BEAR Alphabites Feedback Thread - £150 John Lewis voucher to be won NOW CLOSED

[AngelieMumsnet]

This thread is for the Mumsnetters who have been trying BEAR Alphabites.

Here’s what BEAR say: “Grrreetings, we’re BEAR and we like things as nature intended. We started out 5 years ago making pure fruit ‘yoyos’ for kids, with no added sugar, concentrates or any other nonsense. The more time we spent talking to parents over the years, the more we realised that breakfast was also a real challenge for families- the sugary, salty cereals on offer made us growl, so we set off foraging to find a much better alternative.

Made from just 6 ingredients- five multigrains and our super new ingredient coconut blossom nectar - our crunchy cereal letters contain no refined sugar, salt or any other nonsense. From the flowers of the coconut tree, coconut blossom nectar is a naturally sweet sap that makes our cereal letters delicious and crunchy, and also provides over half of your daily calcium needs (one bowl of Alphabites with 125ml of semi skimmed milk provides over half of an adult’s daily calcium needs, with half of this coming from the nectar alone). It also has a much lower GI than sugar (35 vs 70 for refined sugar), preventing the usual crazy sugar highs and grizzly crashes that come from too much refined sugar. ”

Below are a few questions for you to answer about eating BEAR Alphabites at breakfast time – feel free to add any other thoughts you may have though, we’d love to hear them.

• Do you find breakfast with your DCs to be a challenge, or not? If you do, could you tell us a bit more about why?
• What do your DCs usually eat at breakfast? Are you worried about the refined sugar and salt that most breakfast cereals contain, or not?
• What did your DCs think of Bear Alphabites (taste, packaging, concept)? What did they like or dislike about them?
• Would you buy Bear Alphabites for your DCs in the future? (available in 375g box, RRP £2.69)?
• Would you recommend Bear Alphabites to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?

If you have any photos of your DCs trying BEAR Alphabites, please add them to this thread. Thanks for taking part:

All testers who leave their feedback on this thread will be entered into a prize draw to win a £150 John Lewis voucher and a hamper of delicious BEAR goodies.

Thanks and good luck,
MNHQ

Here's my feedback!!

I've been looking for a healthier alternative for Children's cereals for AGES and trying to find one that ticks the boxes in both packaging and taste has been very difficult until you arrived. So I am very pleased.

Do you find breakfast with your DCs to be a challenge, or not? If you do, could you tell us a bit more about why?

No. My dcs eat most things. However, due to being timepoor I find it difficult to provide variety so it is usually toast or cereals in the mornings. Weekends I like to indulge in eggs or pancakes etc.

• What do your DCs usually eat at breakfast? Are you worried about the refined sugar and salt that most breakfast cereals contain, or not?

Yes, I worry all the time. I get my DCs to eat things like Special K and porridge. I never know, even when reading the ingredients, if the amount of sugar and salt is too much for children. There ought to be clearer and easy to understand of labelling. Like how much sugar is too much and the cereal that you are serving is - tell me how much % of sugar is that from our recommended daily intake?

• What did your DCs think of Bear Alphabites (taste, packaging, concept)? What did they like or dislike about them?

Loved it all. Looks like chocolate to them (and therfore tastes like it -even though it isn't!!).

• Would you buy Bear Alphabites for your DCs in the future? (available in 375g box, RRP £2.69)?

Yes. Although not as often as I would like due to the price. If I can get it sub £2.50 a box then yes.

• Would you recommend Bear Alphabites to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes I would. Many thanks for my samples!!

Do you find breakfast with your DCs to be a challenge, or not? If you do, could you tell us a bit more about why?
We've only been weaning for over a month and i've only recently started introducting breakfast. So far so good, even though I know I need to expand the food range i'm introducing.

What do your DCs usually eat at breakfast? Are you worried about the refined sugar and salt that most breakfast cereals contain, or not?
Fruits has been the main items the few times i've offered breakfast but i want to use cereals and other breakfast staples. I'm definitely concerned about the amount of sugar and salt hidden within cereals and so many other products. It's hard to navigate through what is available for purchase because i know i shouldn't give my little one food with sugar and salt.

