Beware the sugar: The hidden dangers of breakfast cereals for kids

Breakfast cereals remain a firm favourite among children. It cannot be denied that this choice is also popular with parents, who appreciate the convenience of a quick breakfast on a busy morning. However, before you pour them into the bowl, take a look at the ingredients.

For years, manufacturers have marketed breakfast cereals as the best choice for breakfast, and images of smiling children enjoying a bowl of cereal bombard us in family films. The notes about vitamins and minerals on the packaging can give parents a false sense of security. However, it is worth taking a closer look because in the seemingly harmless shapes, you can find things that you shouldn't serve to children first thing in the morning.

Many people, especially children, love sweet breakfast cereals. Their taste is undeniably tempting because it is dominated by sweetness. Sugar in cereals can appear in various forms, such as pure sugar or glucose syrup. Unfortunately, this is a simple sugar, which only provides the body with empty calories. It doesn't satisfy hunger for long and can contribute to fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Although they also contain complex carbohydrates in the form of starch or added vitamins, the amount of simple sugars means that even these additions cannot redeem such a breakfast.

The World Health Organization recommends that there should be a maximum of 12.5 grams of sugar in 100 grams of breakfast cereals. Unfortunately, many popular sweet cereals significantly exceed this value. You can protect against this in one way - read the labels and leave overly sweetened products on the shelf instead of serving them to your children.

However, this does not mean you must completely overturn your eating habits and give up your favourite bowl of milk with additives. It's enough to reach for healthier substitutes. These can be porridge oats or millet flakes, which are rich in fibre and improve intestinal function and maintain a feeling of fullness for longer. You can prepare them with milk, yoghurt, or fruits.

You can also find cereals without added sugar and with simple ingredients on the shelves. Thanks to growing consumer awareness, more and more are appearing on the market. When choosing breakfast products, always read the labels and pay attention to the ingredients. By investing in healthier alternatives, we will provide ourselves with energy for the whole day and take care of our health.