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By Heide Kennedy, Arizona Farm Bureau Communications Intern

When my brothers and I were growing up, our favorite thing to have for breakfast each morning was a bowl of cereal. As you can probably imagine, our cereal of choice was definitely not Raisin Bran or Grape Nuts. Our go-to cereals were usually Coco Puffs, Lucky Charms, or Cinnamon Toast Crunch, which taste great but are definitely not the best when it comes to nutrition due to their high sugar and carbohydrate content. Here are a few tips on how to make the best choices when it comes to selecting breakfast cereals.

Look for whole grains.

When picking a cereal, it is important to pick one that is made from whole grains, as whole grains provide you with a great deal of fiber. According to registered dietician Paula Doebrich, fiber is an essential nutrient and most of us aren’t getting enough of it on a daily basis. She says that breakfast cereal is a great way to incorporate more of it into our diets.

Avoid added sugars.

Most breakfast cereals are chock full of added sugars, especially the fun, fruity, kids cereals. While they may be tasty, they are not very healthy for you. So, it is best to look for the cereals that don’t have extra sugar in them. If you still want a bit of sweetness in your bowl, try adding some fruit on top for a little bit of sweetness and extra nutrients.

Pair it with protein.

Cereal is always best with milk, which is a great source of protein. Pairing cereal with a protein helps you to feel fuller for a longer period of time. Doebrich notes that it is wise to pay attention to the amount of protein in the milk that you choose. Plant based milks don’t often have as much protein in a serving as regular milk does.

With that being said, choose your cereals wisely to make sure that your morning starts off great with a nutritious breakfast! Opt for whole grains, low sugar, and add some protein to keep you full and fueled for the rest of your day!

For more health-related articles, check out the Fill Your Plate blog!