Back to early breakfasts with Special K ! (review)

Well, that's it - another summer done and dusted. It's time to set the alarm and drag our feet in the mornings as we get ready to head back to school and work. Special K have helped to give us a slight incentive to get out of bed earlier than we'd like to by sending us through a selection of their lovely new products. 

I was actually pleasantly surprised by the range. I tend to associate Special K with lower fat products designed to help you lose weight - more virtuous than indulgent or exciting - but these new products, launched last month, promote the brand’s ‘Live in Colour’ campaign, encouraging women to live a life full of variety, choice and fun.

 

Leading the charge is Tess Daly’s Recipe, a blend of Special K with red apple, almond and vanilla flavour chosen by Tess herself. The Strictly presenter, who has her face on the cereal box, was involved in the cereal-making process from the get go, assessing different options and being very clear about the taste she wanted. The final flavour decisions were even made at her home. She's done a great job - the different flavours and textures really complement each other.

Although I must admit that I'm rather partial to the totally moreish Chocolate & Hazelnut Granola too. There's something that just seems incredibly naughty and decadent about eating chocolate for breakfast so this appeals to my inner rebellious child ! For a purely healthy (but nevertheless tasty) option, you might prefer the Special K Protein Crunch -  crunchy clusters made from six wholegrains with a touch of honey and cinnamon that pack in 7.7g of protein per 45g serving. They're rather tasty too !

When the colder weather kicks in (which won't be too long, judging by the current weather), I love a bowl of porridge to start the day or, more often, as a light evening meal on a Sunday night, and these  “super” porridges look great. They contain barley, oats, rye, wheat flakes and spelt, with a selection of fruits, seeds and nuts for added flavour, and they’re high in fibre with seven vitamins and iron. I do have a niggle though - one of my pet hates (that I've mentioned many times here on this blog) is excess packaging and, as you can clearly see in the picture above, the porridge boxes could have been half the size. Not only would this cut down on the cardboard needed to make the packs, it would also take up less space on the lorries delivering them, which would reduce the carbon footprint too. Come on Kellogg's, sort it out ! The porridge itself is lovely though, and comes in three flavours : 5 Grains With Apricot, Linseed and Pumpkin Seed; 5 Grains With Raspberry, Pomegranate and Pumpkin Seed; and 5 Grains With Almond, Pecan and Sunflower Seed.

My absolute favourite product from the range though is not a breakfast option, it's the Red Berry Cereal Bars.

I have tried these before but they  have undergone a recipe overhaul. They now contain a mix of three different cereals for added texture, and are now a source of wholegrain and berries and are lower in sugar. They still taste gorgeous though.

Disclosure : We received the products in order to write an honest review.