Every morning just before she leaves for work, 38 year old Kirti Sharma looks at herself in the mirror trying to figure out if her new found weight management mantra is working. What she sees probably makes her happy for she permits herself a smile before taking off for work. Kirti, who is a senior executive with a multinational company, has been trying to remain in shape for quite some time now. And it seems to be working finally. “I tried every trick in the book but for a long time it looked like I was not getting it right. Then a friend suggested that it was probably my diet playing spoilsport. She was right”, says KirtiKirti consulted a nutritionist who put the blame on her dietary habits, especially skipping breakfast. Amongst other things, she recommended a low fat, high fibre breakfast cereal and emphasized that together with other changes such as choosing smaller portions and exercising regularly, it could prove important to her weight management plans. Kirti was a little skeptical at first. “I had never thought it could have anything to do with breakfast but I decided to take the nutritionist’s advice anyway. I am glad I made that decision”.Research shows that people who eat a low fat breakfast tend to be slimmer than those who don’t. Research also demonstrates that cereal eaters tend to be slimmer, have healthier body weights and lower BMI than non-cereal eaters. Breakfast cereals, especially the ones that are made with whole grains, are low in fat, high in fibre and contain many essential nutrients, are good breakfast cereal options. Choose a ready-to-eat breakfast cereal like Kellogg’s Special K or muesli. For Kirti, low-fat breakfast cereals have become an important part of her daily breakfast and combined with a few other changes such as watching her portions and getting some exercise, the results have already begun to show. She has quite a few envious glances to contend with these days. The poise and confidence, she feels have returned.“There are many women who want to be fit and stay in shape or manage their weight. To attain this, they strive hard. Many of them think that things like skipping breakfast will help them manage their weight. But the fact is that missing may lead to weight gain,” says Anuja Agarwala, chief dietitian, AIIMS.“Breakfast is without a doubt, the most important meal of the day” says Anuja. “Skipping breakfast usually means getting hungry before lunch time and being tempted to eat unhealthy snacks by mid-morning or to eat more at lunch. Unfortunately this is something the majority of women in India seem to be barely conscious of. Studies bear out that a large number of Indian women either skip, skimp or have a high-fat breakfast” she says. A high fibre, low fat breakfast every day can go a long way in helping shape a new you.
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