Cereal is one of the most common breakfast foods consumed in Australia. There are dozens of different types of cereal that span entire aisles at grocery stores. It can seem like the only difference is the flavour, brand and price, but there’s more to it than just that. With varying levels of sugar, refined grains and nutrients, some cereals are significantly healthier than others. It’s important to look at the nutrition label when picking your breakfast to make sure you’re choosing one that supports a nutritious diet.
When buying bulk cereals, look for products that contain lots of fibre and nutrients without the added sugar. Healthy cereals can also be high in protein while low in saturated fat and cholesterol-free.
If you’re buying breakfast to stock your workplace or hotel, having go-to brands with a large line of cereal products can make it easier to find something everyone will enjoy when bulk ordering. For example, all Uncle Tobys cereals are guaranteed to contain whole grain, so you know no matter which cereal people pick, they’re getting a healthy start to their day.
Nutritious cereal can provide a lot of health benefits! As a carbohydrate-heavy meal, it provides good energy to start your day. Healthy cereal is often a good source of fibre. Fibre is a complex carbohydrate that can keep you feeling full and satiated for a long time. It can lead to making healthier food choices for the rest of the day as you won’t need to reach for a mid-morning snack. Fibre also supports healthy digestion and regular bowel movements.
Nutritious cereal often is a good source of vitamins and minerals. For example, whole grains are high in B vitamins, iron, folate, and potassium. Vitamins and minerals help support the body in all kinds of ways from having a healthy immune system to breaking down and processing food. Some cereals are fortified with extra nutrients to supplement a healthy diet. Check the ingredient list to see if any have been added.
You might see health advertisements for ‘whole grain cereal’ and wonder what does that mean? The term ‘whole grain’ isn’t referring to a specific type of grain but the fact that it’s the complete – or whole – grain. There are three parts to a grain: bran, germ and endosperm.
Refined grains such as white rice, white pasta and white bread strip the bran and germ away to only leave the endosperm. The vast majority of nutrients in a grain come from the bran and germ, so only eating the endosperm means you’re missing out on most of the health benefits. The endosperm is often referred to as ‘empty calories’ because it’s high in carbohydrates while low in vitamins and minerals.
Eating a diet high in whole grains allows you to get all the benefits offered from the fibre, vitamins and minerals found in the entire grain.
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