What’s wrong with breakfast cereals?

Cereals are a quick and easy breakfast, they require little time to make and are as simple as pouring some into a bowl and adding milk. They make a great summer breakfast, as they do not need to be heated up and they are a favorite of children world-wide. So what is the problem with most cereals, even so-called healthy mueslis? Put simply, they are so full of high glycemic index GI carbohydrates and sugar that you’re feeling hungry in just a few hours and craving a sugar hit. That’s not good news if you’re looking after your health and your waistline.

Now, more than ever, low glycemic breakfast cereal options are available for you on every local supermarket corner. Exactly why are low GI cereals so ideal and how do they benefit your health in the first place?

A low GI or glycemic index count in your cereal is a mark of good health for you in the morning. Low GI cereals mean your body processes the carbohydrates slower than high GI foods. That, in turn, means a slower release of energy and a feeling of fullness for longer. All in all low GI cereals are better for you in the short and long term.

High fiber cereals tend to be low GI cereals and a lot of organic and natural cereals offer a low GI count. Kashi go-lean is a great example of a low GI cereal that has gained a lot of popularity recently. Kashi is known for making organic and healthy items that contain no unneeded additives. And there are plenty of other low GI cereals available. Just go to the natural or organic section of your local grocery or superstore and you will find a range of low GI cereal options.

However you do not have to totally give up your old favorite. Some ways to wean yourself off your old sugary, carby cereal is to mix it up with a low GI cereal, or have a bowl with a lot of fruit and nuts in it so you are getting just as full but not getting so much of that negative stuff. Try lots of slim milk and adding your low GI cereal first then add a handful of high GI cereal mixed in with some nice, natural blueberries and prepare yourself for a yummy treat.

Another options is to forgo both high and low GI cereals all together on some days and go with fruit and whole grain pancakes or a breakfast burrito for breakfast. Meatless breakfast items usually have a low GI and there are many varieties focused on those with diabetes that provide a delicious low GI breakfast without sacrificing taste. Variety and eating other foods like low GI cereals can bring back some spice into your breakfast – without all those empty sugar calories.