Is cereal an under-rated food in your diet?
We’ve all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and if you are someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy eating early in the morning, a healthy cereal may just change your mind. As bodybuilders, we are mindful of what we eat. Traditionally, cereal has that reputation of being either dry and bland, or jam-packed with sugar. And both of those sound miserable.
But companies have begun to produce cereal that can actually work for your gains and taste great. A healthy cereal doesn’t have to be boring. It can be something that you will want to enjoy at any time of day, whether that be for breakfast, a mid-morning snack, or something even pre- or post-workout to give you fuel and fire you up.
But what do you look for in a healthy cereal? How do you decide what is best for your bodybuilding gains when you think so hard about what you consume? A healthy cereal that is actually worth your time and money may seem difficult to find, but it is easier now more than ever. As companies have evolved, so too have their products to match your intended goals.
Let’s take a closer look at cereal. The benefits of it, what to look for, how it can help your bodybuilding goals, and we will even offer up one of our favorites so you can get started without the hassle of having to look.
Benefits Of Cereal For Bodybuilding
A good cereal will provide for load of benefits and aid in those bodybuilding goals. But knowing the benefits may just change your mind if you feel unsure about what a healthy cereal can actually do for you.
- Aid in muscle growth: Something high in protein with a good ratio of carbs and fat will give your body the necessary tools to boost growth and increase overall size.
- Pump you with nutrients: Give your body the proper nutrients including things like protein, carbs, fat, vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients to stay healthy overall and make sure you get that daily intake of everything (1).
- Keep you full: With the right balance of macronutrients, a good cereal will keep you full and improve gains all while helping you manage your weight better.
- Enhance recovery: Work to replenish glycogen stores after workouts and fuel your muscle cells to bounce back faster to ensure a more efficient recovery (2).
What To Look For In A Healthy Cereal
Knowing what to look for in a healthy cereal can make or break your gains. Ingredients matter and the nutritional label cannot lie. Something that is healthy will actually be healthy and not just some marketing ploy. Here are some things to consider when looking for your healthy cereal:
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Amount Of Protein
Protein is obviously essential for seeing great gains and a cereal worth you time will be packed with protein to not only help keep you full, but continue to pump you with protein as you seek to hit your daily limit. Plus, this is a good source of fuel if you are taking this pre- or post-workout.
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Other Macros
The ratio to other macronutrients is something to consider as well for something high in fat and carbs will derail the amount of protein. Carbs may be a given, which is okay within reason, but for those following certain diets, like keto, ensuring low net carbs will keep you on track.
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Amount Of Sugar
So many of those fun cereals are packed with sugar which is obviously a gains killer. By working with something low in sugar, yet still great tasting, you can find a healthy cereal you will enjoy. Don’t settle for something just because your experience in the past may have not been great.
Going off taste, make sure you have a great tasting cereal to aid in all your goals. To tie into sugar, it is possible to find something tasty without it being pumped with sugar. A variety of flavors will keep you coming back for more and you won’t be disappointed by the results.
How Cereal Can Help Those Bodybuilding Goals
Ultimately, a healthy cereal will offer nutrients and a great balance of macronutrients to help those bodybuilding goals so you see the best gains possible. With great taste and the ability to provide for a host of benefits, you will find that a healthy cereal is what you need to feel good and perform even better.
Featured Cereal For Bodybuilding
We wanted to share a great cereal so you can get started on your way without the fear of having to comb through an endless amount of products. Knowing what to look for and having a product to compare to, you can better tackle those goals for the better.
Magic Spoon
Magic Spoon is everything you want out of your cereal in terms of taste and texture. With 11g protein, this low carb cereal has 0g sugar to provide a healthy option.
Magic Spoon is everything you want out of your fitness cereal as it looks and tastes like all your favorites. Packed with 11g protein per serving, this cereal is perfect of breakfast or a post-workout meal. Being low carb and keto-friendly, you have 0g sugar per serving making this cereal conducive to virtually all diets. With all ingredients being non-GMO and gluten-free, as well as being free from anything artificial, you know exactly what is in your cereal so as to not ruin a great product.
Price: $39.00/4 Boxes
Check out our list of the Best Cereals for more great healthy cereal options!
Wrap Up
A healthy cereal has the ability to take your gains to the next level and with the right approach, plus knowing what to look for, you can better tackle any and all of those goals. Your gains matter and you as a dedicated bodybuilder and athlete know what it takes to succeed. By putting a priority on your health and wellness, a healthy cereal is exactly what you need for breakfast, a mid-morning snack, or for that pre- and post-workout fuel to keep your powered for any workout.
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*Images courtesy of Envato
References
- Fayet-Moore, Flavia; McConnell, Andrew; Tuck, Kate; Petocz (2017). “Breakfast and Breakfast Cereal Choice and Its Impact on Nutrient and Sugar Intakes and Anthropometric Measures among a Nationally Representative Sample of Australian Children and Adolescents”. (source)
- Kammer, Lynne; Ding, Zhenping; Wang, Bei; Hara, Daiske; et al. (2009). “Cereal and nonfat milk support muscle recovery following exercise”. (source)