6 foods you should avoid eating for breakfast
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PHOTO: AFP
Doughnuts, hash browns and cheese omelettes would surely come in handy when you’re trying to lure yourself out of bed in the morning. But you already know that’s not the best idea. And for the most part, you probably don’t eat such sugary and buttery foods in the early hours of the day.
But unfortunately, these are not the only foods you should be skipping in the morning. There are plenty of other, everyday breakfast offenders that not only offer minimal nutrition but also set you up to feel hungry and crave junk later on. As compiled from Men’s Health, here are some of your favourite morning meals that you ought to cut out as soon as possible.
Cereal
Before you think we’re crazy for suggesting cereal is a bad breakfast option, hear us out. It’s surely convenient but the thing is, majority of cereals are high in added sugar and low in nutritional value. The lack of proteins or fibres means that there’s a high chance your tummy will start rumbling again mid-morning, making the fatty foods in the office cafeteria look more appealing than ever.
So instead of regular, grocery-store cereal, try overnight oats. These are just as healthy and easy and will keep you full all day. And if you really want cereal then opt for a healthy one with at least five grams of fibre and less than 10 grams of sugar per serving.
Green juices
Granted, all those veggies in your drink serve up important minerals, vitamins and antioxidants. But green juices are also high in sugar, thanks to all the fruits used to sweeten them. Not to mention, they are seriously lacking in fibre and protein.
If you want to start your day with a green juice, look for one that’s low in sugar and make sure you sip it along with something, like a slice of brown bread, eggs, fruit or even yogurt.
Flavoured yogurts
Speaking of yogurt, guess what? Not all fermented dairy foods are created equally. The flavoured variety of yogurt can hold just as much sugar as that egg and cheese croissant or cinnamon roll you thought you were being smart by avoiding. Plus, skipping the fat might actually put you at risk of gaining weight, claim researchers.
Therefore, go for plain, low-fat or full-fat yogurt only. Experts agree that both can be part of a healthy diet. And what’s more, you can even sweeten it up with honey, maple syrup or fruit.
A toxic taste: Two die after eating ‘poisonous food’
Pre-mixed oatmeal
A lot of the oatmeal brands stocked at grocery stores are merely boxed cereals in disguise. Pre-mixed and flavoured oatmeal are often rich in sugar and usually comprised of instant oats, which are highly processed and lower in fiber than rolled or steel cut oats.
If you can’t get your hands on some regular oatmeal, why not make a batch of homemade instant oatmeal packets instead? We promise you they’re just as quick and high in fiber and also, allow you to keep a tab on your sugar intake. Does that sound like a good deal or what?
Toast with buttery spreads
No matter how healthy the bread might be, a slice of it loaded with fake butter is far from the ideal breakfast. For one thing, most margarines and buttery spreads are rich in trans fats – which are detrimental to your overall health, raising bad cholesterol, lowering good cholesterol and ultimately, making you more vulnerable to diabetes and heart diseases.
Also, there are no proteins, fruits or vegetables included in this meal. If you really love your morning toast, have some of the whole grain kind with just a little bit of real butter. However, you should keep it as a side to something more substantial, such as a veggie omelette.
Coffee
Yup, we’ve been saving the best one for last. In case you haven’t heard, coffee is great but just a plain cuppa is not a substitute for a proper breakfast. The caffeine therein dulls your appetite temporarily but you’ll probably end up scrounging through the snack drawer soon enough.
Hence, make sure you consume your coffee alongside a hearty meal. If you’re not hungry when you wake up, have your coffee first and then, pack a light snack to eat later in the morning, such as fruit or cheese or a small sandwich.
Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.
But unfortunately, these are not the only foods you should be skipping in the morning. There are plenty of other, everyday breakfast offenders that not only offer minimal nutrition but also set you up to feel hungry and crave junk later on. As compiled from Men’s Health, here are some of your favourite morning meals that you ought to cut out as soon as possible.
Cereal
Before you think we’re crazy for suggesting cereal is a bad breakfast option, hear us out. It’s surely convenient but the thing is, majority of cereals are high in added sugar and low in nutritional value. The lack of proteins or fibres means that there’s a high chance your tummy will start rumbling again mid-morning, making the fatty foods in the office cafeteria look more appealing than ever.
So instead of regular, grocery-store cereal, try overnight oats. These are just as healthy and easy and will keep you full all day. And if you really want cereal then opt for a healthy one with at least five grams of fibre and less than 10 grams of sugar per serving.
Green juices
Granted, all those veggies in your drink serve up important minerals, vitamins and antioxidants. But green juices are also high in sugar, thanks to all the fruits used to sweeten them. Not to mention, they are seriously lacking in fibre and protein.
If you want to start your day with a green juice, look for one that’s low in sugar and make sure you sip it along with something, like a slice of brown bread, eggs, fruit or even yogurt.
Flavoured yogurts
Speaking of yogurt, guess what? Not all fermented dairy foods are created equally. The flavoured variety of yogurt can hold just as much sugar as that egg and cheese croissant or cinnamon roll you thought you were being smart by avoiding. Plus, skipping the fat might actually put you at risk of gaining weight, claim researchers.
Therefore, go for plain, low-fat or full-fat yogurt only. Experts agree that both can be part of a healthy diet. And what’s more, you can even sweeten it up with honey, maple syrup or fruit.
A toxic taste: Two die after eating ‘poisonous food’
Pre-mixed oatmeal
A lot of the oatmeal brands stocked at grocery stores are merely boxed cereals in disguise. Pre-mixed and flavoured oatmeal are often rich in sugar and usually comprised of instant oats, which are highly processed and lower in fiber than rolled or steel cut oats.
If you can’t get your hands on some regular oatmeal, why not make a batch of homemade instant oatmeal packets instead? We promise you they’re just as quick and high in fiber and also, allow you to keep a tab on your sugar intake. Does that sound like a good deal or what?
Toast with buttery spreads
No matter how healthy the bread might be, a slice of it loaded with fake butter is far from the ideal breakfast. For one thing, most margarines and buttery spreads are rich in trans fats – which are detrimental to your overall health, raising bad cholesterol, lowering good cholesterol and ultimately, making you more vulnerable to diabetes and heart diseases.
Also, there are no proteins, fruits or vegetables included in this meal. If you really love your morning toast, have some of the whole grain kind with just a little bit of real butter. However, you should keep it as a side to something more substantial, such as a veggie omelette.
Coffee
Yup, we’ve been saving the best one for last. In case you haven’t heard, coffee is great but just a plain cuppa is not a substitute for a proper breakfast. The caffeine therein dulls your appetite temporarily but you’ll probably end up scrounging through the snack drawer soon enough.
Hence, make sure you consume your coffee alongside a hearty meal. If you’re not hungry when you wake up, have your coffee first and then, pack a light snack to eat later in the morning, such as fruit or cheese or a small sandwich.
Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.