Sweet Cereal

Healthy Hump Day Recipe

How many times have you heard people say, "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day"? Tons. Cereal is a very common breakfast item and easy to throw together. There are some essential parts of cereal that you should always consider when picking out what box to buy in the grocery store. You always want the words "Whole Wheat" or "Whole Grain" to be the very first ingredient listed. That means that box contains a majority of that ingredient. Whole grains are what keep you feeling full for longer, so the risk of pointless snacking goes away if you eat whole grain in the morning. You also want to use skim milk, or fat free milk. The calorie count is lower than the other milk options, and it is replaced with vitamins and nutrients instead of fat. Did I just let you down? Does that limit the amount of cereal you would be able to enjoy? Now, wait just a second. There are some fun and creative things you can do to give what you might consider "boring" cereal more flavor and more fun. Dark chocolate is said to lower blood pressure and is rich in antioxidants, so sprinkle a small handful of dark chocolate chips over your cereal. Or add a small amount of strawberry syrup to your milk prior to pouring it over your cereal to add some sweetness to what you might think is a flavorless cereal. Now, you might be thinking, "If I'm adding all of this sugar to my cereal anyway, why can't I just eat some sugary brands of cereal then?" By adding a limited amount of sweetness to cereal and milk that are packed with the vitamins and nutrients you need to fuel your day, you aren't missing out on any of the nutrition that those cereals provide; however, if you start off with a sugary based cereal, you aren't even giving yourself a change at getting the healthy factors of what a breakfast should be. Check out some of my favorite combinations below for these healthy yet sweet breakfast options!

*These also make for a great late-night dessert!