Are you a cereal killer? If so, I have some helpful advice to have your cereal in a healthier way.
Cold cereal is 160 years old. The forgotten boxes in the back of your pantry aren’t that old, but chances are they could have a few years on them.
I remember cereal practically taking over in the 1990’s. Maybe it was just my age and the ease of eating cereal, but I lived off of Honey Nut Cheerios. When I earned it, I got to have Rice Krispies Treats cereal. What a treat that was. Now I realize how little difference there was between the treat cereals and “healthy” ones.
I remember my dad religiously downing bowls of Raisin Bran and Basic4. My dad was, and still is, a health nut by all accounts so he saw this routine as the epitome of great health. Breakfast was also touted as the most important meal of the day so if you wanted to be a champion, you had to eat your Wheaties.
Food marketers do an incredible job of making us think certain foods are healthy or at worst neutral to our well-being. Honey Nut Cheerios advertise “can help lower cholesterol” in big branding across the front of the box, but fail to mention the 12g of added sugar per serving.
Raisin Bran has 17g of sugar per serving and 47g of carbohydrates. You better have one heck of a workout around that meal, and skip the glass of orange juice and pieces of toast these cereals would always be advertised next to. You know, as part of a “complete breakfast”.
Cereal in general has very little nutritional value to offer. I realize though through unbreakable habits of eating it your whole life and trying to get kids to eat ANYTHING, cereal may be an inevitable part of your day. We can at least do it better with cereals that actually contain some protein, definitely some fiber, and have minimal added sugars. Also, be watchful of partially hydrogenated oils, vegetable oils, corn syrups and starches, or artificial flavoring and colorings in your cereals.
For my cereal choices I always go 100% gluten free and GMO free. These are non-negotiables for my preferences. Second, is always having it with unsweetened almond milk. I stopped drinking milk 14 years ago so that ended my cereal habit back then.
As I’ve reintroduced cereal into my diet here and there, I’ve found some choices that I feel good eating and also have decent macros and ingredients. But buyer still beware, even the organic and healthy brands out there today have ingredients I prefer to stay away from.
Everytime you pick up a cereal box, turn it over and read the nutrition facts and ingredients label. Learning to read food labels is an important life skill to have and pass on to your kids. Show them how there are healthier options out there.
If you have any questions, send me a message. If you need help choosing the right foods at the grocery store, a coach can help!
-Coach Tony