Expert advice

Emily Hope: Registered Nutritionist

Emily is the Nutritionist at Healtheries. She believes being healthy is about balance and moderation, and that food should be nutritious and enjoyable. For more information, visit www.healtheries.co.nz or phone 0800 848 254. ASK ME A QUESTION

Is cereal bad to eat for breakfast?

Emily Hope
Monday, April 2, 2012
Get the facts about cereal
Question: I love eating cereal for breakfast, but is it really as bad as everyone makes out? If so, what are some good alternatives?

Answer: Cereal...we all love it! But, like most things there are some healthy choices and some not-so-healthy choices on the market. Follow the tips below to choose a tasty and nutritious cereal.

To find a healthy cereal, you need to look in the per 100g column of the nutrition information panel on the cereal box. Look for the following criteria and choose a cereal that fits most, if not all, of the criteria:

Saturated fat: Less than 3g
Sugars: Less than 15g. For cereals with dried fruit, look for less than 25g.
Fibre: More than 6g
Sodium: Less than 400mg

While this may seem time consuming at first, you will soon get to know your favourite healthy cereals and which products meet the criteria.

To add more nutrients to the most important meal of the day, top your cereal with sliced fruit and yoghurt or milk. This will provide a good source of vitamins and minerals for energy and calcium for strong bones. Remember mighty rolled oats? Porridge is a no-fail, healthy option that is packed full of fibre. It is extra delicious (not to mention nutritious) topped with sliced banana and reduced-fat milk.

The perfect start to any day!

HealtheriesEmily is the Nutritionist at Healtheries. For more information about Healtheries, one of New Zealand's most trusted health brands, visit www.healtheries.co.nz or phone 0800 848 254.


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