Breakfast cereal
So you’ve given up the full English in favour of a bowl of fibre-based cereal and some skimmed milk for the sake of your health? Sadly it may not be doing you as much good as you thought. A new Which? report shows that many cereals contain surprising amounts of sugar – the equivalent of biscuits and other sweet foods.
The consumer magazine found that some cereals – Kellogg’s Frosties and various supermarket own-brands of chocolate rice cereal, for example – had 36-37g of sugar per 100g – the equivalent of nearly nine teaspoons of sugar. (For comparison, a KitKat contains seven teaspoonfuls.) Other cereals, generally thought of as healthy options also came in high on the sugar scale: Bran Flakes contains 22g of sugar – nearly as much as Weetabix’s Chocolatey Weetos (23.5g). At the other end of the scale were Weetabix with just 4.4g of sugar per 100g, and Nestlé Shredded Wheat (0.7g). Some cereals contained more sugar than you might have expected – Kellogg’s and M&S cornflakes had 1.3 and 1.25g per 100g, respectively.
Healthier breakfast options:
Shredded Wheat Low in sugar, salt and fat. “Shredded wheat provides a lot of fibre,” says registered nutritionist Dr Carina Norris. “And it contains no added sugar or salt, so it's a good way to start your day. Add a handful of blueberries or other fruit to up your vitamin content too.”
Porridge Make it with water or skimmed milk and don’t add sugar or salt. “Oats are also good for lowering cholesterol,” says Norris. “And they’re a source of trace minerals that are essential for health. But if you opt for instant varieties, bear in mind that some contain lots of added sugar.”
Muesli Look at the list of ingredients and opt for one that’s low in salt, and medium for fat. It may not be low in overall sugar content because of the dried fruit, but choose one without added sugar. “Add a dollop of low-fat natural yogurt too,” says Norris. "This will provide extra protein, plus calcium for protecting and maintaining bones. Yogurt with added 'friendly bacteria' could also benefit your digestive system."
Rye bread with smoked salmon If you’re after a bigger breakfast or something savoury, this is ideal. Salmon is, of course, a great source of heart-healthy omega-3s and, as it’s protein, will help keep you feeling satisfied for a long while. And why rye? “It helps increase satiety,” says registered nutritionist Dr Sarah Brewer. “Including rye bread in your breakfast will help curb mid-morning and mid-afternoon cravings, so you eat less overall.”