What did your DCs think of Bear Alphabites (taste, packaging, concept)? What did they like or dislike about them?
Well, my little one finds the colours and design on the packaging interesting inline with his growing curiousity about the world around him. I must say that I've been very hesistate to actually feed my little one Bear Alphabites because it's not clear what the starting age for it is (i'm hoping to email you for this information). I'm concerned that the pieces wont dissolved easily in his mouth and that he might not chew it enough for it not to be a choking hazard. I love the concept because of the learning opportunity it presents and it's a cereal I want to offer my little one and use with him as part of our 'fun food play' once I know it's okay for his age. I have no doubt that it'll definitely be a 'like' from him.

One thing though, I'm a bit concerned that it's too sweet though it's all natural sugars and i'm more inclined to offer the one with the 5 grains because it's gone 5 grains and i reckon that's healthier than the one with chocolate flavour. Even then, i think it's brilliant that the nectar has got loads of calcium in it. It'll be helpful to investigate the benefit of natural sugars as part of a healthy diet - i get concerned even about the amount of natural sugars in some fruits.

Would you buy Bear Alphabites for your DCs in the future? (available in 375g box, RRP 2.69)?
Yes, i'll. I'll especially stock up if they're ever on sale. The most unique thing this cereal offers for me is the learning opportunity and it's brilliant that it's more on the healthy meal option than most cereals on the market today.

Would you recommend Bear Alphabites to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?
Definitely! It presents a fun learning opportunity with children in terms of the alphabet shapes and also potential healthy eating conversations that come out of choosing it above other cereal. It's tasty ... very tasty; it's got lots of grains in it and i believe this is a good healthy option; and lastly, the nectar contains a lot of calcium (though i wonder if less can be used to reduce its sweetness).

Thanks for the opportunity to try your product, i really enjoyed it; and i look forward to finding out your starting recommended age for the cereal.

Do you find breakfast with your DCs to be a challenge, or not? If you do, could you tell us a bit more about why?

No, it's probably our easiest meal. Our three DCs My eat most things. Weekdays itsusually choice of cereals / toast / fruit / yogurt. Sometimes at weekends we do pancakes or pastries.

What do your DCs usually eat at breakfast? Are you worried about the refined sugar and salt that most breakfast cereals contain, or not?
I do worry but as they get older I find I'm not worrying quite so much. DD favourite is porridge, which I don't think is too bad sugar wise until she adds honey. DS likes weetabix and Dd2 is still in the process of throwing things off her high chair! When I started weaning I was quite horrified at how much sugar there was in cereals aimed at children.

What did your DCs think of Bear Alphabites (taste, packaging, concept)? What did they like or dislike about them?

Loved the packaging, the stuff to read on the back of the box, the letters to spell out words. They really weren't keen on the cocoa variety at all -but then they don't like chocolate cereal anyway.

Would you buy Bear Alphabites for your DCs in the future? (available in 375g box, RRP £2.69)?

Probably the plain variety, yes.

Would you recommend Bear Alphabites to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not

Yes I would as it does seem a healthier option as far as children's cereals go.

Thank you for letting us try them out. The children are loving the magnets

non tester I bought these for the first time last week and two outa three of mine love them. My dd likes to try and spell words onto her spoon so she's takin ages to eat her breakfast and my 17 month old son loves eating them while looking at the box shouting bear, bear ! My 10 year old son thinks there for babies and has refused to eat them again he says they have a taste of the bear dried mango and pineapple to them. I'd buy them again for the other two tho without a doubt.

