Cereals

Gal44

Trying to eat a bit healther and lose a bit of weight so for brekkie at work im now eating one and a half weetabixs with low fat milk but i wonder would bran flakes or all bran be better for me? whats the best low calorie cereal? thanks:)

Stench Blossoms

A better cereal would be none at all.

Porridge or eggs for breakfast.

Frogdog

Stench Blossoms wrote: »

A better cereal would be none at all.

Porridge or eggs for breakfast.

+1 OP. Anything with eggs is in my opinion the best start to the day.

Start eating real food, not processed food if you want to be healthier and lose weight.

SteelyDanJalapeno

All cereals are crap, eggs for the ultimate win

Martian Martin

Protein shakes for brekkie work for me. Easy, cheap and tasty(ish)

JohnMarston

Couldnt start the day without me porridge

ammo23

+1 to all of the above!!

Protein porridge is great...40g oats, 200ml skimmed milk...blast in micro for a couple of mins, take out and add 1-2scoops protein powder, add any berries, honey, cinnamon to taste

If you're looking for a quick and easy alternative then boiled eggs...you can cook up a batch and store in the fridge for upto a week in a sealed container.

not even wrong

Bran Flakes and All Bran are 20% pure sugar. Go for the Weetabix if you absolutely must eat processed breakfast cereal.

christmas2012

flavans high 8 is a new one,you can find it in most supermarkets,its a museli version of flavans its very naturally sweet no bad sugars in it just natural sweetness of apricots,its not as sweet as some muselis with sugar but if you get accustomed to the flavours of raisins and apricots and nuts they have their own sweetness..

Porridge or Weetabix

double GG

If I have time I eat eggs. If I'm short on time, porridge 2mins in the microwave simple.

adox

not even wrong wrote: »

Bran Flakes and All Bran are 20% pure sugar. Go for the Weetabix if you absolutely must eat processed breakfast cereal.

Wow didnt realise All Bran was so high in sugar. Ive been eating it every morning for years as advised by a consultant in hospital.

I use it as one of my main sources of fibre.

I`m in the process of trying to get my cholesterol down so looking at everyhting I eat. I cant really see an alternative to it for a high fibre breakfast.

emeraldstar

adox wrote: »

Wow didnt realise All Bran was so high in sugar. Ive been eating it every morning for years as advised by a consultant in hospital.

And in all those years you never read the box? Not once? I don't know why you're so surprised, all the info is right there.

Hanley

adox wrote: »

I use it as one of my main sources of fibre.

I cant really see an alternative to it for a high fibre breakfast.

Do you eat fruit and veg?

adox

Hanley wrote: »

Do you eat fruit and veg?

Yeah I do eat fruit and veg.

adox

emeraldstar wrote: »

And in all those years you never read the box? Not once? I don't know why you're so surprised, all the info is right there.

Yes I have read the box but was looking for the fibre content not particularly looking or noticing the sugar content, which I thought would have been kind of obvious from my initial post.

another question

Martian Martin wrote: »

Protein shakes for brekkie work for me. Easy, cheap and tasty(ish)

How do you find them on an empty stomach? I only have to look at one and I feel queasy...

Hanley

adox wrote: »

Yeah I do eat fruit and veg.

Why do you think you need more fibre so?

Blatter

Hanley wrote: »

Why do you think you need more fibre so?

Because his consultant said so, it seems.

Hanley

Blatter wrote: »

Because his consultant said so, it seems.

Yup. The same consultant who told him to eat sugar to get his cholesterol down.

Sounds legit!

adox

Hanley wrote: »

Yup. The same consultant who told him to eat sugar to get his cholesterol down.

Sounds legit!

No, my GP recently told me to get my cholesterol down.

The consultant in the hospital told me to eat more fibre after I was in for a procedure.

another question

Hanley wrote: »

Yup. The same consultant who told him to eat sugar to get his cholesterol down.

Sounds legit!

Ah in fairness guys...none of us know his medical history, he could have had any number of problems that required a high fibre diet. All bran is still considered to be one of the highest fibre breakfast options available and I am fully aware of its sugar content but the body does need some sugar and alot of people agree that the sugar is better consumed into the body earlier in the day when it can be used up effectively than eating a mars bar at 10pm at night and then going to bed...Alot of people take their doctor's advise and never question it...give the guy a break...

Blatter

Hanley wrote: »

Yup. The same consultant who told him to eat sugar to get his cholesterol down.

Sounds legit!

I wouldn't expect any less from the average consultant. Any I've come across/heard about know sweet FA about nutrition and just recycle outdated myths that have been dispelled for years.

Hanley

another question wrote: »

Ah in fairness guys...none of us know his medical history, he could have had any number of problems that required a high fibre diet. All bran is still considered to be one of the highest fibre breakfast options available and I am fully aware of its sugar content but the body does need some sugar and alot of people agree that the sugar is better consumed into the body earlier in the day when it can be used up effectively than eating a mars bar at 10pm at night and then going to bed...Alot of people take their doctor's advise and never question it...give the guy a break...

