Start
your day with these Winners in taste, nutrition and convenience.
Links
go to the manufacturers' Web sites, where more information
(including ingredients and online ordering, for some) is
available. Click on product photo to see Nutrition
Facts (data not verified by Winning
Foods).
NOTES:
See Definitions page
for a key to the RED
SYMBOLS indicating nutrient/health claims and
organic status.
Steel
cut oats win hands down over flaked oatmeal (especially instant
varieties) in taste and texture and only take a couple more minutes
to prepare. A 1/4 cup (before cooking) serving has 4 g fiber
and 4 g protein. Cook with your favorite dried fruit and/or
serve with nuts and fresh fruit for even more flavor and nutrition.
(www.mccanns.ie)
COLD CEREALS
Kashi
HEART TO HEART Honey Toasted Oat Cereal LF, H, F
This
oat cereal has great crunch and flavor without too much sugar,
and is nutritionally well-balanced: 1.5 g
fat,
5 g fiber,
4 g protein and 5 g sugars. Excellent source (via fortification)
of vitamins A, C, E and various Bs; good source
of iron and zinc.
(www.kashi.com for
ingredients and updated Nutrition Facts)
FROZEN WAFFLES
Lifespring
ORGANIC FLAX PLUS WAFFLES F, Org
Great
taste and texture, due partly to "good"
fats. Canola oil and flax meal add monounsaturated
and omega-3 fatty acids -- a welcome tradeoff from the mostly
dry low-fat waffles out there. Total fat is 8 g (1 g saturated),
fiber 6 g and protein 5 g; good source of iron. Follow
suggestions to thaw slightly before toasting and not to over-toast
(prevents hard texture).
(www.naturespath.com --
click on blue box for updated nutrition and ingredient info)
BREAKFAST SAUSAGE/MEAT/VEGGIE ITEMS
Morningstar
Farms
VEGGIE SAUSAGE PATTIES (formerly BREAKFAST PATTIES) F
Our
tasters liked the flavor and texture of this veggie sausage. While
much lower in fat than traditional pork sausages, there's
still enough fat (3 g per pattie; 0.5 g saturated) to give these
the right sizzle and mouth feel. Plenty of protein (10 g
per pattie), some iron and various B vitamins
(fortified) add to the appeal.
(www.morningstarfarms.com
for updated Nutrition Facts)
These
might look and read like a food scientist's experiment, but they
really satisfy a bacon craving if you don't crave all the fat, nitrates,
etc. of the real thing. Cooked properly (microwave is easiest), they
come out perfectly crisp, but not greasy. Only 60 calories for 2
strips. Excellent source of thiamin (fortified), but not a good source
of protein or fiber.
(www.morningstarfarms.com
for updated Nutrition Facts)
READY-TO-EAT ITEMS (Muffins, etc.)
Baker's
Breakfast Cookie
FRUIT & NUT BREAKFAST COOKIE F
This
cookie is easier to eat than a muffin when you're on the go (i.e.,
one-handed), and has a lot more going for it than most muffins (not
to mention most cookies): great taste and texture plus balanced nutrition
(per 1.5 oz serving, about 1/2 cookie: 3 g fat, good source
of fiber, higher than average protein and iron) (label shows nutrition
for full cookie). Other flavors available.
(www.bbcookies.com --
click on "Breakfast Cookie" then Fruit & Nut for updated Nutrition Facts)
BREAKFAST BAKING MIXES
Bob's
Red Mill
10 GRAIN PANCAKE & WAFFLE MIX F
Great
blend of grains, finely milled for a texture that's light (similar
to thin, Swedish-style), but holds up well to nut butter, syrup,
etc. Nice "country kitchen" taste.
Good source of protein, fiber and calcium. The mix itself is low
in fat
(1 g per generous 1/2 cup serving);
prepared
as directed, fat (from oil and egg) goes up to 10 g (can be reduced
by using less oil and/or no egg yolk). Tasters liked the pancakes
prepared with less water, for slightly thicker cakes.
(www.bobsredmill.com)
YOGURTS/SHAKES
Stonyfield
Farm
SMOOTHIE (various fruit flavors)
(formerly called Drinkable Yogurt) LF,
Org
Appealing
for their convenience (no spoon required), taste and nutrition. Creamy
yet clean (not too thick) texture, and a
little less sugar than
other
drinkable yogurts (per 8 oz serving), but still low in fat
(3 g per 10 oz bottle), and balanced with 2 g fiber and 9 g protein.
Excellent source of calcium. Contains live active cultures. Nutrition
shown is for Raspberry flavor.
(www.stonyfield.com)
Light
yet creamy nondairy beverage with excellent taste,
although a tad high in sugar (but much of it comes from fruit). This
is the best soy smoothie we have evaluated. Excellent source of calcium,
low in fat (3 g per 8 oz), plus 7 g protein from soy. Contains live
active cultures. Nutrition shown is for Raspberry flavor
(8 oz portion), but we liked the Apricot Mango equally well (nutrition
is almost identical for the two).
(www.wholesoy.com)