Are you eating a bowlful of sugar for breakfast?

Health conscious consumers should take a closer look at the nutrition panel of their favourite cereal to avoid often alarmingly high sugar levels that could be jeopardising health and weight management efforts.

Many consumers are completely unaware that the majority of popular cereals, even the so-called ‘healthy’ brands, are loaded with 20 per cent or more sugar.

With the rising concerns of our country’s obesity epidemic, it’s crucial consumers wise up to the underhanded marketing and half-truths trumpeted by many cereal producers.

Consumers need to actively seek out the complete nutritional picture of their favourite cereals to inform themselves to make genuine health-promoting choices.

Also, don’t be misled by what’s shouted on the front of the pack or highlighted on the nutritional panel. It’s usually because the other nutritional facts are lacking. For example, if a food product is low in fat, there’s a good chance it’s high in sugar (see attached nutritional panel from a leading Australian brand).

A leading, so-called, ‘healthy’ cereal brand

Given sugar’s role in weight gain it defeats the purpose. The entire nutritional panel, including ingredients, is the place to get the facts about what you’re eating.

Compare SuperStart's Nutritional panel

A bowlful of sugar or super healthy cereal?

Health conscious consumers should take a closer look at the nutrition panel of their favourite cereal to avoid often alarmingly high sugar levels that could be jeopardising weight management efforts according to Justin Smidmore of The Metabolic Food Company, producer of SuperStart breakfast blend.

“Many consumers are completely unaware that the majority of popular cereals, even the so-called healthy brands, are loaded with 20 per cent or more sugar,” he says.

“It’s no wonder people are reaching for high calorie snacks mid-morning when you consider the inevitable sugar rush and slump these sugary cereals deliver.”

Even ”real fruit” claims, via the addition of dried fruit, are geared at adding sugary sweetness according to Smidmore.

“Simply adding fresh fruit is a far superior nutritional choice, providing more vitamins and fibre, not to mention the fresh taste,” he says.

With the rising concerns of our country’s obesity epidemic, Smidmore believes it’s crucial consumers wise up to the underhanded marketing and half-truths trumpeted by many cereal producers.

“Consumers need to actively seek out the complete nutritional picture of their favourite cereals to empower themselves to make genuine health-promoting choices,” he advises.

Smidmore’s company is committed to helping Australians lead healthier lives and manage their weight through nutrition. Its SuperStart breakfast blend has no added sugar and just 2.1% of naturally occurring sugar.

SuperStart's nutritional panel

Developed after two years of research, its slow release of energy throughout the morning eliminates the sugar rollercoaster experienced from consuming high-sugar cereals, helping sustain fullness and minimising the need to reach for a high calorie mid-morning snack.

Australian-made SuperStart is distributed throughout Australia in Healthy Life and About Life stores and SureSlim Australia and New Zealand and is available to purchase online at www.metabolicfood.com.au.

Super low sugar SuperStart

PS. Low GI watch-out! Low GI is not a measure of sugar levels. So, while some products may be low GI they may still have high sugar levels. Another reason to check the nutritional panel.

PPS. Special low price on SuperStart – buy a box of 6 and pay just $8.95 per 400g bag.

There are many moods of breakfast. Sometimes I crave all natural cereals, sometimes sugary cereals, sometimes high fibre ones and sometimes just plain old wheat-bix.

(There’s never a time that I don’t eat breakfast. Not from a virtuous ‘the most important meal of the day’ mind, more that, like I said, I love breakfast cereals).

So, I’ve listed the best breakfast cereals by category.

1. Best for kids: Weetbix or any whole gain wheat biscuit type cereal. Kids can burn the carbs off in minutes. They’re cheap, easy to eat, easy to add fruit and stuff to and filling. Many active sportsmen claim to eat as many as nine each morning.
2. Best for weightloss or weight management. Anything low GI. Forget low fat. Most of these are high in sugar. Sugar is the weight losers enemy. Actually, with the amount of sugar we consume, it’s all of our enemy. A nutritionally well-balanced low GI breakfast cereal will keep you feeling fuller for longer so lessening the urge to snack.
   

   Best for weight loss? Low GI breakfast cereal.

3. Best for sugary hit. Take your pick. For mine it’s Crunch Nut Cornflakes. Just the other evening I was talking to a friend about our secret cereal fetishes and lo and behold the next morning the honey covered cornflake delights were on the table. My wife had bought some for a kids’ treat. More lo and beholding as I chowed through three bowls of the stuff. Fun while it lasted but regretted it the whole day.
4. Best breakfast recipes using cereals. I’m a serial cereal mixer. If you’re in a sugary mood, offset it by mixing the madness with some healthy breakfast cereal, especially anything low GI and high fibre and protein.
   For extra healthy breakfast, mix your healthiest cereals with some soy grits or protein. They don’t taste too bad but need to be part of a mix.
   A fresh breakfast recipe is to add some grated green apple to your cereal. Actually any fruit in season is a good idea. They add flavour, freshness and fibre.

Enjoy!

Breakfast cereal is good. Right?

For some reason most of us think cereals and especially muesli are good for us and our family. Of course, there are the obvious examples but surely grains and milk are are a healthy way to start the day.

