Bran flakes are made from the bran, or outer layer, of whole grains like oats or wheat ... Look for cereals that contain simple ingredients and list whole grains first on the ingredient list.

Within those categories, many of the cereals taste quite similar, and there's a CR Best Buy for each type: Market Pantry Frosted shredded wheat (Target) and Great Value raisin bran (Walmart).

Bran cereal needs something sweet or it'll ... in milk compared to some of the puffs and crisps on this list. Still, shredded wheat on its own is hardly exciting so the frosting does the heavy ...