Hi,

Thanks very much for giving us the opportunity to review the bear cereal.
Package arrived last Thurs, lovely packaging and DS was immediately intersted in the magnets which he started sticking to the radiator. We tried the Cocoa ones on Fri morning, DS found them hard to eat with milk and didn't eat much of his bowl, however he is only just 15 months and often struggles with proper cereal, prefers porridge, weetabix or muesli with milk, has other cereals like Cheerios or A variety of Ella's kitchen just in a bowl try as a snack.
We tried the cocoa ones this way after lunch and he ate a good amount, obviously enjoying them and asking for more.
We tried the plain flavour on Tues, again he struggled with milk, gave them dry as a snack and once again, he devoured them in minutes then requested more.

Now for the questions...

• Do you find breakfast with your DCs to be a challenge, or not? If you do, could you tell us a bit more about why?

I do find breakfast a challenge with him yes,
It's his fussiest meal of the day and he often prefers to eat his cereal dry alongside a cup of milk to drink.

• What do your DCs usually eat at breakfast? Are you worried about the refined sugar and salt that most breakfast cereals contain, or not?

He usually has weetabix with mashed banana, flavoured toddler porridge or muesli with milk, as I said before sometimes he prefers dry cereal to feed himself alongside a cup of milk, and yes I always check nutritional values and am definitely concerned about the salt and sugar content.

• What did your DCs think of Bear Alphabites (taste, packaging, concept)? What did they like or dislike about them?

He was interested in the packaging straight away, pointing at the bear in particular, he obviously liked the taste too because he's asked for more whenever he has had them and does look at the shape of the cereal more than he usually would also.

• Would you buy Bear Alphabites for your DCs in the future? (available in 375g box, RRP £2.69)?

Absolutely, DS enjoyed them and I think the price of a box is actually very reasonable.

• Would you recommend Bear Alphabites to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?

If they asked about a cereal, absolutely, I like that there are no added nasties and DS liked the taste too, so did daddy for that matter he finished DS's bowl off on both occasions of him trying them with milk!

Do you find breakfast with your DCs to be a challenge, or not? If you do, could you tell us a bit more about why?

My children get considerably bored with eating cereal and don't enjoy breakfast as a whole. We also seem to be in a rush for breakfast time.

• What do your DCs usually eat at breakfast? Are you worried about the refined sugar and salt that most breakfast cereals contain, or not?

My children normally have porridge and toast.
Yes I do worry about the high amount of sugar and salt in cereal.

• What did your DCs think of Bear Alphabites (taste, packaging, concept)? What did they like or dislike about them?

My daughter quite enjoyed the design and packaging. She has a sweet tooth in general and enjoyed both flavours of cereal. Preference for the cocoa flavour. My son didn't enjoy the cereal - found them too sweet and couldn't eat a whole bowlful

• Would you buy Bear Alphabites for your DCs in the future? (available in 375g box, RRP £2.69)?

No - too pricey in my opinion.

• Would you recommend Bear Alphabites to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?

I think that it is a great idea and love the packaging and the non-gloss boxes. Looks really stylish. I would recommend people to try - it just didn't suit my whole family. I might try different types of cereal if they bring out a different range and flavour.

ok - testing repotrt upcoming but first i wanted to share a pic of my festival fairy enjoying the boxes of alphabites handed out at the On Blackheath festial last week.

Do you find breakfast with your DCs to be a challenge, or not? If you do, could you tell us a bit more about why?

One of my kids doesn't eat much and eats painfully slow. I worry about how much nutrition we are actually getting into her at breakfast and this is only compounded on a school day as there is less time and I feel it is very important to be sending her in fully fuelled so she lasts 'til lunchtime. The other one will trough anything at any time and regularly has breakfast 2 and 3.

• What do your DCs usually eat at breakfast? Are you worried about the refined sugar and salt that most breakfast cereals contain, or not?

weekdays are porridge, sometimes fruit and yoghurt, sometimes home made bread and ham/cheese (european influence). If we have time I like them to have eggs as they seem to last longer.

• What did your DCs think of Bear Alphabites (taste, packaging, concept)? What did they like or dislike about them?

