For so many people, nothing says morning like the light tinkling of cereal hitting a porcelain bowl followed by a flood of milk in the morning. Aside from our attachment to cereal as a childhood staple, lots of us love cereal as grown-ups because it’s so quick and easy. But what’s the best cereal for weight loss?
In general, I think that you’ll be on your way to losing the weight you want faster if you start your day with a more substantial meal such as eggs, a low sugar, high protein smoothie, or high fiber bread with avocado and sprinkling of cayenne or cumin on top.
That said, it’s not like you can’t ever have cereal again and still lose weight if you enjoy it.
In this post, I’ll show you
- The three things to look for on every cereal box that make cereal better for weight loss
- Cereal brands and flavors that are the best for weight loss
- Compare the best cereal for weight loss to ones that aren’t good for weight loss
Best cereal for weight loss
The trifecta for finding the best cereal for weight loss is looking for options that are:
- Low carb
- High protein
- High in fiber
This is because too many fast-burning carbs and sugars are the main reason breakfast cereal gets negative points for weight loss. Protein and fiber help to balance this out by slowing digestion and the breakdown of sugars. (1)
Here’s the list of the best cereal for weight loss.
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Healthy cereal list vs. not-so-healthy cereal list
Obviously, any high-sugar kids cereal is out of the question if you want to lose weight. Simple carbs, lots of sugar and artificial ingredients are a surefire way to blockade your weight loss.
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Let’s compare the best cereal for weight loss to some high-sugar, high-carb options.
Eating cereal to lose weight
I really suggest eating as anti-inflammatory as possible to lose weight and feel your best overall. Anti-inflammatory means minimally processed, (1) and obviously, cereal is a highly processed food.
But if you really enjoy eating cereal, or want to have it a couple of days a week, eating the best cereal for weight loss will still help you lose weight, it will just be slower.
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When it comes to choosing milk for your cereal, unsweetened almond milk is a good option because it’s low in sugar. If you get unsweetened vanilla, it adds a bit of sweetness too. I advise against using any sugar or artificial sweeteners, but you can always sprinkle nature’s sweet fat-burning spice, cinnamon!
Dairy milk has protein on its side, but it does also contain natural sugars. If you prefer dairy milk, it’s actually better to pick 2% or whole milk instead of skim milk. This is because the natural fat in milk slows the absorption of sugars and helps you feel full for longer. (3)
The whole milk fat also helps your body absorb vitamin D and other vitamins in the milk, (3) as well as possibly help prevent diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. (4)
Just make sure you pay attention to serving size with both cereal and milk.
You can also add a sprinkle of cinnamon for sweetness and extra fat-burning, no matter which milk you use.
What cereal from your childhood do you still dream about? Have you found a grown-up alternative in this list that will give you that satisfying crunch without the added sugars and carb-heavy weight gain?
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