If only it were so.

Are your kids eating a bowl of sugar?

Eating a healthy breakfast or a bowl of sugar?

Take 2 minutes and check the levels of sugar in the cereals your kids are eating. Go on, I’ll wait.

Surprising isn’t it?!?

Even the so-called ‘healthy’, ‘whole grain’, ‘all natural’, ‘real fruit pieces’ claims can mask sugar levels of 25%. And more.

Healthy foods aren’t always healthy I’m afraid.

The good news of breakfast cereal.

The good news is there are a few really healthy breakfast cereals on the market.

The first place to look is not the the front of the pack. That’s where all the marketing hype is. Go straight to the back. Check out the nutritional panel. There’s no hype there. Just facts.

DIY breakfast ideas

If you can’t find something healthy and low in sugar, it’s pretty easy (and cheap) to make you’re own. Plus, you can tailor it to suit your tastes.

Try nuts like:

• almond flakes
• hazelnuts
• linseed
• walnuts

Seeds like:

• sunflower
• pepitas
• sesame

Grains (whole) like:

• Oats
• Puffed wheat

Fruit (fresh is best)

• Whatever’s in season
• Kids favourites
• Berries
• Green apples, sliced or grated

Develop your own breakfast recipes. Share them with friends.

Maybe one day they’ll be so popular you can market them.

Enjoy!

We often place breakfast cereal in the ‘healthy’, ‘good for me’ category. It must be to do with the ingredients – grains, dried fruit and the milk we add. I wish it was so simple.

Are you eating a healthy breakfast cereal or a bowl of sugar?

More and more we’re becoming aware of just how much sugar many cereals contain. The sugar is either naturally occurring in the ingredients or added. (Nevermind the sugar we add ourselves either through table sugar, honey, chocolate, fruit etc).

Naturally occurring sugar is fine. Up to a point. If a cereal contains dried fruit, as many do, they actual sugar level can be as high as 25%.

Added sugar is far worse. Check the contents of the cereal you’re eating. If it states ‘sugar’ high on the ingredients list then you could be starting your day effectively with a bowl of the stuff. Not a good start to the day.

The nutritional panel doesn’t lie.

If you’re trying to reduce the amount of sugar you consume (and that is probably most of us), then the first place you should look is on the back of the pack. Even on so-called ‘healthy’ mueslis you might be shocked and awed by the amount of sugar.

Low sugar (and by ‘low’ I mean under 5%) cereals do exist.

It’s just takes some detective work. What’s especially hard is finding a low sugar breakfast cereal that actually tastes good. (We can’t escape from the fact that sugar makes things taste great). But they do exist.

Your own breakfast cereal.

In the meantime you may have to create your own breakfast recipes. If you do, try brans, nuts and seeds. Rolled oats are good but I find them boring. In any case, the best breakfast ideas include a balance of carbs, protein and fibre. And another thing, go for whole grains.

Far easier than making your own is to find a cereal with taste and without sugar. My advice is to start Googling.

Rush, rush, rush.

There’s always something to do nowadays and always something left undone. And that’s great. We can’t all escape the city-life and have a sea-change. Some of us don’t even want to change our frantic schedules, though an hour away from the mobile and email would be nice every so often.
To keep up with our busy lifestyle we need a breakfast cereal that can keep us going. Sustained energy; not a sugar rush and mid-morning slump. Feeling satisfied until lunch; not hungry an hour after breakfast. Packed with vitamins and minerals; not empty calories. Great natural taste; not a sugary feast.
Super low GI SuperStart is the all natural breakfast cereal to kick start your busy day. One bowl with low fat milk has a GI level of just 32. Low GI is any food that indexes under 55. What that means to you (and your weight) is your hunger is satisfied for longer. This, in turn, means less mid morning cravings and empty calories.
Plus, the high protein and fibre and low carbohydrate levels of SuperStart will help to keep you going until lunchtime.

SUPERSTART SUPER BREAKFAST FACTS
✔ KAMUT: An ancient Egyptian wheat. Contains 40% more protein than common wheat. Also higher in lipids, amino acids, vitamins and minerals.
✔ A filling, healthy breakfast is one of the best strategies for weight loss or management. And snacking is one of the worst strategies.
✔ The Australian National Nutrition Survey (1995) found people who regularly ate breakfast had much better diets than those who miss breakfast.
✔ Not all low GI foods are nutritious. In fact, many contain very high sugar levels and minimal nutritional value. SuperStart serves up a wealth of lipids, amino acids, vitamins and minerals.
✔ Breakfast cereal is the number one food item bought in US supermarkets. They’d have a much trimmer national waistline if they started the day with a low GI cereal like…say…I don’t know…SuperStart.

Buy 6 packs and save
$8.95 per bag for 6 or more 400g packs.
That’s just $1.28 per 50g serve (including delivery). Plus, think of the money you’ll save by snacking less.

One low delivery price Australia-wide. And we take international orders.

Sincerely,

Justin Smidmore

The Metabolic Food Company

PS. KickStart your busy day with super low GI SuperStart breakfast cereal.