Read This Before Shaming Cereal As A Breakfast Choice
When it comes to sugary breakfast cereals, chances are you — or at least your inner child — think "they're grrreat" or perhaps even "magically delicious." And you wouldn't be alone. 58% of nearly 2,000 people questioned as part of a Mintel survey agreed that "the flavors of cereal [they] enjoyed as a child are still [their] go to," an opinion Smithsonian Magazine attributes to our comfort-seeking post-pandemic culture. In fact, according to data analysis completed by Pattern, the most popular cereal flavor of 2021 was Cinnamon Toast Crunch, while Frosted Flakes and Lucky Charms took the number three and four spots, respectively.
You may think eating cereal every day for breakfast is a big no-no, and when it comes to sugary cereals, some agree. Livestrong calls cereal "glorified 'cookies'" and notes that certain types can be carcinogenic, mess with your blood sugar, and even affect your mental health. But before you dump your box of cereal into the trash, know that not all cereals are bad for you — and oftentimes, how healthy they are all depends upon how you serve them.
It's all about what cereals you eat and how you dress them up
Cereal gets a bad rap, but it doesn't have to be an unhealthy breakfast option. Healthline offers some tips for how to choose a wholesome cereal and MyRecipes makes some suggestions for how to spice up your bowl, including adding hearty elements from various food groups to round out your breakfast.
When choosing a cereal, it's a good idea to look for types with less than five grams of sugar. Be sure to read the label carefully, as sometimes sugar can be listed under other terms, such as high glucose corn syrup. Also, it's important to heed portion sizes, as it's easy to get carried away when enjoying your favorite cereal, which may lead to consuming too much sugar. MyRecipes suggests looking for cereals that are high in fiber, which you can up the ante on by sprinkling add-ons on top such as "ground flaxseed, oats, chia seeds, [and] blueberries." Finally, consuming your cereal with added protein, whether it be Greek yogurt or cottage cheese, can help fill you up and is beneficial for your bone and teeth health. So grab a bowl, a spoon, a healthy cereal, and some delicious foods to pair with it and eat assuredly: There doesn't have to be anything shameful about eating cereal.