Cereals ready-to-eat, MALT-O-MEAL, COLOSSAL CRUNCH
Whole food · Breakfast Cereals
Photo: Wikipedia
Colossal Crunch is a sweetened, ready-to-eat cereal made from corn and oat flakes, coated in a honey and brown sugar glaze. It delivers a satisfying, audible crunch with a pronounced, candy-like sweetness and a hint of malt. Nutritionally, it is a high-energy, high-carbohydrate food with a very low protein content.
Calorie split: 4% protein · 84% carbs · 12% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love its intense, honeyed sweetness and the satisfying crunch that holds up in milk. It's a nostalgic, indulgent treat that feels more like dessert than breakfast, appealing to those with a strong sweet tooth.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
Its very high sugar content (42.5g per 100g) can lead to rapid blood-sugar spikes and subsequent crashes, and it provides minimal satiety due to low protein and fiber. To counteract this, pair a smaller portion with a source of protein or healthy fat, like Greek yogurt or a handful of nuts, to slow sugar absorption and increase fullness.
Key benefits
- Provides a quick source of energy from carbohydrates.
- Convenient and requires no preparation.
- Fortified with essential vitamins and minerals.
- Offers a sweet, comforting taste for breakfast or snacking.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The name 'Colossal Crunch' is a trademark of the Malt-O-Meal company, which was founded in 1919 and is known for its bulk-bag cereals, a format that revolutionized cereal marketing in the 1990s.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 2.5 g |
| Energy | 401 kcal |
| Energy | 1677 kj |
| Protein | 3.6 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 5.3 g |
| Ash | 7.0 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 81.6 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 1.7 g |
| Total Sugars | 42.5 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 0.00 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 30.0 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 5.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 57.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 110 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 806 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 12.5 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.06 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 6.0 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 20.0 mg |
| Thiamin | 1.3 mg |
| Riboflavin | 1.4 mg |
| Niacin | 16.7 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 1.7 mg |
| Folate, total | 667 ug |
| Folic acid | 648 ug |
| Folate, food | 19.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 1121 ug |
| Choline, total | 9.0 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 5.0 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 5.0 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 479 ug |
| Retinol | 475 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 37.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 24.0 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 1667 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 635 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.15 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 133 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 3.3 ug |
| Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) | 3.3 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.00 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 2.2 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.18 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.14 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 1.1 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.40 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.36 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.10 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 1.5 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 1.5 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.69 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.68 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.48 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
FAQ
Is Malt-O-Meal Colossal Crunch the same as a brand-name cereal?
No, it's a store-brand or bulk alternative often compared to General Mills' 'Honey Nut Cheerios' or 'Golden Grahams' due to its sweet, honeyed flavor and crunchy texture, but it is a distinct product from the Malt-O-Meal company.
What makes it 'colossal'?
The name refers to the cereal's large, irregularly shaped flakes and clusters, which are bigger than many standard flake cereals, providing a more substantial crunch.
Can it be part of a healthy diet?
In moderation, as an occasional treat. Its high sugar and low nutrient density mean it should not be a dietary staple. Pairing it with protein and fiber-rich foods can help balance a meal.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 4.01 kcal/g · 4% calories from protein · 1.7 g fiber · 42.5 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 7.33 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.