Neither of them were too fussed on them with milk. I think they were a bit crunchy for the 18 month old who likes his cereals a bit soggy. The 4 year old was confused as to where the 'little letters' (lower case) were as they don't focus on uppercase until after nursery/reception. They troughed them without milk as a snack though. I think you should consider putting out a multipack of single serve bags.

• Would you buy Bear Alphabites for your DCs in the future? (available in 375g box, RRP £2.69)?

possibly, but only when on offer.

• Would you recommend Bear Alphabites to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?

Looks great, great as a snack, seems a bit healthier than some of the other options so good for schoolday rush, Will probably stick to pancakes/eggs/HM bread and ham for leisurely weekends though

Bears arrived and packaging was great. Daughters were very excited to try them out and loved the magnets. Feedback as requested:

• Do you find breakfast with your DCs to be a challenge, or not? If you do, could you tell us a bit more about why?

Not really, they love breakfast

• What do your DCs usually eat at breakfast? Are you worried about the refined sugar and salt that most breakfast cereals contain, or not?

I want my children to eat healthily and will always try to find a healthy option. However I am more lenient at breakfast as I feel they have the whole day to burn off energy therefore calories. They usually have toast and yoghurt or cereal and fruit. Cereal is usually weetabix, rice crispies or coco pops. Yes, it does worry me though and I wouldnt want them to always have cereals.

• What did your DCs think of Bear Alphabites (taste, packaging, concept)? What did they like or dislike about them?

They liked the information on the packaging but thought the box wasnt very colourful or exciting. Youngest dd thought the bear was scary and I didnt like the figleaf and the questions about it! Neither were keen on the plain ones and said they were boring but loved the cocoa ones. They liked the taste and loved that they didnt go soggy in milk and stayed crunchy. They asked for them again as a snack after school without milk and enjoyed them. I liked the concept of the chocolate taste without using the usual ingedients.

• Would you buy Bear Alphabites for your DCs in the future? (available in 375g box, RRP £2.69)?

Probably because the girls have asked for them again but I think the price is too high.

• Would you recommend Bear Alphabites to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?

I would definitely recommend as a healthier cereal option without sugar/salt

• Do you find breakfast with your DCs to be a challenge, or not? If you do, could you tell us a bit more about why?

No, normally breakfast is a calm affair

• What do your DCs usually eat at breakfast? Are you worried about the refined sugar and salt that most breakfast cereals contain, or not?

Pancakes, cereal, tea cakes, toast
I generally buy porridge, weetabix, shreddies or Rice Krispies. DD 13 is the only child who eats cereal that is sweetened. She would add sugar to
Coco Pops if you let her.

• What did your DCs think of Bear Alphabites (taste, packaging, concept)? What did they like or dislike about them?

The younger two didnt like them at all but they don't like cereal other than porridge so that didnt surprise me. Dd 13 thought they were ok but was non plussed, still insisted on adding sugar to them. I think they are nice and they do help stabilise blood sugar for longer.

• Would you buy Bear Alphabites for your DCs in the future? (available in 375g box, RRP £2.69)?

No

• Would you recommend Bear Alphabites to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes, they have less sugar than supermarket Brand Cheerios and more fibre. They would be told that they taste like less sugary Cheerios though.

1. Yes, breakfast is sometimes a battle. The children seem to have worked their way thro' every permutation except for cooked ones (although we do sometimes have those at the weekend!).

1. They always have a fruit and sometimes cereals although recently it's been croissant, pains-au-chocolat or crumpets. We know that children need to start the day well-fuelled with food to get them thro' the long stretch until lunchtime (which in DS's case doesn't start until after 1.00 pm, having left the house at 7.20 am!!). Aware that even though we've always avoided very sugary cereals, we may have caved in with the French pastry approach . In the winter DD does love her porridge though which she has sweetened with summer/autumn fruits stirred in...

1. Afraid to say my two found them overly sweet (as I said 'Cheerios' are about as 'sweet' as they're normally allowed, cereal-wise). Possibly because they're older, they're a bit less flexible particularly as they've become less cereal-oriented with time?

