BREAKFAST CEREAL

Eating breakfast is essential for good health.  But not just any breakfast will do.  If you are always in a rush and rely on grabbing a box of cereal for yourself and/or your family here are a few tips:

• Stay away from sugary coated cereals.  Be very careful about this and always read the label.  It is best to stay completely away from sugary cereals.  If, however, you are tempted to give in, compare labels and buy the one with the least amount of sugar!
• Again, read the label.  Buy a cereal that has a whole grain as the first item listed in the ingredients.
• Buy cereals that list 4 to 5 grams of fiber per serving, especially for adults.
• Buy cereals that have at least 5 grams of protein per serving.
• Beware of packaging. Going down the cereal aisle in a hurry the "healthy" notice may grab your attention. For instance, in the picture below it points out how soluble fiber helps lower cholesterol. Look at the nutritional label and you will see a serving contains less than 1 gram of soluble fiber. It also says Gluten Free in large letters on the front of the box. Of course, it is gluten free, it is oats and gluten comes from wheat.

And remember this, you are the adult in your house.  Don't say, "But my kids won't eat that."  First of all, given the choice, kids will almost always choose the sugary cereal they see advertised everywhere.  You are the adult and you are in charge of taking good care of your children.  Buy only healthy choices and them give them a choice between two.  They are still getting a choice and you are giving them a healthy cereal.  Start your children out with healthy choices and those will become their favorites.