How Can Cereal Be Part of a Balanced Breakfast?

Cereal commercials often thought that their cereal is part of a balanced breakfast. Originally a balanced breakfast was considered to be heavy on the carbohydrates. But that has changed over the years. The question becomes, does cereal still play a legitimate part?

As the prevalence of heart disease increased in America the American government responded. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) created the original Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA's). RDA's specified caloric intake as well as essential nutrients. Look at any label and you can find this information.

During World War II there was intense shortages of foods. It became more difficult for people to eat a variety and so in 1943 the USDA authored the Basic Seven Food Groups. The idea was to simplify the RDA but the list of seven was still too confusing so it was reduced to four milk, meats, fruits and vegetables, and grain products. For many Americans this is familiar and still what they base their eating habits from. In 1970, recognizing that most people consumed fats, sugar and alcohol, the last group was added.

During this time the term healthy breakfast was thought to include cereal and bread of any type. Intensive carbohydrate were considered the fuel the body needed to kick start the day. Often a commercial would show a bowl of cereal with milk, toast, and orange juice. Sometimes eggs were included to offer a small protein boost. As cereal became enhanced with added iron, calcium and other nutritional elements I seemed the perfect food source.

The problem was and still is that most cereal is filled with calories. Most of which are empty carbohydrates such as refined flour and sugar. A quick look at the label shows that despite the vitamins and mineral most cereal is relatively bad for you.

The current food pyramid shows grains as whole grains. Often cereal is promoted as containing whole grains. But again read the label and find out that white flour is still a major ingredient. The whole grains in most brands very minimal. Sugars (cane sugar, corn syrup, fructose, honey, molasses, beet sugar, etc) and white flour will initially boost your energy level but then you will feel the crash. If your often tired mid morning look to your breakfast choices.

Breakfast cereals today that promote themselves as part of a healthy breakfast are referring to the added nutrients. They often mislead you into thinking that the vitamins and minerals off set the empty calories.

Health and wellness guru Dr. Michael Roizen and Dr. Mehmet Oz authors of You on a Diet suggest as many nutritional experts do that you throw all your white carbohydrate foods out. Start by reading your cereal labels they should contain only whole grains. Look to steal cut oats and others for a tasty filling breakfast that will hold you through out the morning.

For a cereal to be healthy it must contain mostly whole grains. This is a natural way to consume nutrients, fiber, and antioxidants. A serving of whole grain will contain at least 2.5 grams of fiber. As good as all this is it doesn't help if the product offsets the benefits with a ton of high processed sugar. For example Kellog's Frosted Mini Wheats. A serving contains 6 grams of fiber. Sounds good. But read on - it also contains 12 grams of sugar.

Choose low sugar options and sweeten if you desire with berries. Or try another natural sweetener stevia (Made from a plant).

In this case cereal can be an important part of a balanced breakfast. But you won't know until you turn the box over and stop looking at the hype.