Sugar/carbs is the one macro nutrient we do NOT need. Some carbs are probably necessary to function optimally, but we simply do not "have to" ingest it.

As for fibre, this is worth reading http://www.paleoeffect.com/the-truth-about-fiber/

adox

Hanley wrote: »

Yup. The same consultant who told him to eat sugar to get his cholesterol down.

Sounds legit!

You need to read my op again.

another question

Hanley wrote: »

Sugar/carbs is the one macro nutrient we do NOT need. Some carbs are probably necessary to function optimally, but we simply do not "have to" ingest it.

As for fibre, this is worth reading http://www.paleoeffect.com/the-truth-about-fiber/

Yes, agree and have read that article before. However, people that do not know what much about proper nutrition won't have a clue about any of that and I am just saying that you can't expect every person who gets advice from their doctor to go making an appointment with a dietican/nutritionist 'just incase' the information they were given was incorrect.

adox

Blatter wrote: »

I wouldn't expect any less from the average consultant. Any I've come across/heard about know sweet FA about nutrition and just recycle outdated myths that have been dispelled for years.

Hanley is incorrect in his post. No one advised me to take sugar(a product with 20% sugar) to get my cholesterol down obviously.

I had a medical procedure done a few years ago and was advised to introduce more fibre in to my diet to help prevent it re- occurring.

I have recently had my cholesterol tested and it is on the high side, as explained to me by my GP.

I've been looking at what I'm eating and seeing what I can do to improve it so decided to have a nose around this part of the forum, saw All Bran mentioned and its sugar content and hence my OP on this thread.

Feels a little like I'm being talked down to here by some.

another question

adox wrote: »

Hanley is incorrect in his post. No one advised me to take sugar(a product with 20% sugar) to get my cholesterol down obviously.

I had a medical procedure done a few years ago and was advised to introduce more fibre in to my diet to help prevent it re- occurring.

I have recently had my cholesterol tested and it is on the high side, as explained to me by my GP.

I've been looking at what I'm eating and seeing what I can do to improve it so decided to have a nose around this part of the forum, saw All Bran mentioned and its sugar content and hence my OP on this thread.

Feels a little like I'm being talked down to here by some.

I wouldn't worry to much about them. If you want to lower your cholesterol you should definitely look into the Benecol products, they can be a little on the expensive side but they do work, a drink in the morning, some olive spread at lunch etc, a yogurt, very easy to integrate into your diet, combined with healthy eating and more exercise should bring it down in line with what is considered the 'normal range'.

Eliminate the cholesterol enducing foods obviously like saturated fats and high sugar foods...doesn't need to be complicated as I'm sure your doctor has already explained.

Blatter

adox wrote: »

Hanley is incorrect in his post. No one advised me to take sugar(a product with 20% sugar) to get my cholesterol down obviously.

I had a medical procedure done a few years ago and was advised to introduce more fibre in to my diet to help prevent it re- occurring.

I have recently had my cholesterol tested and it is on the high side, as explained to me by my GP.

I've been looking at what I'm eating and seeing what I can do to improve it so decided to have a nose around this part of the forum, saw All Bran mentioned and its sugar content and hence my OP on this thread.

Feels a little like I'm being talked down to here by some.

Sorry, didn't mean for it to come across as I was talking down to you, I just really don't rate consultants/GPs advice on nutrition. Most of them regurgitate the food pyramid which has been factually shown to be rubbish.

If I were you, I'd ditch the All Bran for porridge/eggs and increase my vegetable/fruit intake to get the extra fiber in.

What is a typical days diet for you if you don't mind me asking? People on here would be better placed to advise you on how to reduce your cholesterol if they knew.

Orla K

another question wrote: »

I wouldn't worry to much about them. If you want to lower your cholesterol you should definitely look into the Benecol products, they can be a little on the expensive side but they do work, a drink in the morning, some olive spread at lunch etc, a yogurt, very easy to integrate into your diet, combined with healthy eating and more exercise should bring it down in line with what is considered the 'normal range'.

Eliminate the cholesterol enducing foods obviously like saturated fats and high sugar foods...doesn't need to be complicated as I'm sure your doctor has already explained.

Benecol/flora products are a load of crap!
So is the chemical spread otherwise known as olive spread
Yoghurt is good but flavoured ones have sugar, I go for lidl greek yoghurt and protein powder to flavour it.
Also saturated fats should not be avoided.

I'm off to bed, it's far to late for me.

adox

Blatter wrote: »

Sorry, didn't mean for it to come across as I was talking down to you, I just really don't rate consultants/GPs advice on nutrition. Most of them regurgitate the food pyramid which has been factually shown to be rubbish.

