IS THERE EVEN SUCH A THING AS A HEALTHY BREAKFAST CEREAL?

Quick Question

- NISHTA SAXENA

Cereal has come a long way since the 1950s. Yes, it is still processed, but the contents have improved a lot. Many have fewer additives (like preservatives, colour and binders) and there are many products made with less sugar and 100 percent whole grains. Here’s how to navigate the boxed-energy aisle.

Read the ingredient list first

The ingredient list is a lot more important than the nutrition facts panel—there is always a margin of error when a product is analyzed for the nutrition label, but if an ingredient is listed, it’s in there! The first ingredient is what makes up most of the cereal. So if the first or even third ingredient is sugar, then it means there’s plenty of sugar in there.

The top of the list should include 100 percent whole grains or unprocessed whole oats. This includes whole wheat, barley, oats, buckwheat and rye.

Look for fibre

Fibre is important for digestion, lowering cholesterol and controlling blood sugar. The daily recommended amount is 25 g for women and 38 g for men, but most people don’t hit these targets.