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Wellness finds to live better, not perfectly

Unless you’re looking carefully at the ingredients of a food item marketed as breakfast, it could very well be a sneakily packaged dessert. What I mean is, American breakfast foods are full of sugar.

That’s what makes the recent “healthy” cereal play so smart. You’ve got the nostalgia, the sweetness, the convenience, and you’re promising nutritional value. It almost seems too good to be true.

Our reviews editor Sara Hendricks talked to dietitians to find out whether Magic Spoon, the “it” girl of healthy cereal, is actually good for you.

If you’re comparing it to the classics—Fruity Pebbles, Cocoa Puffs, Cap’n Crunch, even Honey Nut Cheerios—it’s an unequivocal yes. If you’re looking at it as a standalone breakfast item, the answer is a bit more nuanced.

Magic Spoon is high in protein (12 to 14 grams), low-carb, grain-free, has no added sugar, and is around 140 to 170 calories per each one-cup serving.

“In my opinion, it is not lacking any ingredients,” says Sequoia Ridley, RDN. “Magic Spoon offers a good amount of macronutrients (carbohydrates, fat, and protein) as well as a decent amount of sodium and fiber.”

But Ridley doesn’t recommend it as an everyday breakfast. She says your diet should also consist of fruit, vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and low-fat dairy 80% of the time, with Magic Spoon being a viable option to fill in the gap.

“Foods that are more processed, or ultra-processed, with additives such as sweeteners, protein powders, and added fibers, can make up that other 20%, which is where Magic Spoon would fall,” Ridley told us. “I would suggest a client have Magic Spoon a couple times per week, but then the other days focus on whole foods such as fruit, whole grains, and lean protein (such as eggs).”

There’s also the worry that it might not fill you up on its own, since it is low in calories and carbs, the things we need to feel full and satiated. So maybe you have a piece of fruit or some toast on the side, if you find that’s the case for you.

I’ve tried Magic Spoon and, like Sara, I liked it. It’s definitely something I’d have some days if I was craving a sweet and easy breakfast. And as Sara pointed out in her review, you can take liberties: She mixed hers with Grape-Nuts —her cereal tastes “tend to veer on the geriatric side” (her words)—which helps supplement the absent carbs and stretch her box a bit longer.

If you’ve got what I’m going to call “dessert cereals” in your cabinet, Magic Spoon is worth a try if you’re interested in a healthier alternative. (That being said, a box of Magic Spoon at Target is $10 compared to $3 for a box of Fruity Pebbles, so it’s not a cheaper option.) If you wake up and enjoy your overnight oats, eggs and toast, or other dietitian-approved breakfast, I’d say you’re probably healthier without making the switch. Unless you want it as a sweet little snack.

Have you tried Magic Spoon? What were your thoughts?

Melanie, editor at Nessie Sightings

First Sightings 👀

If you live somewhere where winter is coming, or are taking a wintry getaway, Alo Yoga just dropped a puffer in sherpa fabric

An antacid that isn’t TUMS (and uses clean ingredients)

I love poring over the REI sales—its latest is a limited time up to 75% off on gear. A few of my favorites: These North Face hiking boots, this NiteRider bike light set, this CamelBak hydration vest, this Marmot insulated flannel hoodie, and this toddler’s tie-dye jogger set.

These National Park passports are very cool, and I wish I had them when I was just up in Joshua Tree

Vuori’s new Sycamore Shirt Jacket looks… so cozy and like something I would wear any time it dips below 65 degrees

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Apparently there are at-home body cupping therapy kits, like this $68 self-cupping one from WTHN

One of my favorite za’atar brands (Homespice) put Kyoord on my radar. They make high-phenolic olive oils, like this one, and if you’re like me, you had to look up exactly what that means. It means the olive oil contains at least 250 mg of polyphenols per kilogram of oil (probably still not helpful), which means it’s loaded with antioxidants and may help with heart and cognitive health

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Shoutout to this week’s Scouts for their tips! Jaime R. recommends lymphatic drainage, with a specific mention of The Tox and The Well. She says she tries to get them once a month or once every two months for body and face

Kevin E. recommends Rainbo, a B Corp certified mushroom company with fungi-forward supplements. He swears by the Lion’s Mane tincture

Hailey J. recommends JOI, a plant-based milk brand, and says the almond and oat are among her favorite products

And Kelly H. recommends Being Frenshe, a personal care brand started by Ashley Tisdale. You can buy the products at Target. Kelly says the hair and body oil products are some of her favorites, as well as the soothing body serum in cashmere vanilla. “It’s literally a hug in a stick!”

👀 Be one of our scouts! 👀

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Person doing an exercise pose on a Bala mat

Chances are you’ve been targeted by Bala on Instagram before. And when we reviewed the bangles, they were definitely the most aesthetically cool of the bunch. Plus, customer reviews give them nearly five stars out of more than 3,000 on Amazon. So people like them, whether it’s for looks or function. (Plus, they have a bunch of other products, like a power ring and a beam.) And we’re giving readers 15% off their purchase with the code NESS15 if you want to see what the hype is about for yourself.

We write for people looking for approachable health and wellness finds and insights. All products and services are independently selected to provide recommendations you can trust. We may receive commission on purchases made from some of our links, but that’s not why we’re here. We just want to help you find good stuff.

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