Nutrition 101: Healthy Breakfast

The Healthy Breakfast Dilemma

The question, “Why don’t we as a nation eat healthier?” gets tossed around a lot. Of course, there are as many answers to this question as there are health experts, sociologists, nutritionists, lobbyist and so forth…..And now I would also like to add my own humble opinion to this debate…..Americans don’t eat a healthy diet because finding tasty, healthy food in our grocery stores is difficult and time consuming.

Like many of you I put a lot of effort into planning my family’s meals but shopping for groceries is the hardest, most frustrating chore of all. That is because every time I set foot inside a grocery store I am overwhelmed by the amount of frozen preservatives, dressed-up sugar water, and packaged mystery ingredients that pass for food in America’s grocery stores.

Though I will admit that the marketing behind these products is genius. Everything, from the shape, color and placement of the packages, to the company slogan and the “feel good” values conveyed by the corporation producing the product is meticulously thought out. These products are extremely tempting and ignoring them is a real chore.

So what is a health conscious individual to do?

Well, the inconvenient truth is that in order to find the truly healthy treasures hiding in your grocery store you must first spend a great deal of time sifting through all the garbage disguised as food. This wont be easy. When you first make the decision to eat healthy you are going to notice a drastic drop in the variety of items that fit your new diet regiment. That is because the sad reality is that unhealthy products far outnumber the healthy products lining the aisles of America’s grocery stores today. But, you must persevere and not be afraid to try new things. At first these new, healthy products will seem exotic to you and taste unfamiliar. You might not be sure what exactly their health benefits are and how to incorporate them into your normal diet. But, yet still you must persevere and find ways to educate yourself. The reward is worth the effort and before you know it these once exotic ingredients will have become a normal part of a far healthier diet for you and your family.

I speak from personal experience when I say that switching from a “typical American diet” over to a healthy diet is extremely difficult. Often, you will feel like a fish swimming upstream. That is why I have decided to share with you some of the healthy treasures I have unearthed at the grocery store over the years.

• Flaxseed Meal: This product is rich in fiber and contains 2400mg of Omega-3 fats. I mix 2 tablespoons of this into my morning oatmeal.

• Green Tea, Organic: Most of us are aware of the fact that green tea is a powerhouse of antioxidants. Green tea is also helpful in weight management and drinking it hot helps keep the body hydrated year round.

• Fiber One Cereal, Original Flavor: One 1/2 cup serving of this cereal has 60 calories, 0g of sugar and will supply you with 57% of your daily recommended fiber. It also tastes great. The downside of this cereal is that it is not visually appealing, especially to kids.

• Soy Milk, Unsweetened: I am lactose intolerant. So, soy milk is a great alternative for me. Soy milk has just as much calcium as dairy milk. It is also full of soy protein and ALA Omega-3s. Unsweetened soy milk only has 1g of sugar per 1 cup serving.

• Oatmeal, Plain: Yes, oatmeal is high in carbohydrates, a 1/2 cup serving contains 27g of carbs. But, you don’t need to be afraid of these slow-releasing cards. A small bowl of oatmeal in the morning can help fuel your body for the entire day. Buy plain oatmeal because it contains 0g of sugar and flavor it with cinnamon, berries or other fruit.

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