If You Give a Mouse a Cookie….

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie….

A book report by Kansas City Dietitian, Glenna Moe

Do you grab a breakfast bar in the morning?  How do you know if you are grabbing a cookie or a healthy breakfast replacement?  I hate to break (fast, get it, Break-fast, I know, I’m losing it.)  this to you but 95% of the “Nutritious Breakfast Bars” are actually cookies.  Go ahead.  Check it out.  Look at the back of your Nutri-bar and compare it to a chocolate cookie.  I bet the cookie will be lower in calories but other than that the nutrition will be about equal.  Please say it ain’t so! 

To find a decent bar follow these guidelines: 

1. Read the ingredient list on the back of the package.  If the first ingredient is wheat flour, you are in trouble.  Look for ingredients like rolled oats, chopped dates, dried blueberries, etc. 
2. Look at the nutrition label to discover the grams of fiber and protein.   A good bar will have at least 5 grams of each. 
3. Sodium- less is always better.  It should be less than 200 milligrams.
4. And of course calories DO count. 

If you are looking for some alternatives:

• Buy large bags of dried fruit and unsalted nuts from Costco or Sam’s.  Mix together and put in baggies to grab as you head out of the door. 
• Grab a stick of string cheese and an apple.
• Grab a slice of 100% whole wheat bread, spread lightly with natural peanut butter or almond butter. (Caution- don’t lick the knife- too many extra calories.)
• Grab a handful of raw almonds and a banana. 

Any of these are better than most breakfast bars.  So, if you are going to eat a “breakfast bar” you might as well grab a cookie.  They taste better anyway. 

Bet you never thought I would tell you to eat a cookie, did you?

Beware, when you start the day with a Cookie, it is downhill from there…. just like the book.

If You Give a Mouse a Cookie…. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFKzriYtEt8

WD