Kix was the first cereal to feature crispy corn puffs and has remained enduringly popular since its initial launch in 1937.
During that time, the Original Kix Cereal has remained much the same, consisting of crunchy, corn-flavored, and mildly sweet puffs. There has also been a couple of alternative flavors of Kix released within the preceding decades, increasing the popularity of the Kix brand.
Although there are not as many varieties of Kix cereal compared to the likes of Cheerios, the two spin-off Kix cereals have become popular General Mills products in their own right. The 3 flavors of Kix that are currently available are Original, Berry Berry, and Honey. But which Kix Cereal variety is best?
Here, we’ll take an in-depth look at the 3 different Kix flavors and compare the nutritional value of each.
Sections
Original Kix Cereal
The main ingredients found in Original Kix Cereal include whole grain corn, baking soda, brown sugar syrup, sugar, and cornmeal. The whole grain corn is heated and turned into crispy corn puffs. The simple ingredient list would suggest that Original Kix Cereal is generally healthy, as there are no added preservatives or flavorings.
The added sugar may be a slight cause for concern for those looking to eliminate sugar from their diet altogether. However, within a 40g serving, you’ll only find 4 grams worth of sugar, which is relatively low compared to some other sugary General Mills products.
In the same sized serving, you’ll gain 160 calories, 1 gram of total fat, 0.5 gram of polyunsaturated fat, 34 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of sugar, 3 grams of dietary fiber, and 3 grams of protein.
The simple make-up of the Original Kix Cereal also includes a number of vitamins and minerals. A single serving of the cereal can provide you with 60% of your recommended DV (daily value) of iron, and 50% of your DV of folic acid. There’s also plenty of thiamin, vitamin B6, vitamin b12, and zinc found within.
Like all varieties of Kix, the Original is technically gluten-free, as none of its ingredients contain gluten. However, General Mills does not state ‘gluten-free’ on the Kix cereal box as the product may contain traces of gluten. This is because the factory in which it is made also produced gluten-featuring products.
Kix Cereal Original cannot be considered vegan as it features vitamin D12, and it cannot be considered keto, either, as it has a high carbohydrate count.
Berry Berry Kix Cereal
Berry Berry Kix Cereal was the first alternative Kix flavor to be released by General Mills. It was first released in 1992 – well over 50 years after the original crispy corn puffs hit the shelves! Berry Berry features almost the same nutritional value as the Original Kix, except with added berry flavoring.
The berry flavoring in Berry Berry Kix comes from fruit juice color, citric acid, and other natural flavorings. This combination creates a mild berry flavor and adds sweetness to the cereal itself. These juice extracts also create the darker shade of Kix, which gives this variety its distinct look.
Other added ingredients to Berry Berry Kix include vegetable juice, tricalcium phosphate, and canola oil. This is mixed with the standard ingredients of cornmeal, whole grain corn, and baking soda. No high fructose corn syrup is used in this variety.
The nutritional value remains much the same, given that Berry Kix also contains 17g of whole grains. Specifically, a bowl of Berry Kix contains 160 calories, which is the same as the Original. This variety has 0.5 more monounsaturated fat than the original, however, which takes its total fat count up to 1.5 grams. It also contains more sugar, with 7 grams per bowl.
This variety also contains less fiber and protein, featuring only 2 grams of each. It also features fewer carbohydrates, with only 28 grams per serving.
Honey Kix Cereal
Honey Kix Cereal was added slightly later to the crispy corn puffs fold, having first hit shelves back in 2009. Since then, it has grown to be a popular General Mills product. Like other Kix cereals, and according to the Kix slogan, Honey Kix Cereal is ‘kid tested’ and ‘parent approved’. As far as honey breakfast cereals go, Honey Kix delivers some degree of wholesome goodness.
Real honey is used to create the sweet and crunchy outer layer of Honey Kix cereal – no artificial colors or flavorings are used. To further add to its taste, caramel color is also used. Apart from these additions, the ingredient list remains much the same as the other Kix varieties.
In a 1 1/2 cup or 40 gram serving of these wholesome grains, you’ll gain 160 calories. Despite its honey addition, the carbohydrates level remains unaffected at 34 grams – the exact same as the Original Kix variety. The fiber and protein count also remains the same, at 3 grams each.
The honey and caramel content does up its sugar count slightly, however, as the cereal contains around 7 grams of it per serving. Plus, Honey Kix contains just as many vitamins and minerals as other varieties, including vitamin E (mixed tocopherols), iron, zinc, and folic acid, amongst others. The honey content also adds to the riboflavin count of this product.
FAQs
How is Kix Cereal made?
Kix production starts with the whole grain corn, which is doused in water and then pulverized. The corn then enters an extruder where it is cooked. After which, the Kix goes into a machine called a die, where it is formed into its classic shape.
Kix Official Cereal was the first cereal type to ever be made using this method. It inspired other cereals, such as Cheerios, to follow.
Do General Mills still make Berry Berry Kix?
Despite the rumors, Berry Berry Kix has not been discontinued, and General Mills still creates and sells this popular alternative to the Orginal Kix product. If you’re struggling to find Berry Berry Kix anywhere, you can use General Mills’ product locator.
Which Kix flavor is the healthiest?
Both the Berry Berry Kix and the Honey Kix varieties feature more sugar than the Original. Although neither features an unhealthy amount of sugar, they still feature a significant amount to be considered unhealthy to some. If you’re trying to avoid sugar in your diet, we’d recommend opting for Kix Original.
Are Corn Pops the same as Kix?
Kix and Corn Pops are, of course, different cereals; Kix is owned by General Mills, while Corn Pops are made by Kellogg’s. These cereals do feature some similarities, however, including their porous surface, corn-based ingredients, and spherical shape.
Is Kix cereal suitable for toddlers?
Kix cereal is a good option for toddlers as, once they hit the milk, the cereal softens up, making them easy to chew and swallow. This is why the Kix slogan says ‘kid tested’.
Conclusion
The ‘kid tested’ cereal Kix Original has stood the test of time in providing a moderately nutritious and definitely taste breakfast option, for kids and adults alike. Kix Original contains the most simple ingredient list, with little more than whole-grain corn and cornmeal used.
Berry Berry Kix and Honey Kix cereals add a little more excitement to the breakfast cereal, with cereal ingredients that add to the overall sugar and total fat count. Despite these slight changes, the nutritional value of each variety isn’t miles apart, and wholesome goodness can certainly be found in each and every bowl of Kix.