Ditch the muffin! A better alternative that will help you reach your health goals

Are you in the habit of buying a coffee in the morning? Although there’s nothing wrong with drinking coffee in moderation, it’s the accompanying snack that can lead to health problems. Muffins, danishes, croissants are often full of sugar and fat, and rarely contain much nutrition. Along with the health cost, there’s also a financial cost to consider. It’s easy to spend 6 dollars or more on a coffee and muffin each morning which does add up over time!

What alternatives are there?

Eating a healthy fruit is always a good alternative to a sugary mid-morning snack. A friend, my previously mentioned unofficial nutrition consultant and mango smoothie enthusiast Shea-Ryan, suggested to me another good alternative: ENERGY BARS (also known as protein or nutrition bars).

Regardless of your fitness goals, you can benefit from substituting your mid-morning snack with a nutrition bar. They offer the convenience of being readily available in your desk drawer or handbag while providing lasting balanced energy and satisfying your hunger for longer.

Since most of us consume too many carbohydrates and not enough protein in our diet, it’s important to choose the right nutrition bar: low carb, low sugar, high protein. This means that even if you aren’t undergoing a regular exercise regime, these energy bars won’t make you pack on excessive weight; and for those of you who are trying to build muscle then energy bars are highly advantageous! Don’t choose the popular sugar loaded muesli bar of the supermarket shelf. Instead, look down the health food aisle or within your nearest health food shop. Often these bars can be bought in bulk and are of greater value, financially and nutritionally, than a muffin or danish.

So the next time your stomach is rumbling mid-morning, ditch the muffin and reach for an energy-packed nutrition bar that will fill you up, keep you going for the morning and not comprise your health goals.

Dr Sean Tan is a chiropractor at Capacity Health, Subiaco, Perth Western Australia. Read more…

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