Strictly for Cereal Lovers

When I was diagnosed, one of the first things I had to get rid of was cereal. Mmmmm, cereal! My second love. It wasn't for about 2 years after I was diagnosed that I dared to eat my first bowl of cereal, which by the way tasted like heaven on earth. But even the taste couldn't convince me that it was good for me, from what the nutritionist had said. The doctor and my dietitian had said cereal was empty calories with not a lot nutrients, therefore leaving it a bad choice for breakfast.

Thank goodness for research! And even more grateful for the companies trying to keep up to the "healthy" world. If you haven't noticed, everyone is trying to make their product healthier. Cereal companies are one of those manufacturers who are trying to keep up to the health and doing a great job at it.

According to researches it's better than most breakfasts!!! (I'm not lying when I say this was the best thing I've read in a long time!)

In a study of nearly 10,000 kids and teens, researchers learned that those who ate any type of cereal every morning got more fiber and nutrients than breakfast skippers or those who at other types of breakfasts. kids who didn't have breakfast, on the other hand, ate more sugar daily and were more likely to be obese. Though the study looked at cereal eaters in general, it's smarter to always stick to varieties that are low in sugar and high fiber.

After looking strictly at cereal labels and paying close attention to my sugars after eating certain brand's, I compiled this list of cereals I trust with my health and Diabetes. I'd recommend these to anyone, and so would my nutritionist:

1. Kashi GoLean
   
2. All-Bran Raisin Bran
3. Fiber One
   
4. Barbara’s Shredded Spoonfuls
   
5. Cheerios
   
6. Kellogg’s Complete Oat Bran Flakes
7. Grape Nuts
   
8. Quaker Oatmeal Squares
   
9. Shredded Wheat ‘n Bran 100% Natural Whole Wheat MiniWheats
   
10. Total Whole Grain

If none of these cereal suit your fancy, always look at the nutrition label and make sure they have more than 3 grams of fiber, less than 45 grams of carbs, and around 2.5 grams of fat. If there's any protein, that's wonderful-but fiber is better for mornings.

(Source: Journal of the American Dietetic Association, July 2010)

Egg Whites Fast and Easy

I have the worst case of the "not enough time in the morning to make breakfast" and being diabetic and all, breakfast is a meal I absolutely can't skip.

That should be the same for everyone.

Breakfast is vital for not only getting your metabolism started but overall maintaining a healthy weight. I've stressed how important breakfast is with previous posts, but it can never be talked about enough.

My biggest downfall was thinking that to have a healthy breakfast, I needed to wake up half an hour earlier. I'm someone that being able to sleep in an extra 5 minutes feels like a holiday. I love my sleep. So I had to be creative so I could sleep in AND get the healthy breakfast my body needs.

I've come up with some extremely fast breakfasts that are exactly what your body needs in the morning and for your metabolism. The right foods, and the right serving size.

~put 3 egg whites in a bowl, and throw it in the microwave for 1:00 minute. That's all you need. Get a piece of whole wheat bread and put some low-fat cheese on it. When egg whites are done, put it on the cheese and head out the door. (if you want to add some veggies, tomatoes are really good with this) {protien, complex carbs, fiber, and dairy}

~put 1/2 cup of oatmeal in a bowl, put some water in it, (make sure your not drenching the oatmeal) and put it in the microwave for 1:00-1:20 minutes. Put a spoon-full of fruit on top along with low-fat milk, and WA-LA! Your breakfast is done! {protien, complex carbs, fruits, dairy and fiber}

~Grab some yogurt (you know how I'm a fan of the Activia) and grab a hand full of Almonds, or a spoon full of raw oatmeal and mix it in with the yogurt. {fiber, omega's, protein, and dairy}

~Then there is of course a piece of whole wheat bread with peanut butter and half a banana. {complex carbs, protein, fruit, fiber, and oil/fats}

Hopefully these ideas help you while your running out the door trying to make it to work on time. but overall, just

MAKE SURE YOUR GETTING BREAKFAST!!