I tried them and thought them okay, particularly when DW told me that a nutritionist had recommended them. I could happily eat them and could imagine that the type of older DCs who eat bowls of cereal at all hours, could possibly be persuaded to adapt to them, healthy as they are! SIL ended up taking the chocolate ones away (my two have never been allowed to have chocolate cereals and these didn't endear them!) to finish off and she loves them, but she is an wholefood/organic type of gal. She said she thought they tasted just like Cheerios too (but the DCs disagreed!).

1. I liked the concept as we're great fans of Bear products (athough if my memory serves me correctly, sure that in the original brief it indicated that we would be getting some other things such as the YoYos in with the boxes of cereals????) generally. The fruity products are stalwarts of the snack cupboard and lunchboxes! The cereal boxes appealed on all sorts of levels - more of a retro feel which will undoubtedly attract parents!

1. No I'm afraid we probably wouldn't as the DCs weren't keen and I really hate buying cereals that either get left or wasted. DW and I would probably eat them but have a sufficient range of cereal products that we like not to be paying a premium for Alphabites. Sorry :-(.

1. Well SIL was keen on them and as she's a relative high earner would imagine that they would make their way into her shopping trolley! I would certainly suggest them as an alternative to friends looking for less sugary/artificial cereal products for their DCs though!

Just a thought. Why not produce the Alphabites without the coconut based
'sweetener' and add something akin to very mini versions of the YoYo Bears??? That would be fun and add a quirky and appealing dimension to them :-).

Thanks for including us in the product trial though. Always good to get the opportunity to try new things!

Now we've been trying them for a few more days I thought I'd add a bit more feedback...

The chocolate ones are more popular here although we do like both. I do think they are maybe slightly sweeter than they need to be though, you could reduce the amount of sugar in them and it wouldn't detract from the taste I don't think.

• Do you find breakfast with your DCs to be a challenge, or not? If you do, could you tell us a bit more about why?

Not really although they do tend to eat the same thing every day.

• What do your DCs usually eat at breakfast? Are you worried about the refined sugar and salt that most breakfast cereals contain, or not?

DD(4) weetabix with coco pops, DS(2) either plain porridge or same as DD. Followed by a platter of fresh fruit which they share. Sometimes toast and jam. I don't like how sugary coco pops are but they don't eat just a bowl of them (maybe half a serving), I feel like the weetabix sort of counters it a bit!

• What did your DCs think of Bear Alphabites (taste, packaging, concept)? What did they like or dislike about them?

When they arrived we tried some straight out of the box and they went down very well. "Can we have some for breakfast tomorrow?" DD asked excitedly. However neither were that keen on them in a bowl with milk :( even the following day, weetabix with the chocolate ones were rejected and even when I sprinkled some coco pops on top they still weren't interested.

• Would you buy Bear Alphabites for your DCs in the future? (available in 375g box, RRP £2.69)?

If they change their mind and eat them, maybe. I'd possibly buy them for myself because they are yummy!

• Would you recommend Bear Alphabites to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?

To be honest it's not the sort of conversation I normally have but if someone asked for cereal recommendations then yes I would.

Hi
Thank you for the opportunity to test the Alphabites. The box was exciting and the magnets are a treat.
I don't have difficulty getting my little one to eat breakfast- she is a fabulous eater and will eat most things. I do have concerns about high levels of sugar and salt in breakfast cereals and sometimes I wonder what companies are thinking aiming these products at children. My child who is a couple of months off turning two years old usually has organic porridge oats, softened in full fat milk overnight and served with homemade fruit puree- apple, mixed berries, banana.
We all tried the Alphabites and from an adult point of view they taste good, are not too sweet, nice and crunchy and keep you going untill lunch. My little one liked the packaging, it is attractive and fun to look at and the alphabet letters are fun as they grow older.She enjoyed the cereal very much and I would be happy to let her eat it.
I can't say there is anything that I dislike about the product and yes, I would buy it in future, perhaps not as a permanent fixture as I like the breakfast she eats but occasionally or on holiday, I would buy it. I would be happy to recommend the cereal, there is nothing to dislike and the concept is great. I haven't heard of coconut blossom nectar before and wonder if the claims have been proven but it wouldn't put me off buying.
Many thanks for the opportunity.

