Nutrition

Is a cereal bar a good breakfast?

I never have time to have a decent breakfast, so I tend to grab a cereal bar on the way out of the house. Is it a good alternative?
Leroy Jones, by email

Eating something is better than eating nothing and having your stomach rumble all the way to work, amusing your fellow commuters. However, it’s not advisable to have the same breakfast every day, nor
is a cereal bar really substantial enough to fill you up and stop you snacking later in the morning.

Breakfast is important so make time for it. Get up earlier and making a bowl of instant oats, with a glass of apple juice. The next day have a slice of wholemeal bread with low-fat soft cheese and a fruit smoothie. Foods with a low glycaemic index (GI) provide a steady flow of energy and keep you feeling full until lunch. Have a variety of foods to get a good shot of vitamins and minerals each day.

If you’re really pushed for time, a cereal bar every now and then is fine, and certainly better than an Egg McMuffin, but don’t rely on it every day.