What better way to start the day than a delicious bowl of ready brek? This cereal is loved in the UK, and for a valid reason: it is delicious and keeps you full. However, being diabetic, should we be having some of this awesome porridge? Here is all you should know about ready brek for diabetics:
What is ready brek?
In the ’90s we saw a lot of inventions technologically and even in the food sector, and one such invention is the Ready Brek, which was originally discovered through an experiment carried out by a manager at J. Lyons and Co. (known for cakes, ice creams, and teas) and then launched into the markets in 1957 before being sold to Weetabix in 1990.
This instant breakfast cereal or porridge derived from whole grain oats once offered the banana, strawberry, butterscotch, golden syrup, toffee, gingerbread, and honey flavors, which are now discontinued. The only flavors you’d find on shelves in supermarkets are the original flavor and the chocolate flavor, which is my favorite.
Is ready brek healthy?
Ready brek is a healthy way to start your day, depending on your entire food intake for the day, what you eat the ready brek porridge with, and your dietary requirements. Most cereals lose their nutrients while they are being processed—this impacts the taste positively but impacts the nutrient content negatively.
This situation is managed by fortifying the products with nutrients such as iron, calcium, and vitamins (like in the case of ready brek). So, if you’re on supplements, you’d like to make sure you don’t over supplement your vitamin needs as it can be toxic.
Besides that, ready brek contain vitamin D, which is essential for proper immune function and promotes calcium absorption in the gut. Also, its oats content has soluble fiber, which increases facial bulk and reduces LDL (bad cholesterol).
Breakfast’s impact on blood sugar
Research has revealed that a breakfast consisting of high-protein, high-fat, and lower carbs can help regulate blood sugar levels and aid in maintaining a proper weight. Since proteins and fats keep you full, you’ll be less likely to be tempted to snack on junk as the day progresses.
Is ready brek good for diabetes?
Ready Brek is one of the best cereals for diabetics. A diabetic could have two sachets of ready-brek per sitting without experiencing complications. Each 30g sachet of ready-brek contains 3.6 g of proteins, 17.4 g of carbs, 2.6 g of fats, and 2.37 g of fiber, and has a glycemic index of 51—making it a decent breakfast starter for diabetics.
Accompanying this porridge with high-fiber and protein-containing nuts like almonds or other high-fiber toppings makes the meal even better. So why do we recommend Ready Brek despite its carbohydrate content? Oats used in ready brek are highly diabetic friendly; they contain loads of fiber and are also complex carbs that digest slowly and release glucose into the bloodstream in a regulated manner.
I have managed my condition as a diabetic for over 10 years, and from the basic things I learned from all these years—being diabetic does not mean you’ll scrape out sugar or carbs from your diet; rather, depending on your type of diabetes, you can only eat in line with your carb ration for the day. In fact, if you go a day or two without eating carbs, lethargy will prevent you from being productive. So, you need carbs and sugar, but they have to be in line with your daily values as advised by your dietician.
Other cereals diabetics could have
Besides ready brek, you could equally enjoy some other cereals that had an adequate ratio of fiber per serving, like:
- Kix
- Wheaties
- Fiber One
- Cheerios
- Cascadian
- Post bran flakes
- Quaker Crunchy Corn Bran
Summing Up
Ready brek is such a satisfying porridge, and the good news is that it is safe for diabetics to consume in moderate amounts (no more than two sachets per sitting). With added high-fiber nuts or other toppings, the porridge becomes even safer for diabetics.