1,) ive always found it a challenge at breakfast as i have seven children and all of them like different foods, i hate chocolate cereals so i try to stay away from them
2) weetabix
golden balls
branflakes
cheerios
toast
occasional fry up
i think almost all cereals have refined sugar so no matter what cereal you have it will be the same unless you chose something like branflakes which are bland
3) most preferred the plain...shockingly as i was expecting them to prefer coca ones, pleasantly surprised how the majority ate these. they did eat the other ones but have asked for me to buy plain again. also one of my daughters ate blueberries with them for extra taste
4) i will buy the plain ones again as comparing the ingredients with asda bought i am shocked at the amount of rubbish that you get in cheap cereal
5)yes i would recommend as i always try to pick the healthier options and share with my family, ok so the price not that cheap but what cereal is these days without buying rubbish bland tasting cereal

We were very excited to try our Bear Alphabites.

We struggle with time for breakfast and I find it difficult to provide something quick but not full of rubbish. Its great to find cereal I can give, guilt free but the dc really enjoy.

The dc liked the flavour although the chocolate one is a little bland. The plain one is quite sweet which is a winner in our house.

The letters are fun and of course they wanted to spell their names with them. They don't go soggy in the milk and are quite filling.

we will definitely buy them again and I have already recommended them to my friends and family.

- Do you find breakfast with your DCs to be a challenge, or not? If you do, could you tell us a bit more about why?
No, breakfast is probably their favourite meal and is normally pretty relaxed.

- What do your DCs usually eat at breakfast? Are you worried about the refined sugar and salt that most breakfast cereals contain, or not?
They usually eat either Rice Crispies, Weetabix, cornflakes, porridge or toast during the week. At weekends they may have croissants or brioche. I do worry about sugar and salt content and check the traffic light scores on the boxes when I buy cereals. I avoid chocolate or particularly sugary, 'unhealthy' cereals - despite a lot of badgering from DS1 when he sees them in the supermarket.

- What did your DCs think of Bear Alphabites (taste, packaging, concept)? What did they like or dislike about them?
They liked them. DS2 is only 2, so didn't verbalise an opinion but he did eat them (although didn't finish a bowl). DS1, who is 4, said he liked them and asked whether we could have them again. I think he thought the chocolate variety was a particular treat as we wouldn't normally buy a chocolate cereal. DH and I ate them too and liked them but thought the non-chocolate variety was quite sweet. The box was interesting - colourful - and we liked the variety of facts and other items of interest on the back.

- Would you buy Bear Alphabites for your DCs in the future? (available in 375g box, RRP £2.69)?
Yes, probably. Maybe not regularly but I'm sure I'll pick up a box occasionally.

- Would you recommend Bear Alphabites to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?
Yes, because the DSs liked them and they seem reasonably healthy.

• Do you find breakfast with your DCs to be a challenge, or not? If you do, could you tell us a bit more about why?

Breakfast is not so much a challenge as a guessing game as to what DSS will decide he does or doesn't like that morning. He has spates of only liking 1 thing, eating it for 3 weeks then just deciding he no longer likes it.

• What do your DCs usually eat at breakfast? Are you worried about the refined sugar and salt that most breakfast cereals contain, or not?

As I said above, DSS is funny about breakfast food, so I tend to buy what he says he'll eat - last week was strawberry granola, the week before was coco pops. I don't like to buy overly sugary cereals and do put my foot down sometimes and denounce certain choices as crap! I don't see why cereals need to be so sweet and sugary. When I was little my favourite cereals we're Start, bran flakes and Shreddies! I think if there weren't so many sweet choices then children wouldn't be so picky.

