What You Should Look for in a Cereal
By Sara Butler
Cereal is a breakfast staple in many households. Of course, it's not difficult to find sugar-laden cereals in a variety of bright colors that your kids will beg for. But not all cereals are bad for you. If you know what to look for, then there are some cereals that are downright healthy and make a great start to your day. Here are a few of the things you should look for when selecting your morning breakfast cereal.
Protein
When it comes to breakfast, protein is important. It helps you to feel fuller for longer and provides your body with the energy it needs to keep going all morning long. Plus, it helps to keep your blood sugar steady so you don't find yourself hangry when lunchtime creeps up.
When shopping for cereal, look for one that has at least four grams of protein per serving. Add a little milk or yogurt to it and you can have a breakfast that provides upwards of 20 grams of protein. That makes for a good start to your day.
Fiber
Fiber is another essential if you want your breakfast to stick to your ribs. It also happens to support a healthy gut which, in turn, supports a healthy immune system.
When perusing the nutrition labels for fiber, make sure to choose a cereal with a minimum of four grams of fiber per serving. It's also not a bad idea to add some fiber-rich fruit to your morning cereal such as blackberries or blueberries. They add flavor and nutrition.
How Much Sugar?
It can be a tall order to eliminate sugar from your diet completely but aiming for keeping it as low as you can is a good goal. The added sugars in a breakfast cereal should be limited to no more than seven grams per serving, less if you can find it. This year, the FDA has started to require nutrition labels to clearly spell out added sugars. This will make it much easier to tell the difference between naturally occurring sugars and added sugars.
Not all cereals are bad for you, it's simply important to figure out what you need a cereal to do for your breakfast and find it. They're out there -- so go out and get them to create a healthy start for you and your family.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Mission Viejo, Calif.