For decades breakfast cereals have been pushed as the go to for breakfast. They are quick and simple and super convenient, so it makes sense. They are promoted as the healthier options, using terminology such as ‘low G.I.’  and promoted as ‘low fat’ and ‘fortified with…’ Buzz words that get the sales. What they fail to inform you of is that they are processed foods that need to be fortified with nutrients in order to legally be classified as food as they contain no natural nutrients, and therefore are not actually food. They are also high in sugar, super addictive, contribute to warped hormones and couldn’t be further from ‘healthy’ if they tried. So what should you eat instead?

It really depends on your goal. If you have no interest in your health (physical and mental), or getting lean, then go ahead, pour yourself another bowl and crunch away. If however you want to improve your health and perhaps lean up, then a cooked breakfast of fresh food is the way to go.

In fact, up until the mid 1800’s that’s what people are; a cooked breakfast. The first breakfast cereal was not produced until 1863. Since then, cereal has been pushed as the ‘go to’ breakfast because it makes the manufacturers loads of cashola! A cooked breakfast, not so much.

Breakfast cereals, even the most ‘healthy types’ can be very high in sugar, do not contain enough protein and certainly do not contain enough bio-usable natural vitamins and minerals like those you get from vegetables. As a result you find yourself getting hungry sooner rather than later, you have more cravings for carbs and sugary foods, both increasing the risk of over eating calories by the end of the day.

If however you opted for a cooked breakfast like a good-old bacon and eggs with spinach and mushrooms, steak and veggies, or an omelet, it would keep you satiated for much much longer. Natural food is a natural appetite suppressant and portion controller. That means you have less chance of overeating as you won’t have cravings and you won’t be turning to high sugar foods. This portion control reduces your overall daily calorie intake helping with fat loss. The natural foods also contain bio-usable vitamins and minerals helping nourish your body with natural goodness, therefore helping improve your overall mental and physical health.

The first time I heard about swapping cereals for a cooked breakfast I was gob-smacked as are many of the people we help. We have been so conditioned with the cereal dogma that the thought of a cooked breakfast every day grosses us out when first considered. But think about it; when you go out for breakfast or brunch, what is the most common thing to order? Most people order a cooked breakfast or if they do go a cold breakfast it is usually something like yoghurt, fruit and muesli; the other good natural option. So why do we cringe at the thought of eating this say every day?

It is simply a case of overcoming the trap of eating in line with the marketing dogma and starting to eat in line with your health and body composition. Each meal should contain the same sorts of macronutrients, regardless of whether it is breakfast, lunch or dinner. A serve of protein, a serve of good fats, and a serve of fruit and/or veggies. Start eating like Mother Nature intended and stop making the dogma pushers millions!

If you need help with your nutrition, shoot us a message. We can help.

– Coach Terri