Cornflakes are a quick morning meal for your child. Beware of them!

In the busy morning and lack of time, mothers resort to cornflakes as a quick and easy breakfast option for children. A few spoons of flakes with milk and perhaps some fruit, and the meal is ready in minutes. But behind this simplicity, this popular breakfast hides another side that is less healthy than it seems.

Cornflakes, with their crunchy taste and high sweetness, attract children before adults, thanks to clever marketing that associates them with fun, colors, and cartoon characters. Over time, this quick meal turns into a daily eating habit that is difficult to give up, despite the potential harm it carries.

Indian nutritionist Kavita Devgan explains that cornflakes are low in nutritional value and contain high levels of sugar and simple carbohydrates, which makes them unsatisfying for a long time, and prompts the child to eat more foods during the day. Excessive consumption also leads to “sugar addiction” and difficulty accepting natural foods that are less sweet.

The British Heart Foundation warns that cornflakes, even made from whole grains, are not a complete healthy breakfast if eaten alone, stressing the need to combine them with sources of fiber or fresh fruit.

As for the types flavored with chocolate, honey, or artificial fruits, they are the most dangerous of all, as they contain twice the amount of sugar compared to the traditional types, in addition to artificial colors and flavors and hydrogenated fats that increase the risk of obesity and heart disease.

A study in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity showed that continuous consumption of high-calorie foods such as cornflakes is associated with an increased risk of obesity and difficulty controlling weight, while the American Institute for Cancer Research indicated that excessive consumption of processed foods may lead in the long term to a higher risk of diabetes and high blood pressure.

The solution does not lie in depriving children of their favorite food, but rather in modifying eating habits by introducing more balanced alternatives such as:
– Oatmeal with milk and fruits,
– Yogurt with honey and nuts,
– Whole grain bread with eggs or cheese,
– Or even home-baked chips with no added sugar.

Breakfast is not just the beginning of the day, it is the cornerstone of a child’s health and development. Therefore, it may be time to rethink the meal with which the family starts the morning every day.