According to the Static Brain Research Institute annual cereal sales are well over $7.7 Billion dollars. The love for cereal stems from a convenience factor. Our lives are busy and it is a quick option in the morning but are we better off skipping the cereal based on the lack of nutritional value it provides. Let’s breakdown the Top 10 cereals consumed in the United States according to a Chicago-based research firm:
| Top Cereal Brand | Sugar(grams) | Calories/ServingKcal/? | Carbs(grams) | Protein |
| Honey Nut Cheerios | 9g | 105 kcal in ¾ cup | 22g | 2g |
| Frosted Flakes | 15g | 155 kcal in 1 cup | 37g | 2g |
| Honey Bunches of Oats | 13g | 247 kcal in .67 cup | 43g | 5g |
| Cheerios | 1g | 110 kcal in 1 cup | 22g | 3g |
| Cinnamon Toast Crunch | 10g | 130 kcal in ¾ cup | 24g | 1g |
| Frosted Mini Wheats | 12g | 205 kcal in 24 biscuits | 50g | 5g |
| Lucky Charms | 13 g | 120 kcal in 1 cup | 25g | 2g |
| Fruit Loops | 12g | 109 kcal in 1 cup | 26g | 2g |
| Raisin Bran | 17g | 165 kcal in 1 cup | 41g | 3g |
| Rice Krispies | 3g | 110 kcal in 1 cup | 25g | 2g |
At first glance you may think that the above stats are harmless because most of us focus on keeping our calorie consumption low but there are a couple of things that we must further inspect. First of all the serving size is much smaller than the average serving size which can be 3 times the servings listed above. Secondly, we completely dismiss the grams of sugar and carbs consumed on a daily basis which I set a personal goal of consumption of only 25 grams of sugar daily. This amount of sugar spread throughout the day prevents spikes of glucose and exhaustion of the pancreas secreting insulin, preventing insulin resistance, the precursor to many diseases such as diabetes. Currently diabetes plagues 1 in 11 Americans and it is estimated that 1 in 3 are pre-diabetic.
In addition, we are pumping our kiddos with sugar prior to dropping them off at school. How do you expect them to sit still when they have a spike of energy to blow off? A great alternative is a balance of lean protein, good carbohydrates (fruits and veggies) and good fats. A quick example could be Greek yogurt, fresh berries, and sliced almonds. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Let’s work together to start our day off with nourishing our body and brain properly.