Dietitians tell us it's the most important meal of the day and with good reason. After a night's sleep, our bodies have been without food for 8 to 12 hours. We are running on empty and need to refuel. At about 60 cents a serving, cereal and milk are economical and, chosen wisely, can provide the nutrients we need to get our day off to a roaring start. A healthy cereal provides fiber and carbohydrates we need for energy.
Carbohydrates come in two forms, simple and complex.
Simple carbs are sugars with little nutritive value. Complex carbs, sometimes referred to as starches, contain vitamins, minerals and fiber and, at only four calories per gram, are a real nutritional value. Fiber provides bulk, which aids digestion and comes with the added benefit of lowering cholesterol levels. A well-chosen breakfast cereal can boost our daily fiber intake, which is too low for many Americans. When reading labels, you will notice terms such as whole grain, enriched or fortified.