When many people want a bite to eat, regardless of whether it is for breakfast or just a quick snack in the afternoon, they grab a bowl of cereal. It is something that we grew up thinking was nutritious and perhaps one of the perfect meals for any of us to eat.

When you really stop to think about it, cereal is popular because it is convenient and it typically tastes great. It also claims to have all of the nutrients we need without too much sugar so that we can stay full without gaining too much weight.

Photo: Pexels/Andrea Piacquadio

Of course, there is always some debate on what type of food is healthy and what type is not healthy. It seems as if the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has something to say on the subject. They recently came out with a short list of certain brands of cereal that should not be listed as healthy.

In order for a product to be labeled healthy, they need to meet certain dietary guidelines for those living in the United States. They also have to line up with the updated nutrition facts label found on many products.

Perhaps that is why some of the cereals that were at one time considered healthy are now on the naughty list. It seems as if some of those "healthy" cereals are not all that healthy after all.

Photo: Wikimeida Commons

In order for a cereal to be deemed healthy by the FDA, it needs to contain the following:

* 3/4 ounces of whole grains
* no greater than 1 gram of saturated fat
* no greater than 230 milligrams of sodium
* no greater than 2.5 grams of added sugars

The FDA has been looking into these new standards after the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. They are trying to improve nutrition and physical activity as well as to reduce diseases associated with diet by 2030.

In a press release, Xavier Becerra, the secretary to the US Department of Health and Human Services, said: "Healthy food can lower our risk for chronic disease. But too many people may not know what constitutes healthy food." They went on to say that the FDA is trying to educate more Americans to improve their health outcomes.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Here are some of the cereals that were considered healthy at one time but are now not included on that list.

1. Raisin Bran
2. Corn Flakes
3. Honey Bunches of Oats Honey Roasted
4. Frosted Mini Wheats
5. Life nutrition
6. Special K
7. Honey Nut Cheerios