In theory, cereals are a great idea. They’re easy-to-prepare, available in a wide array of flavors and varieties, and are nutrient-rich. Or, at least, that's how it's supposed to work. The reality, unfortunately, is that cereals are typically extremely high in carbohydrates, including added sugars. And then there's the problem of additives. Flavorings, dyes and preservatives are stuffed into those boxes, bringing with them tons of potentially harmful side effects. So, the introduction of protein cereals has been an exciting development for the fitness-minded folks out there. But, what should you look for in a protein cereal? To help you sort things out, we're going to compare Special K Protein – offered by cereal giant Kellogg – with our own Naked Nutrition Protein Cereal. Check the Ingredients Anytime you're considering introducing a food or supplement into your routine, you should start with the ingredients list. That's just a good practice. So, what goes in to Special K's Protein? Here's the list, taken directly from the company's website.

• Whole grain wheat
• wheat gluten
• sugar
• rice
• soy protein isolate
• wheat bran
• defatted soy grits
• contains 2% or less of salt, cinnamon, malt flavor, L-lysine monohydrochloride, soy lecithin, sucralose, BHT for freshness
• Vitamins and Minerals: Reduced iron, niacinamide, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin B1 (thiamin hydrochloride), vitamin A palmitate, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), folic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin D3

Now, what goes into Naked Nutrition's Protein Cereal?

• Grass-Fed Whey Protein
• Organic Tapioca Starch

And that's it. Special K, then, uses several different grains which are essentially coated in soy protein. Really, this is very similar to their standard products – except with some protein powder thrown in. Naked Nutrition, however, mixes our high-quality whey protein powder with organic tapioca as a thickener and presses the combo into flakes. Do these differences really matter, though? How does the processing impact the nutrition of the end product? The Numbers To answer the question of nutrition, let's place the two cereals side-by-side. For the sake of simplicity, these numbers will represent one serving of the given cereal without milk.

	Special K	Naked Nutrition
Calories	120	110
Fat	1g	1g
Carbohydrates	19g	2g
Protein	10g	15g

The structure of Special K – which is largely grain-based – results in a cereal that is high in carbohydrates and really not all that rich in protein. For individuals on a high-protein or low-carb diet, then, this really wouldn't work. Naked Nutrition's Protein Cereal, though, would be a much better fit. Low in carbs and high protein, our cereal could easily complement your fitness goals. Other Considerations It's also important to point out that Special K Protein has several ingredients – including wheat and soy – that could cause problems for some people. Naked Nutrition's Protein Cereal is free from any such substances and is made with only natural, GMO-free ingredients. Read More: How to Build Muscle Mass Using Weight Gainer Protein Should You Take Whey Protein Before or After a Workout? Vanilla Whey Protein Powder for a Summer Body