Those store-bought packets sure make mornings easy. (Just add water and microwave!) But they’re basically boxed cereal in disguise: Pre-mixed and flavored oatmeals are usually loaded with sugar. What’s more, they’re usually made with instant oats, which are highly processed and lower in fiber than rolled or steel cut oats. If there’s no time for a bowl of regular oatmeal, make a batch of homemade instant oatmeal packets instead. They’re just as quick, but they’re higher in fiber. Plus, you get to control the sugar content.
Even if you choose whole wheat, a slice of bread with fake butter is far from an ideal breakfast. For starters, most buttery spreads and margarines contains trans fats, a dangerous, synthetic fat that can raise bad cholesterol, lower good cholesterol, and up your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Plus, there’s no protein, fruit, or veggies here. If you love toast with breakfast, have a slice of whole grain toast with a little bit of real butter, and enjoy it as a side to something more substantial, like a vegetable omelet.
