Hot Cereal

Grains enjoyed as hot cereals include barley, buckwheat, corn grits, oats, rice, and wheat. These cereal grains provide complex carbohydrates, B vitamins, folacin, magnesium, manganese, copper, and zinc. Iron is added to many hot cereals. Fiber content varies with the grain type and degree of processing.

How much cereal equals one portion?

Hot cereal boxes list Nutrient Facts based on one serving. Depending upon the type of cereal, serving size varies from ½ to 1 cup to 1 packet. Measure your usual portion of hot cereal to determine how many portions you have been eating.

What are some concerns about hot cereals for a dialysis diet?

	When selecting hot cereals, make note of the large differences in phosphorus content. Cereals highest in fiber tend to be higher in phosphorus. This is because much of the phosphorus in grain is stored in the bran. Check with your Renal Dietitian to determine which higher fiber hot cereals in what portions can safely be included in your meal plan.
	Instant add-hot-water-and-eat hot cereals and those cooked with added salt contain much more sodium than regular, quick, or instant cereals that require cooking. Check labels to compare sodium content. Aim for lower sodium cereals with less than 140 milligrams sodium per serving.
	Fluid in hot cereal contributes to fluid weight gain. It is not necessary to count hot cereal as fluid, but be sure to count liquids added after cooking. Limit additional fluids such as milk or milk substitutes, coffee, and juice at the meal.
	Double or triple portions can make a significant difference in phosphorus, potassium, and sodium intake. For example, ¾ cup oatmeal may be included as a choice in your meal plan. When the portion is doubled, phosphorus jumps to 266 milligrams; if tripled 399 milligrams. If 2 packets of instant cream of wheat are eaten, sodium jumps from 170 milligrams to 340 milligrams. With the instant brown sugar & maple oatmeal, two packets provide 480 milligrams sodium.
	If milk is added to cereal, limit to the amount recommended in your meal plan. For most people on dialysis, this equals ½ to 1 cup daily. Consider using nondairy replacements such as Mocha Mix® or Rich’s® nondairy creamer, or unfortified rice milk. These nondairy milk replacements are much lower in potassium and phosphorus than milk.

See the charts below to compare hot cereals and milk and nondairy milk substitutes:

Hot Cereal Nutrient Comparisons:

Cereal	Calories	Protein, g	Carbo- hydrate, g	Fiber, g	Na+, mg	K+, mg	PO4, mg
Barley, cooked, Erewhon®, ¾ cup	125	3	25	1.1	0	97	98
Buckwheat groats (kasha), cooked, ¾ cup	137	5	30	3	6	131	104
Corn grits, regular and quick, cooked without salt, ¾ cup	110	3	24	.5	0	40	22
Corn grits, regular and quick, cooked with salt, ¾ cup	110	3	24	.5	404	40	22
Oats, regular, quick, or instant cooked, without salt, ¾ cup	109	5	19	3	1	98	133
Oats, regular, quick, or instant cooked, with salt, ¾ cup	109	4	20	3.5	280	99	134
Oatmeal, instant Quaker®, 1 packet	130	5	22	3	95	125	168
Oatmeal, maple & brown sugar, instant Quaker®, 1 packet	160	4	33	3	240	115	149
Oat bran cereal, cooked, ¾ cup	121	7	18	6.4	1	187	233
Cream of Rice, cooked, without salt, Nabisco®, ¾ cup	112	2	26	.2	0	57	22
Cream of Rice, cooked, with salt, Nabisco®, ¾ cup	112	2	26	.2	322	57	22
Brown rice cream, cooked, Erewhon®, ¾ cup	125	3	26	.3	23	159	77
Cream of wheat, regular cooked, Nabisco, ¾ cup	112	3	25	1.1	0	50	22
Cream of wheat, quick, cooked, Nabisco®, ¾ cup	75	2	16	.8	60	26	60
Cream of wheat, instant, Nabisco®, 1 packet	100	3	21	1	170	30	20
Farina, cooked, ¾ cup	87	3	19	2.4	1	23	21
Farina, cooked, with salt, ¾ cup	87	3	19	2.4	575	22	21
Malt-O-Meal® quick, cooked, ¾ cup	120	3	28	1	0	40	40
Malt-O-Meal®, maple brown sugar, cooked, ¾cup	220	4	51	1	10	80	60

* K+ is the symbol for Potassium, *PO4 is the symbol for Phosphorus, *Na+ is the symbol for Sodium

Bolded numbers denote highest sodium, potassium, phosphorus and fiber cereals. Check with your Renal Dietitian to determine if these cereals may be included in your meal plan.

(click here for a printer-friendly format of the table above.)

Comparison of Milk and Milk Substitutes:

Milk or Milk Substitute 4 ounce (1/2 cup) portions	Calories	Protein, g	Carbo- hydrate, g	Fat, g	Na+, mg	K+, mg	PO4, mg
Rich's® Coffee Rich liquid nondairy creamer	184	<1	18	12	72	53	52
Rich's® Coffee Rich Light liquid nondairy creamer	95	<1	9	6	38	119	54
Mocha Mix® liquid nondairy creamer	152	0	10	13	56	152	72
Coffeemate® fat-free liquid nondairy creamer	200	0	48	0	160	0	0
Rice Dream® enriched, rice based nondairy beverage	60	.5	14	1	45	17	60
Westsoy® organic, plain, unsweetened soy milk	45	4.5	2.5	2.2	15	150	unknown
Westsoy® Smart Plus plain soy milk	95	5.5	11	2.5	45	185	100
Westsoy® Rice Drink, plain	50	.5	9	1.2	30	unk	40
Whole milk	75	4	6	4	60	184	114
Reduced fat milk 2%	61	4	6	2	61	188	116
Lowfat milk 1%	51	4	6	1	62	190	117
Nonfat (skim) milk	43	4	6	<1	63	202	124

Bolded numbers denote high values for these nutrients.

(click here for a printer-friendly format of the table above.)

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