Fit Fare

Cereal may be the ultimate child pleaser, but the benefits are all adult. Starting your day off with cereal helps you not only start your day off right but also give your health a boost to boot. A bowl here and a bowl there can help you lose weight, gain vitamins, and even stave heart disease away.

When you think cereal, your mind may automatically conjure cold cereals like Cheerios and Frosted Mini Wheats. But hot cereals like oatmeal and Cream of Wheat are just as beneficial as the cold variety.

Here are some cereal benefits:

• Studies show that people who eat cereal for breakfast eat more fiber and calcium and less fat than those who eat other types of breakfast foods.
• Substituting a regular meal with cereal such as Special K may help you lose weight.
• People who consume ready-to-eat cereal for breakfast are less like to be overweight or obese than people who consume other types of breakfast foods.
• A study in the September 1999 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition showed that women who ate 23 grams of fiber a day were 23 percent less likely to have a heart attack than those who consumed 11 grams. These women obtained most of the fiber from cereal grains.
• Cereal also offers a quick and easy solution for a hearty breakfast.

When choosing your breakfast cereal keeps these tips in mind:

• Choose cereal with a fiber content of 5 grams or more a serving. And try to keep the fat content below grams a serving. Instead of whole milk choose low fat or slim.
• Aim for cereals that contain at least 25 percent of the recommend daily value of vitamins and minerals.
• When available, choose whole-grains over refined grains. Many cereals now offer whole grain version of your favorite cereals.

For more information:

Health Benefits & Concerns for Cereals

Choosing Cereals