• What did your DCs think of Bear Alphabites (taste, packaging, concept)? What did they like or dislike about them?

DSS liked the box and the fact they were letters, however he declared the plain ones were "the most mingingest things ever" and didn't eat them as they were just honey Cheerios in disguise (his favourite cereal last month!) I can't get him to try the cocoa flavour. DH and I, however really like both flavours!

• Would you buy Bear Alphabites for your DCs in the future? (available in 375g box, RRP £2.69)?

If DSS had liked them I would have bought them again. Seems the usual price for a box that size.

• Would you recommend Bear Alphabites to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not? I already have as my friend's child loves honey flavoured things so I thought they'd enjoy the Bears.

Do you find breakfast with your DCs to be a challenge, or not? If you do, could you tell us a bit more about why?

One of my dts can be challenging as she sometimes doesn't want to eat anything for breakfast so I end up suggesting about 12 things before she finds something she wants, or she will just eat a small piece of fruit or a tiny piece of toast. She just isn't very hungry in the mornings. it is also a challenge to get her to stay at the table she floats about the kitchen faffing around and I spend a lot of time telling her to sit down. Combination of these 2 things can make breakfast a bit aggravating although it is not every day.

-What do your DCs usually eat at breakfast? Are you worried about the refined sugar and salt that most breakfast cereals contain, or not?

DT1 eats a hearty breakfast of toast/bagels/crumpets with butter and jam or cereal - she likes multigrain shapes or cheerios. She persuaded me to buy the strawberry multigrain shapes but has not eaten them. Also likes yoghurt especially yeo valley.

DT2 eats a random selection of breakfast items which could be on any day: houmous with things to dip in it, boiled egg, raw carrots (by themselves, nothing else), cucumber sandwich, porridge, toast/bagel/crumpet, yoghurt, fresh or tinned fruit,cereal.

Both like croissants or pain chocolat on weekend. Both love cooked breakfasts today they had bacon sandwich and fried egg sandwich. Both love pancakes that is their birthday breakfast.

I am worried about sugar content and try to choose less sugary cereals e.g not sugar frosted or chocolate ones but I don't go as far as reading labels and they do have jam and yoghurt at breakfast time

• What did your DCs think of Bear Alphabites (taste, packaging, concept)? What did they like or dislike about them?

They liked the concept and were keen to try them. They started straight away playing with the magnets but only actually took half of them out of the magnet set and have not played with them since. They were excited to try the cereal as they love yo yos. I gave them a small pot each to have as a snack as it was evening time and neither of them ate the full pot. Next day they were keen to try the cocoa ones. Neither of them liked them unfortunately. They said they were too crispy, not chocolately enough and didn't turn the milk brown. They don't really have chocolate cereal at home but have coco pops on holiday so I think chocolate cereal is seen as a real treat by them and they want it mega chocolatehy! We have tried both the plain ones and the chocolate ones a few times now and they are yet to finish a bowl, say they don't like them and are now refusing to try them again.

They do like the boxes and we chatted a lot about all the things on the back of the boxes, we all learned some new facts and they were genuinely interested in the monsters and found the box much more interesting than any other cereal. but we don't usually have cereal boxes on the table as it creates a physical block to being able to see everyone and have a conversation, I only put the boxes on the table for purpose of dc feedback for this product trial.

• Would you buy Bear Alphabites for your DCs in the future? (available in 375g box, RRP £2.69)?

no because the dcs didn't like them and we aren't going to finish the packets we have unfortunately. I have eaten some of the plain ones, they are nice dry for a snack but as a cereal they are too crispy, very sweet and don't have a flavour, they are a little like sweetened, crispy cardboard and I don't mean that rudely as we buy lots of Bear products, save the cards, send off for the maps etc but none of the family managed to finish a bowl of either of the cereals

• Would you recommend Bear Alphabites to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?

no because the dcs didn't like them.

thank you for giving us the chance to try them!

Forgot to say, thought they would love the letters but they weren't engaged by them.

