Can A Healthy Cereal Really Affect Bodybuilding Goals?

Is Cereal an Underrated Food in Your Diet?

We’ve all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It fuels you for what your day may throw at you. If you are someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy eating early in the morning, or you do not have time, a healthy cereal may just change your mind.

As bodybuilders, we are mindful of what we eat. Traditionally, cereal has that reputation of being either dry and bland, or jam-packed with sugar. Frankly, both of those sound miserable. However, there is hope for us yet.

But companies have begun to produce cereal that can actually work for your gains and taste great. A healthy cereal doesn’t have to be boring. It can be something that you will want to enjoy at any time of day, whether that be for breakfast, a mid-morning snack, or something even pre or post workout to give you fuel and fire you up.

The question is, what do you look for in a healthy cereal? How do you decide what is best for your bodybuilding gains when you think so hard about what you consume? A healthy cereal that is actually worth your time and money may seem difficult to find. However, it is easier now more so than ever. As companies have evolved, so too have their products to match your intended goals.

Let’s take a closer look at cereal. The benefits of it, what to look for, and how it can help your bodybuilding goals. We will even offer up one of our favorites so you can get started without the hassle of having to look.

Benefits Of Cereal For Bodybuilding

A good cereal will provide for load of benefits and aid in those bodybuilding goals. But knowing the benefits may just change your mind if you feel unsure about what a healthy cereal can actually do for you.

• Aid in muscle growth: Look for something high in protein with a good ratio of carbs and fat. This will give your body the necessary tools to boost growth and increase overall size.
• Pump you with nutrients: Cereal can also give your body the proper nutrients. This includes things like protein, carbs, fat, vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients. This helps you stay healthy overall and make sure you get that daily intake of everything (1).
• Keep you full: With the right balance of macronutrients, a good cereal will keep you full. This will improve gains all while helping you manage your weight better as you won’t be overeating.
• Enhance recovery: Cereal can work to replenish glycogen stores after workouts. It can also fuel your muscle cells to bounce back faster to ensure a more efficient recovery (2).

What To Look For In A Healthy Cereal

Knowing what to look for in a healthy cereal can make or break your gains. Ingredients matter and the nutritional label cannot lie. Something that is healthy will actually be healthy and not just some marketing ploy. Here are some things to consider when looking for your healthy cereal:

• Amount Of Protein

First off, protein is obviously essential for seeing great gains and a cereal worth you time. Good cereal will be packed with protein to not only help keep you full, but continue to pump you with protein as you seek to hit your daily limit. Plus, this is a good source of fuel if you are taking this pre or post workout.

• Other Macros

Next, the ratio to other macronutrients is something to consider as well. Something high in fat and carbs will derail the amount of protein. Carbs may be a given, which is okay within reason. For those following certain diets, like keto, ensuring low net carbs will keep you on track.

• Amount Of Sugar

Another thing is the amount of sugar. many of those “fun” cereals are packed with sugar which is obviously a gains killer. By working with something low in sugar, yet still great tasting, you can find a healthy cereal you will enjoy. Don’t settle for something just because your experience in the past may have not been great.

• Taste

Finally, going off taste, make sure you have a great tasting cereal to aid in all your goals. To tie into sugar, it is possible to find something tasty without it being pumped with sugar. A variety of flavors will keep you coming back for more and you won’t be disappointed by the results.

How Cereal Can Help Those Bodybuilding Goals

Ultimately, a healthy cereal will offer nutrients and a great balance of macronutrients to help those bodybuilding goals so you see the best gains possible. With great taste and the ability to provide for a host of benefits, you will find that a healthy cereal is what you need to feel good and perform even better.

Featured Cereal For Bodybuilding

Finally, we wanted to share a great cereal so you can get started on your way without the fear of having to comb through an endless amount of products. Knowing what to look for and having a product to compare to, you can better tackle those goals for the better.

Transparent Labs UNCUT Protein Cereal

This is everything you want out of your fitness cereal as it looks and tastes like some of your favorites. Transparent Labs packs their cereal with 20g protein per serving, this cereal is perfect for breakfast or a post-workout meal.

Being low carb (about 25g/serving) and low fat (about 11g/serving), you have 1g sugar per serving making this cereal conducive to virtually all diets. The fats come from medium-chain triglycerides, and there are no added sugars, artificial flavors, sweeteners, or gluten.

Coming in two flavors, both Cocoa Crunch and Fruity Splash, you cannot go wrong with this. We have an even more in-depth review as well!

Price: $12.99/box

Serving Size: 1 1/4 cup, total of four servings per container

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Check out our list of the Best Cereals for more great healthy cereal options!

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Wrap Up

All in all, a healthy cereal has the ability to take your gains to the next level and with the right approach, plus knowing what to look for, you can better tackle any and all of those goals. Your gains matter and you as a dedicated bodybuilder and athlete know what it takes to succeed. By putting a priority on your health and wellness, a healthy cereal is exactly what you need for breakfast, a mid-morning snack, or for that pre and post workout fuel to keep your powered for any workout.

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*Images courtesy of Envato

References

1. Fayet-Moore, Flavia; McConnell, Andrew; Tuck, Kate; Petocz (2017). “Breakfast and Breakfast Cereal Choice and Its Impact on Nutrient and Sugar Intakes and Anthropometric Measures among a Nationally Representative Sample of Australian Children and Adolescents”. (source)
2. Kammer, Lynne; Ding, Zhenping; Wang, Bei; Hara, Daiske; et al. (2009). “Cereal and nonfat milk support muscle recovery following exercise”. (source)