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.