Cereals bad for you?

[chocadmin]

Yes the food police are out again, this time criticizing cereal.

http://news.scotsman.com/uk.cfm?id=1048362006

Apparently some have got loads of sugar, some loads of fat and some loads of salt. By loads they mean would flag a red light on that new traffic light system (prob. not for the fat tho), despite having lower amounts than other traditional breakfast alternatives (toast+jam, or fry up).

The salt criticism I can see (we all have way too much of that in our diet), but sugar?!?. Where else are you going to get the carbs u need to keep you running till lunch time?

Well at least the witch hunt has moved on from chocolate for the time being...

The only cereal we can eat safely on nutritional grounds is Shredded Wheat.  Look on the ingedients list: No sugar, salt, additives, colour or sweeteners.  Just wheat.    Three shredded wheat with skimmed milk and a banana and I don't need anything else for four hours minimum.

[chocadmin]

Ooh I'd be careful there, if your banana is a bit old it'll be full of sugar .

Weetabix has always been the cereal held up as the best 'all round' as far as healthy breakfasts go. I do like Asda's response though, 'we provide variety so why do we drop onto a black list for providing cereal with high sugar content because its got loads of fruit with no added sugar'

Also if I had kids I'd make them eat cereal over toast etc. because it's a good way to get them to have more milk.

Ooh I'd be careful there, if your banana is a bit old it'll be full of sugar .

Yes, but it would be fructose, which is not harmful like the refined sugar found in biscuits etc.

[kevvosa]

You can't beat good old porridge, but normally for breakfast I have some sugar free muesli with some pumpkin and sunflower seeds sprinkled in. 

normally for breakfast I have some sugar free muesli with some pumpkin and sunflower seeds sprinkled in. 

mmmmmmm, I have some spare sawdust out the back door if you want to come and pick it up for free.

[kevvosa]

Muesli isn't that bad! 

Sugar free stuff is though!

[kevvosa]

That's what fruit is for. 

NO. That is what SUGAR is for!http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/rolleye/rolleye0014.gif'" src="http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/rolleye/rolleye0014.gif" border="0"> 

[kevvosa]

Fruit is healthier. 

What are you doing on this forum?

[chocadmin]

As the concerns from the food police were regarding childhood obesity shouldn't they be looking at calories per serving??
Yes large fat content is an issue as it's more likely to not be burned quickly enough, but sugars are carbs and therefore provided you're not eating too much in terms of calories it should be fine.

I think if you look round the cereals (particularly kelloggs ones) you'll find the calories per serving (with semi milk)to be fairly constant. All this scare mongering is going to give the wrong message to parents. What next atkins diets for kids? (heck do that for a few generations, we'll end up as carnivores ).

[goldencup]

The only cereal we can eat safely on nutritional grounds is Shredded Wheat.  Look on the ingedients list: No sugar, salt, additives, colour or sweeteners.  Just wheat.    Three shredded wheat with skimmed milk and a banana and I don't need anything else for four hours minimum.

Bloody hell, if I ate that much for breakfast (and there's no way I could eat three Shredded Wheat anyway) I wouldn't eat anything else all day! 

[smurfboy]

The only cereal we can eat safely on nutritional grounds is Shredded Wheat.  Look on the ingedients list: No sugar, salt, additives, colour or sweeteners.  Just wheat.    Three shredded wheat with skimmed milk and a banana and I don't need anything else for four hours minimum.

I don't think I'd live for another four hours before dying of boredom! Anyway, wheat makes you very bloated.