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Around our house, cereal is rarely a breakfast food. Oh sure, the top of the refrigerator is full of boxes of cereal; it's just that cereal is more likely to be eaten dry as a snack rather than in a bowl with milk.

When Cordy was a baby starting on solid foods, we gave her Cheerios just like many parents do. After all, they're marketed as a perfect food for babies learning to eat solids. They are whole grain, low-sugar, have that little hole in the middle and dissolve quickly in the mouth to prevent choking. While she was intrigued at first, she quickly lost interest in her "o's" and replaced them with foods with more flavor.

We got a box of Fruity Cheerios a few weeks ago, and I wondered if Cordy would even give them a second glance. I opened the box and tried a handful first (mommy has the right to first taste tests), and I was surprised by the pleasant, fruity flavor. They had a good flavor - sweet, but not too sweet. While eating them, I also noticed that they didn't make my fingers sticky like some sweet cereals do. I offered them to Cordy, and she took a few minutes to examine the colorful o's before hesitantly placing one in her mouth. After she processed the taste, she quickly put her hand back into the box for seconds, thirds and more. We have a snack-time winner!

I'm glad we now have another snack option in the house. I'm also happy that, unlike animal crackers or other sweet treats, the Fruity Cheerios are healthier than many options. They are still made from whole grains, and have 25% less sugar than other fruit-flavored cereals. They're also made with real fruit juice, and have all the vitamins and minerals of the regular Cheerios. So while I will still continue to offer fresh fruit as a first snack, it's nice to know I can give her another snack option that is relatively healthy. Of course, she thinks she's getting a treat, and I'm perfectly willing to let her continue thinking that.