Think Your Cereal Is Healthy?
Nothing is more infuriating that hearing well intentioned people making an effort to eat the most important meal of the day only to be doing more harm than good.
If your favourite breakfast in the morning is cereal, then pay attention. The following are my most despised cereals and their first 4 ingredient:
1. Branflakes: Wheat Bran (87%), Sugar, Barley Malt Flavouring, Salt
Sugar: 18 grams/ 100 grams
2. Special K: Rice, Wheat (Wholewheat, Wheat Flour), Sugar, Wheat Gluten
Sugar: 17 grams of sugar/ 100 grams
3. Rice Crispies: Rice, Sugar, Salt, Glucose-Fructose Syrup
10 grams of sugar/ 100 grams
4.Quaker Oats Granola: Rolled Oats (55%), Sugar, Softened Raisins (Raisin 9.8%, Humectant: Glycerol), Glucose Syrup
26 grams of sugar/ 100grams
5. Nutrigrain Cereal bars: Cereals (34%) (Wheat Flour, Whole Oats, Wheat Bran), Glucose-Fructose Syrup, Sugar, Strawberries Puree from Concentrate (8%),
12 grams of sugar in 37 grams (1 bar)
With sugar being in the top four ingredients many cereals just simply don’t cut it as a great way to start the morning, unless of course you were looking to have dessert for breakfast.
Are all cereals bad? Not necessarily but it is important to read your labels and understand that even a good cereal isn’t likely to be enough for breakfast.
Sugar isn’t the only thing to look for. Many cereals may be low in sugar but contain additives, oils and various preservatives.
It’s not only important to eat breakfast but it’s essential to include a good source of protein. People who include protein as part of their breakfast feel fuller for longer, are less likely to have cravings and have more energy throughout the day.
What to have instead cereal? Here are 7 suggestions, one for every day of the week.
1. Porridge (not the instant kind)
2. Eggs and smoked salmon
3. Rye wholegrain bread with nut butter such as peanut butter or almond butter
4. Yoghurt with crushed nuts and berries
5. Homemade berry smoothie with whey protein
6. Whey protein shake with a piece of fruit
7. Cottage cheese with fruit
Many people claim they don’t have time to eat a proper breakfast and cereal is nice and quick, the truth is the suggestions above don’t take more than 5 minutes to prepare. Getting up 5 minutes earlier to ensure your body gets the best start to the day must surely be worth it.
Be healthy!
