cereal question

Would it be healthy to have cereal twice a day? I find it quite a useful food during recovery cos its something I actually enjoy eating, but I can't help thinking its excessive to have it twice a day. I have yogurts in the day too, so along with the milk that goes with the cereal, it makes quite a lot of dairy. I'm just worried that it will make my diet very unbalanced.

Any advice much appreciated!

thanks xx

I have oats twice a day quite frequently - as breakfast and a snack before bed. I also generally eat yogurt twice a day and usually have some sort of cheese somewhere.

I haven't had any ill affects because of it. And, if you're recovering from an ED or an underweight female, the extra calcium is going to be extremely beneficial to you. We have a higher risk for developing osteopenia or osteoperosis. So calcium is your best friend in helping to hopefully prevent or remedy any bone loss.

There's nothing wrong with having cereal twice a day, as long as you are getting adequate proteins, fats and carbs elsewhere through out the day and cereal isn't your mainstay.

If you really like cereal...I think twice a day is fine.  Of course, you may want to read the ingredients and the nutrition label on the cereal you eat and make sure it's not full of fillers and sugar!  And maybe instead of drinking dairy milk in your cereal you can drink vanilla soymilk.  It has about the same protein and tastes deliciously yummy in cereal.  You can get a small carton at the store for less than two dollars to try it out and if you don't like it then no harm done!

thank you so much for the replies :)

rebelchick1017, I've read a lot of your posts and know how much you know about all these things, so Im super glad you replied :) Yeah, Im actually getting a bone scan next week to check for bone loss. I guess i shouldn't worry too much about the dairy thing, i think I've just been brainwashed by all those things you read telling you dairy is really bad for you and you shouldn't have too many portions of it, yada yada.. 

I feel better after your reassurance, so i think i will start having it twice. thanks !  :)

kfirth1, yeah I eat weetabix (im from the UK, its maybe just a british cereall?) which is low in sugar and doesn't have any weird stuff in it so it is fine :) Im really intrigued by vanilla soymilk though! Would i be able to get that from a normal supermarket?

You should be able to get it anywhere.  I get it from the local market and it comes in chocolate too! If the supermarket doesn't have it just ask them and a lot of times they will order it in for you!

cereal is soo good even hot cereal like oats i usually have it twice a day but you should opt for the best wholesome brands of cereal only cos the sugar in some other brands are a shocker and they lead to not such a happy trip to the dentist thats an ouch for your teeth but even more for your wallet!

I second the soya milk!! I'll never go back to ordinaly milk now lol.  I also have 2 cereals a day and loads of yoghurt :)  Uk girl here too, you should try Grape Nuts cereal (get it in tesco), it is soo yummy and it is a denser cereal too so it is great for mixing into yoghurt

I'm also from the UK and always use soya milk, basically because I'm lactose intolerant.

I use alot of soya yoghurt too, and also the Arla Lactofree natural yoghurt, that is made with cows milk but has been treated to remove the lactose.

As for cereals, I often have a bowl for breakfast and one later in the day.  My favourite is no added salt or sugar meusli, but I also eat bran flakes and malties.  Basially, anything that isn't high in sugar - don't like all those highly sugared cereals like frosties or coco pops.

Grape Nuts is a great recommendation too!

Thank you so much for the replies everyone, i never expected such a helpful response!

Its good to know its not out of the ordinary to have it twice a day, then. Im going to look for some soya milk tomorrow, im hoping I'll find some vanilla stuff! This might be a ridiculous question, but does soya milk have the same amount of calcium in it though as cows milk?! The dietician I see is always keen to push for lots of calcium, for obvious reasons..

I find it hard to have any other cereal apart from weetabix, cos i freak out about measuring the right amount of other cereals :( Im going to start, though, because i love cereal and I obviously im trying to work on getting rid of these ED behaviours. :)...I was going to try Bran Flakes, but Grape Nuts sounds intruiging! I'll look in Tesco :)

If you weigh your cereal, they are all pretty much 80 cals for 23grams so there is no need to be scared! You should try granola though it is really good!

If you get alpro soya then this has added calcuim and vitamins in it and you do get a vanilla version, though the original is quite sweet and tasty!