• Do you find breakfast with your DCs to be a challenge, or not?

Not really. They usually enjoy breakfast and if they don't eat much I know they'll make up for it later in the day.

• What do your DCs usually eat at breakfast? Are you worried about the refined sugar and salt that most breakfast cereals contain, or not?

Toast, bagels, crumpets, muffins or cereal. Occasionally scrambled egg, bacon or pancakes. I wouldn't touch most kids breakfast cereals with a bargepole because of all the sugar.

• What did your DCs think of Bear Alphabites (taste, packaging, concept)? What did they like or dislike about them?

They loved them, especially the cocoa ones. They turned the milk a touch brown which DS1 loved and he also kept getting me to read the word on his spoon (QXLO or similar). He wasn't sure about the bear, but more in a "yes, and?" way than a not liking it way. DS2 ate more than he usually does which was good (18 months). The magnets got a lot of interest at first, but once out of order they found it difficult to tell which letters were which.

• Would you buy Bear Alphabites for your DCs in the future? (available in 375g box, RRP £2.69)?

Yes. We only have cereal about once a week so that's fine for me.

• Would you recommend Bear Alphabites to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?

Yes they're fun and taste nice

Do you find breakfast with your DCs to be a challenge, or not? If you do, could you tell us a bit more about why?
Not really a challenge although DD2 takes her time and prefers fruit for breakfast rather than cereal or toast. DD1 will eat anything, quickly though tends to steer away from chocolately cereal.

• What do your DCs usually eat at breakfast? Are you worried about the refined sugar and salt that most breakfast cereals contain, or not? Not unduly worried about refined sugar since both DDs happily eat "boring" cereal. DD1 likes Malt Wheats, DD2 loves likes Bran Flakes . We don't add sugar. We don't add salt to our other meals (which are mostly cooked using fresh ingredients) so any salt intake they have is probably from cereal or bread.
• What did your DCs think of Bear Alphabites (taste, packaging, concept)? What did they like or dislike about them?

Liked the box. Liked the games and info on the back. Loved the letters...they can both spell, so happily picked out their names and other words. Both liked the taste of the dry cereal, however, DD1 didn't like the fact that the chocolatey-ness from the cocoa variety seems to get washed away in the milk and she couldn't taste it even if she drank the milk. As a result she preferred the plain variety. DD2 kept commenting that the cocoa variety looked like dog treats! But this didn't put her off.

• Would you buy Bear Alphabites for your DCs in the future? (available in 375g box, RRP £2.69)? Would perhaps buy if on offer. Try not to spend more than £1.50 on a boxof cereal as they go through it so quickly. Also, since DDs are both happy with unsweetened cereal, I am a bit loathe to give them anything sweet (natural or otherwise).
• Would you recommend Bear Alphabites to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not? Would recommend if they were trying to wean DCs of sugary breakfasts or looking for something a bit fun not unhealthy.

Do you find breakfast with your DCs to be a challenge, or not? If you do, could you tell us a bit more about why?
Breakfast is fine if it something the DC like!

What do your DCs usually eat at breakfast? Are you worried about the refined sugar and salt that most breakfast cereals contain, or not?
DS1 normally has 50/50 toast with Marmite or jam. DS2 has multigrain porridge mixed with fruit puree.

What did your DCs think of Bear Alphabites (taste, packaging, concept)? What did they like or dislike about them?
DS1 didn't like that the chocolate ones made the milk chocolately! (Same as me with flavoured milk I'm afraid). He did however like the plain ones. He liked the packaging and loved the magnets.
DP tried the chocolately ones and said they were okay, he usually eats sugary cereal but has gone back for more bowls so cannot be bad.

Would you buy Bear Alphabites for your DCs in the future? (available in 375g box, RRP £2.69)?
Possibly, it would depend on the price comparison to what I normally buy.

Would you recommend Bear Alphabites to friends or relatives? If so, why? If not, why not?
Yes, they seem a good alternative for finding a cereal with no refined sugar.