Special K facts for kids
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Kellogg's Special K Original – Toasted Rice Cereal, with milk
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| Owner | Kellogg's |
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| Introduced | 1955 |
Special K is a popular brand of breakfast cereal and meal bars. It is made by a company called Kellogg's. This cereal first came out in the United States in 1955. Special K is mainly made from grains like lightly toasted rice, wheat, and barley. For a long time, Special K was sold as a low-fat cereal that could help people lose weight.
Contents
What Was the Special K Challenge?
The Special K brand used to promote something called the "Special K Challenge." The idea was to help people lose about six pounds in two weeks. You would do this by eating certain Special K products throughout the day.
How the Challenge Worked
- Your first meal would be a serving of any Special K cereal. You would add 2/3 cup of skim milk and a side of fruit.
- For your second meal, you could have a Special K Protein Meal Bar, a Special K Protein Shake, or another serving of Special K cereal. Again, you would add 2/3 cup of skim milk and a side of fruit.
- Your third meal of the day could be eaten normally. There were no Special K rules for this meal.
- You could also have two Special K snacks during the day. These included Special K Protein Meal Bars, Special K Protein Shakes, and other Special K snacks.
- For any extra snacks, you could eat fruits and vegetables. You could also drink regular beverages.
Thoughts on the Challenge
Some people felt that this plan might not give enough food or variety. This could make it hard for people to stick with the diet. They also thought the plan did not offer enough protein, fiber, fruits, or vegetables. The challenge also did not teach about healthy eating habits or exercise. These are important for losing weight and keeping it off.
How Nutritious is Special K?
In the United States, a 31-gram serving of Special K Original cereal has 120 calories. Each serving also contains 0.5 grams of fat, 23 grams of carbohydrates, 4 grams of sugar, and 6 grams of protein. In the United Kingdom, Special K Original has 17% sugar. This means a 30-gram serving has 5 grams of sugar.
Special K and Weight Studies
In the UK, an advertising campaign talked about a study. This study was done with Loughborough University. Overweight volunteers replaced two meals a day with a bowl of Special K cereal. After two weeks, the study found that up to 75% of the people had slimmer waists and hips. The scientists from the university believed this was mostly due to losing fat.
Different Kinds of Special K
Special K cereal comes in many different flavors and types.
Special K Cereal in the US
In the United States, there are fifteen different kinds of Special K cereal. Some popular ones include:
- Original
- Chocolatey Delight
- Red Berries
- Vanilla Almond
- Fruit & Yogurt
- Brown Sugar Gluten Free
- Protein
Special K Cereal in the UK & Ireland
In the UK and Ireland, Special K cereal comes in ten different varieties. These include:
- Original
- Red Berries
- Hazelnut & Almond
- Milk Chocolate
- Yoghurty
Special K Meal Replacements
In the US, Special K offers products that can replace a meal. These come as protein meal bars and protein shakes.
Protein Meal Bars
There are eleven different kinds of Special K Protein Meal Bars. Some flavors are:
- Mocha Crunch Protein
- Chocolate Peanut Butter
- Strawberry
- Double Chocolate
- Chocolatey Chip
Protein Shakes
There are eight different kinds of Special K Protein Shakes. Some flavors include:
- Milk Chocolate
- Strawberry
- French Vanilla
- Rich Chocolate
- Strawberry Banana
Special K Snacks
Kellogg's also makes Special K snacks. These are often sold as lower-fat options compared to regular snacks. There are several types of Special K snacks. These include Special K Protein Granola Bars, Special K Breakfast Shakes, and Special K Cracker Chips.
Protein Granola Bars
There are four kinds of Special K Protein Granola Bars. These are:
- Chocolatey Peanut Butter
- Dark Chocolate
- Greek Yogurt & Fruit
- Almond Honey Oat
Breakfast Shakes
There are five kinds of Special K Breakfast Shakes. Some flavors are:
- Chocolate Mocha Coffee House
- Vanilla Cappuccino Coffee House
- Chocolate Delight
- Red Berries
Cereal Bars
There are two kinds of Special K Cereal Bars:
- Red Berries
- Chocolatey Pretzel
Cracker Chips
There are five kinds of Special K Cracker Chips. These include:
- Sea Salt
- Cheddar
- Sour Cream & Onion
- Barbecue
Popcorn
There are two kinds of Special K Popcorn:
- Kettle Corn
- White Cheddar
Crackers
There is one kind of Special K Crackers:
- Multi-grain
Special K Drinks
Kellogg's has also made drinks under the Special K brand.
Special K2O Protein Water
Special K2O Protein Water was a drink released in September 2006 by the Kellogg Company. It came in different flavors and was sold to help with weight control and weight loss. The product was re-launched in 2007 but is no longer available.
A 16-ounce bottle of K2O had 5 grams of protein and 50 calories. It also had 10% of the daily value for calcium. It was part of "The Special K Challenge" advertising. In 2007, when it was re-launched, it also included 5 grams of fiber and vitamins B3, B6, and B12. This drink was also made as a powder that you could mix with water. The powdered mix had 30 calories, 5 grams of fiber, and 5 grams of protein per serving.
Special K Protein Shakes
Kellogg's also makes Special K Protein Shakes. These are different from the Special K2O Protein Water.
