oatmeal vs cereal?

Question

i am on diet and usually every morning i have cereal and skimmed milk i was thinking to cut down the part of cereal and have oatmeal...i wanted to know if oatmeal is healthy and has less calories then any other cereal i want the nutrition fact for it..i really dont want any unneccessary calories..Thank you

Answer 1

I would recommend oats (porridge) for breakfast if you're on a diet for a number of reasons. Per quantity it has a similar amount of calories than cereals but since it expands when cooked you eat a lot less. It also has loads more fibre which is slow burning and will keep you full for longer. More protein too which is obviously good for you.

Remember it's not all about the calories. There's no point having a low calorie breakfast for you to have something to eat mid morning!

A great recipe to spice up your oats is to add a pinch of salt, mixed spice and apple while it's cooking. It's delicious and no need to add milk!

Answer 2

Yasmin,

Oatmeal is a cereal. It is a whole grain cereal with more fiber than most of the processed/refined breakfast foods in a box type cereals.

A serving of oatmeal has about 150 calories. Prepared breakfast cereals come in a large range of calories .... read the labels. Some are enriched and some are natural food.

Oatmeal does not contain high fructose corn syrup. I usually add just a touch of honey or real maple syrup to mine since both are extra sources of calcium.

For more information on the nutritional value of oatmeal and other foods click on this source.

Answer 3

I think that oatmeal has less calories then cereal, or most cereals especially when adding milk but to flavor oatmeal a lot of people add sugar. You could sweeten it with splenda or add some fruit. Also if you get the oatmeal that comes in the pouches its easier to measure how much you eat whereas cereal its very easy just to keep pouring more in the bowl. Some cereals with a lot of sugar can also have a lot more calories

Answer 4

Most all whole grain cereals are a healthy choice, but organic oatmeal is superior in many vitamins and will keep the hunger down longer! The soluble fiber in oatmeal absorbs a considerable amount of water which significantly slows down your digestive process. This results is that you'll feel full longer, i.e. oatmeal can help you control your weight.
New research suggests that eating oatmeal may reduce the risk for type 2 diabetes. In fact, the American Diabetes Association already recommends that people with diabetes eat grains like oats. The soluble fiber these foods help to control blood glucose levels.
I eat McCann's Irish Oatmeal and I love it!!

Answer 5

I think cereal and oatmeal would be equally healthy as long as you eat the plain stuff and the add things to it since the flavored oatmeal can have a little too much sugar added. Oatmeal is a great source of water soluable fiber which will help you heep full longer and is often recommended in a "heart smart" diet. I love plain oatmeal with almonds, raisins, cinnamon, and honey. It seems more substantial than plain cereal.

Answer 6

If you are thinking of having oatmeal, the best thing you can do is have plain oatmeal and add fresh fruit or nuts, versus the preflavored packaged versions. This has less sugar and will keep you fuller longer.

I love Kashi crunch cereal with skim milk. It keeps you satisfied much longer than most cereals due to the high fiber. It also tastes great unlike most fiber cereals.

Hope this helps!

Answer 7

My doctor recommended that I give my son rice cereal first. He hated it with a passion, so I actually just moved right to the stage 1 foods. But if you aren't comfortable with that you can always go to the oatmeal next ( I think Barley is the cereal that causes some gas). If you decide to go the stage 1 foods, start with one kind and feed for 3 days and watch for reactions. If no reaction, move onto another and do the same thing. When you have gotten through them you can mix and match as you like. Watch the pears, though. They pack a punch and will cause exploding diapers. I always use pears when my son is constipated - they never fail. You can also mix the fruits and veggies in with the cereals, as well as juices. Good luck!

Answer 8

Depends on the cereal.

Various grains are very health and do different things... some people get a better benefit from oats, some get a better benefit from wheat, some get a better benefit from bran, etc, etc.

That being said, oatmeal is very healthy and non-sugary cereals should be basically as healthy. For the most part, it's a personal choice of taste and preference.
You could ask a nutritionist or dietitian which one would be the best for you in particular, too.

Answer 9

i don't know about the whole "calorie" aspect, but i do know that oatmeal is very healthy and has a lot less additives than cereal. a good thing to remember is to cook it with water instead of milk, that should cut down on some calories.

Answer 10

Well done for staying on the diet, I have been having porridge which is the organic large oatmeal flakes I think its the same as you mean. Yes its def better for you as I believe its healthier and less calories than the cereal. I believe most cereal contains hidden sugars therefore they are higher in calories.