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11. Breakfast Cereals
When you think of unhealthy cereal, choices like Lucky Charms, Fruit Loops, Trix, and Count Chocula come to mind.And you’re right! They’re definitely not the best way to start your day. However, even plenty of “healthy” cereals are high in sugar and lack the protein and fiber needed to help you avoid a sugar crash later in the day.
There are several possible solutions to this:
- Choose the right kind of cereal. There are still healthy cereals to choose from, it just takes a discerning eye. Check out the ingredients list and nutrition facts labels. If the first ingredient has to do with sugar, move on.
- 10 grams of sugar or less is ideal. Less sugar is better, and you’d be surprised at how many cereals have 20 grams or more of sugar per serving!
- The first ingredient should be some kind of whole grain. Whole grain oats are common (it’s the first ingredient for General Mills Cheerios, a classic cereal for a reason).
- Try for fiber. Typically three grams of fiber is a high amount when it comes to cereal. Aim for at least this much from your breakfast cereals.
- Choose cereal as part of a balanced breakfast. This is undoubtedly the best way to go. Having a bowl of cereal alongside some eggs and high-fiber fruit (raspberries are the winner with eight grams of fiber per serving, but apples, oranges, bananas, and strawberries are all great choices as well).
- Combine protein with fiber for best results. The combination of eggs, cereal, and the right kinds of fruit is intentional, used to give you a blast of protein and fiber in the morning to keep you energized without a major crash later in the day.
You don’t need to cut cereal out of your breakfast routine. Just make sure you’re choosing the right kind of cereal, and whenever possible, combining it with other great breakfast foods for a complete and balanced start to your day.
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