Nutrition - one to watch:belVita breakfast soft bakes

One to watch...

What: belVita breakfast soft bakes (and belVita biscuits in general!) Choc Chips.

Why: although belVita's manipulative manufacturers have marketed their morning munchies as a source of mandatory micronutrients (they claim to contain vital vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, iron, folic acid and vitamin B6), fibre and 'slow release' carbohydrates, these seemingly sensible breakfast biscuits not only contain a staggering 10g of sugar per 50g serving - adults should consume no more than 30g of the sweet stuff a day and little'uns even less - but they also use a selection of sneaky name substitutes in an attempt to disguise this detrimental ingredient - terms such as isomaltulose (a source of fructose and glucose), dextrose and glucose syrup have all been used alongside the term sugar (that's listed twice).

The best bit: despite their biscuits being a sufficient source of satiety stimulating fibre (this is predominantly found in their wholegrain properties and can aid a feeling of fullness), belVita recommend creating a 'balanced breakfast' by combining their 204 calorie containing breakfast biscuits with a plain dairy product, and a piece of fruit - a combination that will instantly increase our caloric consumption yet create a small and unsubstantial breakfast that will leave many failing to feel satiated on a psychological (and/or physical depending on factors such as appetite and morning activities etc) scale. As belVita biscuits are visually small per serving, we're also more likely to consume more than one, an action that will see us scoffing 408 calories (this is not a problem if our morning meal stems from substantial and nutrient dense food sources) and a staggering 20g of sugar at breakfast alone.

Final thought: what we choose to consume for breakfast can be equally as detrimental as missing our morning meal altogether i.e.missing our meal and failing to choose sensible, satisfying and substantial food and fluid sources can both increase the incidence of overeating as a result of making poor food choices during the day. However, by taking the time to munch a more balanced breakfast e.g.one that provides a sufficient source of slow release complex carbohydrates, fat, protein, fibre and a multitude of micronutrients such as poached eggs on a bed of wholemeal bread served with a glass of water (or milk), and a piece of whole (not juiced/blended) fruit, we're much more likely to sustain sensible food choices and a controlled caloric consumption throughout the day - two factors that play a predominant part in long-term weight loss.

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