Hot and cold: Cereal choices on the Fast Metabolism Diet
Oatmeal is a super food on the Fast Metabolism Diet. It’s got protein, fiber, iron and calcium. But it’s not your only breakfast option if you’re a cereal fan. Remember on the Fast Metabolism Diet, we want to “confuse it to lose it.” That means keeping your body guessing by including lots of different foods. All the foods on the diet contain various micro-nutrients that stimulate different organs and functions in the body, so mix it up with these hot and cold cereal options.
Hot alternatives to oatmeal
Ancient Grains Quinoa Flakes
Oatmeal isn’t the only grain you can enjoy for breakfast. Quinoa is another great choice for a warm cereal, and it’s even starting to show up on restaurant menus. Le Pain Quotidien, a national chain of bakery/coffee shops, now serves warm quinoa porridge for breakfast. It’s easy to make. This recipe for cardamom quinoa porridge would work on Phase 3. Use rice milk in this recipe for Phase 1 (and omit the flax seeds).
Ancient Harvest makes a commercial version, Ancient Harvest Quinoa Flakes. You can make a hot cereal, or use the quinoa flakes to make pancakes or waffles.
Pocono Cream of Buckwheat
Buckwheat can also be made into a warm cereal on Phase 1. We found Pocono Cream of Buckwheat in a local Whole Foods store. The only ingredient is organic buckwheat. For both quinoa and buckwheat hot cereals, the portion for Phase 1 would be 1 cup cooked. The portion for quinoa hot cereal is 1/2 cup cooked for Phase 3. If you use rice milk in the recipe for Phase 1, decrease the portion to about 3/4 cup since rice milk also adds a grain.
Cold cereals
In the hot months of summer, simmering quinoa or buckwheat might not sound appealing. There are some cold cereals that will work on the diet, but be very careful. Almost all cold cereals available in the U.S. have added sugar. Even organic cereals and cereals from health-food brands include sugar, agave, cane syrup, or other types of sugar.
So look for brands with as few ingredients as possible, and no added sugar.
You might be familiar with the Ezekiel 4:9 line of grain products, including sprouted grain bread. There are several Ezekiel 4:9 cold cereals that use the same ingredients as the sprouted grain bread. The plain version (in the orange box) works for Phase 1 and Phase 3; the Flax and Almond varieties, which include nuts and seeds, would be appropriate for Phase 3.
Ezekiel 4:9 Cereal
These cereals are very dense, so on Phase 1, use 1/2 cup cereal with 1/4 cup rice milk (plus your Phase 1 fruit, of course). On Phase 3, use 1/4 cup with 1/4 cup almond milk or coconut milk. You could also use the cereals dry to make a crunchy topping for baked fruit — delicious for breakfast.
Nature’s Path Kamut Puffs
If you like a lighter cereal, Nature’s Path Kamut Puffs contain only organic kamut, nothing else. You can enjoy this cereal on Phase 1. Since it’s a lighter, less dense cereal, about 3/4 cup on Phase 1 plus 1/4 cup rice milk would be appropriate.
Arrowhead Mills makes three cold cereals that would be appropriate for the Fast Metabolism Diet: Arrowhead Mills Puffed Rice Cereal, Puffed Millet Cereal, and Puffed Kamut Cereal. These are also light cereals, so the portion would be the same as for the Nature’s Path Kamut Puffs on Phase 1.
Arrowhead Mills Puffed Rice
Let us know if you find any other cereals that will work on the diet. It’s tough to find brands that don’t add sugar. Of course, if you like them sweeter, you can always add your own stevia or xylitol to any of these cereals.
Oatmeal is a super food on the Fast Metabolism Diet. It’s got protein, fiber, iron and calcium. But it’s not your only breakfast option if you’re a cereal fan. Remember on the Fast Metabolism Diet, we want to “confuse it to lose it.” That means keeping your body guessing by including lots of different foods. All the foods on the diet contain various micro-nutrients that stimulate different organs and functions in the body, so mix it up with these hot and cold cereal options.
Hot alternatives to oatmeal
Ancient Grains Quinoa Flakes
Oatmeal isn’t the only grain you can enjoy for breakfast. Quinoa is another great choice for a warm cereal, and it’s even starting to show up on restaurant menus. Le Pain Quotidien, a national chain of bakery/coffee shops, now serves warm quinoa porridge for breakfast. It’s easy to make. This recipe for cardamom quinoa porridge would work on Phase 3. Use rice milk in this recipe for Phase 1 (and omit the flax seeds).
Ancient Harvest makes a commercial version, Ancient Harvest Quinoa Flakes. You can make a hot cereal, or use the quinoa flakes to make pancakes or waffles.
Pocono Cream of Buckwheat
Buckwheat can also be made into a warm cereal on Phase 1. We found Pocono Cream of Buckwheat in a local Whole Foods store. The only ingredient is organic buckwheat. For both quinoa and buckwheat hot cereals, the portion for Phase 1 would be 1 cup cooked. The portion for quinoa hot cereal is 1/2 cup cooked for Phase 3. If you use rice milk in the recipe for Phase 1, decrease the portion to about 3/4 cup since rice milk also adds a grain.
Cold cereals
In the hot months of summer, simmering quinoa or buckwheat might not sound appealing. There are some cold cereals that will work on the diet, but be very careful. Almost all cold cereals available in the U.S. have added sugar. Even organic cereals and cereals from health-food brands include sugar, agave, cane syrup, or other types of sugar.
So look for brands with as few ingredients as possible, and no added sugar.
You might be familiar with the Ezekiel 4:9 line of grain products, including sprouted grain bread. There are several Ezekiel 4:9 cold cereals that use the same ingredients as the sprouted grain bread. The plain version (in the orange box) works for Phase 1 and Phase 3; the Flax and Almond varieties, which include nuts and seeds, would be appropriate for Phase 3.
Ezekiel 4:9 Cereal
These cereals are very dense, so on Phase 1, use 1/2 cup cereal with 1/4 cup rice milk (plus your Phase 1 fruit, of course). On Phase 3, use 1/4 cup with 1/4 cup almond milk or coconut milk. You could also use the cereals dry to make a crunchy topping for baked fruit — delicious for breakfast.
Nature’s Path Kamut Puffs
If you like a lighter cereal, Nature’s Path Kamut Puffs contain only organic kamut, nothing else. You can enjoy this cereal on Phase 1. Since it’s a lighter, less dense cereal, about 3/4 cup on Phase 1 plus 1/4 cup rice milk would be appropriate.
Arrowhead Mills makes three cold cereals that would be appropriate for the Fast Metabolism Diet: Arrowhead Mills Puffed Rice Cereal, Puffed Millet Cereal, and Puffed Kamut Cereal. These are also light cereals, so the portion would be the same as for the Nature’s Path Kamut Puffs on Phase 1.
Arrowhead Mills Puffed Rice
Let us know if you find any other cereals that will work on the diet. It’s tough to find brands that don’t add sugar. Of course, if you like them sweeter, you can always add your own stevia or xylitol to any of these cereals.