If I were you, I'd ditch the All Bran for porridge/eggs and increase my vegetable/fruit intake to get the extra fiber in.

What is a typical days diet for you if you don't mind me asking? People on here would be better placed to advise you on how to reduce your cholesterol if they knew.

My typical day s diet is at the moment:

A bowl of All Bran for breakfast with some seeds on top, usually pumpkin, a cup of tea when I get not work-no sugar and the smallest drop of milk I can add.

Break around 10.30 am is usually more tea and a toasted multi seed pitta.

Lunch - two toasted multi seed pitta and tea. A piece of fruit.
Use the spreads in work for the pittas. Usually Lidls own brand or dairygold or something like that. Low low at home.

Mid afternoon snack - a piece of fruit and more tea.

Dinner - usually one of a chicken fillet dish, something made from turkey mince or a veggie dish.
Chicken dish is usually chicken dish marinated in olive oil and spices and grilled or fried and put in the oven with some veg and either brown rice/bulgar wheat or potatoes, which can either be boiled, mashed or roast. The roast potatoes are par boiled then strained, some olive oil added and then thrown in the oven. Also various curries that can be home made or from a jar.

Turkey mince dish can be anything from spaghetti bolognese to meat loaf or meat balls, usually a homemade tomato based sauce style dish with some veg added.

Veggie dish could be a ratatouille style dish again with bulgar wheat or brown rice or pasta.

A couple of times a week I will have a big bowl of white pasta with a shop bought jar of pasta sauce. I do love pasta and these bowls are probably larger than the average person would eat. I probably cook about 350 gms of pasta per meal.

I've given up chocolate and sweetes/ buscuits again. When I was eating them, I'd probably eat a bar most evenings with a cup of tea.

A couple of evenings a week I`d have some nuts with my tea. Roasted and salted.

In the last few years I've more or less cut red meat out of my diet and also most dairy products. I dont smoke and gave up alcohol about 11 years ago.

I also drink around 2 litres of water a day(apart from the tea.)

There are variations on the above of course but that's the majority of my intake I would say. I don't eat any fish unfortunately as I don't like it.

I'm definitely going to change to porridge in the mornings instead of the All Bran.

Also the timing of my cholesterol test wasn't ideal either. The bloods were taken 3 days after I returned from a 12 day holiday in New York and Las Vegas where I ate like there was no tomorrow!! Burgers, steaks et etc. so I`m sure that didnt help.

g'em

emeraldstar wrote: »

And in all those years you never read the box? Not once? I don't know why you're so surprised, all the info is right there.

Before you were specifically educated about it did you know how to read ingredient labels on food products? Let's not forget that it's still double dutch for the vast majority of people out there. Can we lose the high and mighty attitudes towards these things please, the forum is hear to teach, not to point out and laugh at what people don't know.

adox

adox wrote: »

Hanley is incorrect in his post. No one advised me to take sugar(a product with 20% sugar) to get my cholesterol down obviously.

I had a medical procedure done a few years ago and was advised to introduce more fibre in to my diet to help prevent it re- occurring.

I have recently had my cholesterol tested and it is on the high side, as explained to me by my GP.

I've been looking at what I'm eating and seeing what I can do to improve it so decided to have a nose around this part of the forum, saw All Bran mentioned and its sugar content and hence my OP on this thread.

Feels a little like I'm being talked down to here by some.

To lower cholesterol, you need to improve your whole diet and lifestyle. There is no "quick fix" when it comes to this. Elevated Cholesterol levels in the body can be an indicator of other problems, should you fix the problems or turn off the indicator? Cholesterol is a function of lifestyle and diet.

It's quite straightforward to fix to be honest. But it takes time. Eat real food, do some activity. Real food is anything you could potentially grow or rear yourself. Food made from food, not from boxes, jars, cartons that have e numbers and refined this and that. Keep it simple, and eating is easy, satisfying, and your knowledge of "how" to cook will improve massively too as you get inventive.

With regards to getting fibre into your diet, it's simple for most too. Green leafy veg. Cruciferous vegetables are your heroes too. Spinach, Kale, Brocolli galore. Aim for 2 meals per day that have at least two fistfuls of green vegetables in them.

You're definitely right about sometimes people sounding a bit superior in here, unfortunately it's down to repetition. A lot of people answering the same questions time and time again lose some tact. It's tough to not. Nutrition101 - the sticky at the top of the forum, has loads of information. It is a long read, and you're surely going to have questions, feel free to post some in here if you're not happy to do so in the sticky.

Start today though, the best advice I can ever give anyone about tidying up their intake is to start now, while you are engaged and enthused. Empty the cupboards of the rubbish, go do a full weekly shop where you only buy real food, and don't go back to the shop this week. Meats and greens are the key to a healthy diet. Veg, fruits, nuts, eggs, cheese etc all to be added in too.