worst cereals -- Kellogg's Honey Smacks, Post Golden Crisp and General Mills Wheaties Fuel -- each have about 20 grams of sugar (five teaspoons) per serving. The American Heart Association recommends that kids swallow less than three teaspoons of sugar per day.

Obesity rates have more than doubled in he past three decades for U.S. children between 2 and 11 and more than tripled for those 12 to 19. Studies also suggest that sugar is habit-forming and that children who eat high-sugar breakfasts have more problems at school because they're more easily frustrated and have a hard time working independently.
In response, the industry says children benefit from vitamins and minerals added to cereal, as well as from milk poured on it. General Mills cites independent data showing people who frequently eat cereal, including kids who eat sweetened ones, tend to have healthier body weights than those who don’t.

Low-sugar cereals: Kellogg's Mini-Wheats (frosted or plain), General Mills Cheerios or Kix (both unflavored), Post Shredded Wheat or Grape-Nuts Flakes and Quaker Oats Oatmeal Squares (cinnamon).

Researcher says: "As a mom of two, I was stunned to discover just how much sugar comes in a box of children’s cereal. Most parents would never serve dessert for breakfast, but many children’s cereals have just as much sugar or more." -- Jane Houlihan, senior vice president, Environmental Working Group

Nutrition expert says: "Cereal companies have spent fortunes on convincing parents that a kid's breakfast means cereal, and that sugary cereals are fun, benign and all kids will eat. Kids should not be eating sugar for breakfast. They should be eating real food." -- Marion Nestle, author and food studies professor at New York University