A dash of cinnamon will add flavour to your porridge
Healthy favourite porridge is turning into a dieting disaster for millions of women who blindly add up to 300 calories – the equivalent of a Mars Bar – to their bowl each morning.
Filling porridge with its low-calorie oats is a popular choice for slimmers. But new research shows some women are potentially scuppering their weight loss – by adding toppings such as sugar, nuts and cream – without even realising it.
It adds up to a calorific nightmare for the two thirds of women who admit they do not count the content of what they stir in.
Blueberries will add nutrients tooAlmost a third of women polled by Special K believed it didn’t matter what they added to porridge as oats are healthy, while a further five per cent thought the goodness of the oats cancelled out any sins in their toppings.
One in 10 women assumed their toppings did not contain many calories so they didn’t need to count them, while more than a fifth said they simply hadn’t thought about it.
Yet half of women surveyed said they eat porridge because it’s healthy while a quarter said they choose it to help them lose weight.
Special K’s Angela Reay said: “Millions of women rightly believe porridge is a great start to the day if they are watching their weight. However, with almost three quarters of women choosing to add toppings to their porridge, many are unknowingly undoing all their good intentions by reaching for the sugar bowl or bottle of syrup.
“If you are on a diet you obviously want something healthy, tasty and filling in the morning to see you through to lunch."
Although porridge is a hot favourite – sales have almost doubled to £241million since 2008 – the research found half of women choose to add toppings because they find plain oats boring and bland.
Bananas will help to fill you up even moreMore sinful additions include chocolate, maple syrup and jam, while two per cent admit to getting their oats with at least three cups of luxurious double cream.
Golden syrup and sugar are popular, with 53 per cent of women adding at least one tablespoon to their porridge, while 47 per cent add the same amount of honey and 37 per cent add jam.
Fresh or dried fruit is a regular choice for 62 per cent of women while one in five indulge in chocolate. Nuts are also a popular topping with a quarter of women while 11 per cent add at least a teaspoon of salt to their porridge.
The best way to add flavour to your porridge is to top it up with fruit, cut up strawberries, a banana or add some blueberries for a some added nutrients to your porridge.