Monday, July 20, 2009

What's For Breakfast?

Most diet plans I see give you a bowl of cereal with skim milk and some kind of juice or toast with an egg and coffee. That's all fine and dandy, but doesn't it get old eating the same old thing for breakfast. Never mind, what happens when you do want a bowl of the sugary sweet cereal. Do you feel guilty when you splurge on it?

For me, breakfast is really something I don't give a second thought. I don't eat a bunch, but I do usually make a big one on Sundays. Typically I have a bowl of cereal with 2% milk. I can't stand skim, it tastes like watered down milk. What kind of cereal do I eat, you may be wondering. Today it was Corn Pops, sometimes I have Cocoa Puffs, Cocoa Pebbles, Lucky Charms, Frosted Flakes, Rice Chex, basically whatever strikes my fancy. Milk and any of the above cereals give me 3 points for my breakfast. Just make sure that whatever cereal you eat, you check the label! Some of the above give me 2 points for 1 cup, while others offer 2 points for 3/4 cup. I tend to pick the cereals that give me more, but occasionally I can't resist the call of the really sweet.

What if you don't want cereal? What if you want a real breakfast? Most breakfast foods are fairly low in calories and fat. However there are a few sneaky things you need to watch out for.

Pop Tarts - One of the first sneaky breakfast foods is Pop Tarts, any and all flavors. I used to eat Pop Tarts all the time before I got on my plan. I thought it was a quick and easy breakfast, and with that didn't think it was that bad for me. Did you know, one pastry is 4 points?! Yes, one pastry, in a pack of two, just one is that many. If you had both, then it'd be 8 points! I know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but I don't want to have to give up my other meals just for this one!

Pancakes - This is one of the foods that surprised me. I figured if Pop Tarts were 4 points, then a pancake has got to be pretty high too. Actually, one pancake is 1 point! If you have two, then it's 3 points total. The thing with this is, usually most people put butter and syrup on their pancakes, so you have to add those in too. I can butter and syrup my pancake for 3 points total. Two pancakes with butter and syrup is 6 points. Not bad, but that's usually why I splurge on these with my Sunday breakfast.

Toaster Strudel - Another one that surprised me at first. I thought Pop Tarts would be low, so I thought this would be low too. Boy was I wrong! Just like a Pop Tart, these are 4 points each. Given the choice, I'd choose a Toaster Strudel over a Pop Tart. Sure there is less food with a Toaster Strudel, but it tastes so much better.

Waffles - Similar to pancakes, except costing you 1 more point for one. Again, you have to remember to add in the syrup and butter. One waffle is 5 points with syrup and butter. Another good one to put off until a high points day. But that's not to say that you couldn't work 5 points into your daily total!

Eggs - Some people like them, some don't. I'm one of those that don't really care for eggs. I don't typically figure out the points for these, but I will throw it in for anyone that does like them. One fried egg is only 2 points, but if you add milk, cheese, or anything really, to it, then the points go up. Half a cup of scrambled eggs is 5 points compared to 2 points from a fried one.

Toast - Sometimes, I like to have an English Muffin for breakfast. The good part is it's only 2 points for a muffin, but you have to add in the butter. Bread is typically 2 points, but I've been buying the 45 calorie and 35 calorie breads for only 1 point for two slices. Sara Lee and Earth Grains makes some good low calorie breads in many flavors. French Toast is a different entity though. Two slices of French Toast is 7 points, plus the butter and syrup. This would be a good one to avoid unless you work it in! Along the grains line, I don't recommend bagels because they are higher in calories right off the bat. Then add in some cream cheese and you've got a pretty high calorie breakfast.

Remember, when choosing the most important meal of the day, you add in all the little parts you eat. They add up fast! If you do plan to have a bigger breakfast, try to plan the rest of your day around it. Just don't get bored with the typical, bland, "diet" breakfasts.

1 comment:

  1. I've always heard that breakfast should be a high fiber breakfast. Fills you us and it last longer. I usually will have oatmeal with a piece of whole wheat toast. I'm full till lunch.

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