Can Cereal for Dinner Help Me Lose Weight?

You bet your sweet Diet Bippie!

The Diet Cereal Genie can help get those unwanted pounds off, but may also trigger weight gain. Oh no - that's not a good thing at all.  Weight gain?  How?  Well, say you're a Sugar Ant OR say you love whole milk - and lots of it in your cereal.  And say that you don't take time to measure out the cereal and rather than eating 1 serving, you're actually eating 3?  

And say that you're still famished after you've eaten your cereal?  While a bowl of cereal is great for those times when you really want to eat light, but are tired of side salads, there are times when a dieter needs more. We've got so sassy meal suggestions listed below that contain less calories than that measly bowl of cereal. And these healthy suggestions will leave you full for hours to come.

Before we get to those, here are a few suggestions that might help with those taking a Cereal Challenge.

Cereal for Weight Loss Tips

Use skimmed milk rather than whole.  Most whole milk contains about 150 calories; skimmed milk contains about 80 calories.  

Reach for whole grain, high fiber cereals.

Sugar addicts may add 50 or more calories to a bowl of cereal, depending upon how sweet they like it. A healthier additive is one of Mother Nature's natural gifts, such as 1/2 cup of sliced strawberries or 1/2 a small bananas. Fruit is part of the Pyramid and that's a definite plus. Another option is to add no calorie sweetener.  

Be sure to measure out your cereal.  A 3/4 - 1 cup serving is much smaller than one might assume.  And while you're at it, best measure the milk, too.

Cereal also makes a fairly healthy snack when enjoyed without the milk. 1/2 cup should fit the bill, but if we're honest with one another, most individuals use a cup or more on their cereal.

If you find that cereal leaves you hungry, the suggestions below contain less calories than a bowl of boxed dry cereal with 1/2 to 1 cup of milk - about 250 to 350 calories on average. Add fruit as recommended in most Cereal Challenges, and we're over 400 calories!   What's great about our meal suggestions is that they are rib-sticking foods which will leave you feeling full for several hours.

Most Cereal Challenges recommend that a serving of fruit be added to the meal.  All fruit calories are NOT created equal.  A serving of strawberries contains about 45 calories while a banana contains about 80 calories.

Keep in mind that most the of Cereal Challenges recommend replacing TWO meals per day with cereal and fruit PLUS the third meal should be sensible (i.e. low in fat and calories) - with results of average weight loss of 10 pounds within a 12-week period.  That's three months, by the way.  12 weeks just sounds better.

Results of studies such as these should provide the average weights of the individuals participating in the Cereal Challenge for consumer point of reference.  Someone with a lot of weight to lose SHOULD lose far more weight that 10 pounds in a three month period when following a calorie-reduced diet.  Actually, about two pounds per week for a total weight loss of 24 pounds.  

Rib-Sticking Meals for 250 Calories (a little more or less)

1. Hold the Fort for Beans & Bread:  No need to cook beans for hours.  Just grab your favorite canned beans at the market, along with a loaf of whole grain bread.  Want butter on that bread?  Best grab a bottle of no calorie butter spray.  

Calories:  1/2 cup of beans = 150 calories, 1 slice of wheat bread = 70 calories for a total of 220 calories

Another plus?  The beans, the bread and the butter spray will cost you less than the cereal alone.  There's still the milk to buy.

If you purchase the Bush beans, it'll do ya for six meals.  What a Diet Deal!

2. Oats for Satiety Power!:  A serving of oatmeal with 1/2 cup of skimmed milk and no calorie butter - and a bit of Splenda or no calorie sweetener will cost a mere 190 calories!  You'll be feeling full for hours to come.

3. Fried Tator Medley:  You'll need 1 small potato thinly sliced and 1/2 bag of your favorite mixed vegetables.  Oh - and a can of cooking spray.

Spray non-stick skillet with cooking spray and add sliced spuds.  Cook until they reach preferred tenderness.  Remove; add mixed veggies and cook until done.  Add salt, pepper and no calorie butter if desired.

Calories:  1 small tator = 120 calories, 1/2 package of mixed veggies = 60 calories for a total of 180 calories

Another plus?  The vegetables are a stronghold of the Food Pyramid packed with nutrients.  

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