Health & Nutrition contributor Stephanie Reed.
In Health news. Thanks to clever marketing we’ve now been conditioned to believe that the best breakfast for children only comes out of a multi-coloured box.
Cereal manufacturers use various advertising and marketing ploys to target kids. Cartoon characters, bright colours and offers of cheap plastic toys attract your child’s attention .
Then your kids hassle you in the supermarket aisles to buy it. Many of us know that scenario very well.
So what’s wrong with boxed cereals?
– The grain that is used to make the flake, puff, hoop or square is usually refined , removing the nutrients and fibre that are naturally present in perfect balance within the grain.
– Since the grains are stripped of nutrients manufacturers add back vitamins and minerals – eg Fortified with Iron – but in a form less easily used by the body.
– Most have high amounts of sugar added. Fructose Corn syrup is often used because it’s cheap. But the problem with fructose is that it is addictive – as you eat it you never achieve a feeling of being satisfied and the body rapidly stores fructose as fat, leading to obesity.
– The combination of refined cereal and high quantities of sugar can spike blood sugar levels, and may account for hyperactivity and lack of concentration in children.
– Eating boxed cereals encourages you to consume cow’s milk. Almost all people of African and Asian descent do not possess the enzyme to digest the lactose sugar in milk.
So most of us have milk intolerance, meaning that, even though you hadn’t made the connection, headaches, bloating, constipation, bed-wetting, asthma, eczema, or fatigue that you may be experiencing could be the result of drinking cow’s milk.
Photo courtesy www.theoatmealartist.com
What to have instead?
Whizz-up a smoothie for your kids – it’s quick and easy. My teenage daughters now do it for themselves, creating their own favourite combinations of fruit, nuts and juices.
Try blending ripe plantain and cashew nuts (soaked overnight) with filtered tap water or bottled mineral water in a blender. Add a touch of maple syrup if you like. Stevia or raw honey are other good alternatives to sugar. To make a smoothie more creamy use nut milk. You can watch the short video on my blog to see how easy it is to make nut milk .
A smoothie is also a good time to slip in healthy oils that are essential for optimum brain function. Add a tablespoon of hemp seed oil or flaxseed oil in the blender – your kids won’t notice any change in flavour and they will focus much better at school.
For a delicious, warming porridge in cooler seasons, blend oats and cashew nuts (or any other nut, except peanuts) with nut milk. Then heat gently in a pan until just warm. Top with chopped banana , grated apple and maple syrup.
Alternatives to the‘Breakfast in a Box’ need not be more expensive or take more time to prepare.
The best time to instil good eating habits is when your child is young. Help them to avoid obesity, diabetes and other sugar-related illnesses. Take back control of your wallet, your food choices and your childrens’ health.
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