How to Count the Calories in Cereal

Calories are needed for the proper function of your brain and body. If you were to eat more calories than your body needs, you will gain weight. If you eat less than your body needs, you will create a deficit and lose weight. According to mayoclinic.com, you can lose about one pound a week by cutting 500 calories from your daily diet. The best way to do this, is to track your intake throughout the day to find a starting average. If you are eating cereal for breakfast, you can count the calories with some basic math skills.

Instructions

• 1

  Peek at the side of the cereal box for the Nutrition Facts panel. Look for Serving Size, and make a mental note of the amount. For example, it might say 1/2 cup or 3/4 cup.

• 2

  Scan the nutrition panel for the caloric content. Look to the right of the word Calories and right below the word Cereal. This will be the amount of calories in one serving. Make a mental note or write this down.

• 3

  Determine how many servings of cereal you are going to eat. Utilize a measuring cup and divvy out this amount into a bowl.

• 4

  Calculate the calories from your cereal. Use three servings at 120 calories per serving for an example. Multiply your servings times the calories to get your total caloric value. This would be three x 120 which comes out to 360 calories.

• 5

  Include additions to your cereal when you are figuring your calories. Milk, raisins, nuts, seeds, sugar and fruit all contain calories that need to be taken into consideration when you are calorie counting. A cup of nonfat milk, for example, contributes over 80 calories by itself.