The Environmental Working Group (EWG) recently rated the best and worst breakfast cereals for children by looking at the sugar content. Their findings were as follows:
Worst Cereals
1. kellogg Honey Smacks
2. Post Golden Crisp
3. Kellogg’s Fruit Loops Marshmellow
4. Quaker Oats Cap n crunch
5. Kellog’s Apple Jacks
For the complete list, take a look at www.ewg.org.
I am not a big fan of breakfast cereals and prefer that children leave the house with some substaantial protein source prior to leaving the house. Instead of cereal, consider the following for a healthful morning start.
1. Eggs in any form
2. Nut Butters on toast, bagel, waffles
3. Smoothies with addded protein (protein support, nuts)
4. Tofu
5. Dairy or Nondairy Yogurt, Cheese
We know that lower protein intake in children leads to more insulin reactivity. This will translate into symptoms that are often diagnosed as ADD/ADHD, behavioral issues, and fatigue.
For school age children, breakfast is the most important meal of the day!
