The morning is without a doubt the best time to kickstart your day with a nutritious and balanced breakfast.
Starting your diet on the right foot at breakfast will allow you to develop the habit of being mindful of the foods you’re feeding your body throughout the rest of the day. It’s essential to be aware of the types of foods that you eat so that you keep calories, fats, and carbs in check, especially when you’re trying to lose weight.
While there are plenty of yummy breakfast foods to choose from, we’ve narrowed down the top breakfast foods you should avoid because they lead to weight gain.
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We all love a hefty bowl of cereal every now and then. Not only can you pour a bowl in literal seconds, many cereals made with whole grains also offer a ton of nutritional benefits. However, sugary cereals are one of the top breakfast foods you should avoid.
In an interview with Prevention, registered dietitian Bonnie Taub-Dix says it’s best to choose cereal brands that have five grams or less of sugar per serving. “A good thing to know is that when there’s a lot of added sugar, there will also be a high carbohydrate number,” Taub-Dix explains. Noted! Stick to a classic whole grain option like Cheerios and you’ll be set.
Another favorite yet unhealthy breakfast food is none other than pancakes. Getting into the habit of eating one too many pancakes regularly can quickly do harm to your waistline. Pancakes are made from refined flour and are often topped with sugar-loaded syrups. It’s okay to indulge every now and then, but we recommend making pancakes a rare occurrence at breakfast time.
Next, let’s talk bacon. Bacon is often considered a breakfast staple when it really should be the opposite of that. Bacon isn’t needed at the table and should be eaten as an occasional treat, not as an everyday breakfast item. Just two slices of bacon can contain 70 calories and 2 grams of saturated fat-- yikes!
In an interview with HuffPost, registered dietitian Meg Hagar reveals just how often you should eat bacon.
“Two slices once a week might be OK for a younger person without health conditioners, whereas two slices once a month might be more appropriate for someone else,” Hagar says.
Busy mornings often mean grabbing breakfast to take with you on-the-go. Let’s face it, it’s tempting and a little too easy to reach for a tasty muffin, scone, or pastry, but you really should think twice about doing so. Morning pastries are really just empty calories that don’t offer you any nutritional benefits.
Healthline explains that such treats have almost no essential nutrients, contain lots of calories, and many preservatives. You’re better off with a quick egg white sandwich or hearty oatmeal.
What are some of your favorite healthy breakfast foods? Let us know your go-to morning meals in the comments below!
