The 7 worst breakfast foods for weight loss (2024)

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Sugary cereal

Leave the Lucky Charms and Frosted Flakes where they belong — in your childhood memories. The sugar rush from these cereals will mess with your blood sugar and cause you to reach for more sugary snacks later on in the day (turn to these healthysweet snacksinstead). “Classic breakfast foods can often be high in sugar, lower in nutritional value including vitamins and minerals, healthy fat, fiber and protein that can help to carry us forward into the day feeling satisfied and energized,” says Isabel Smith, MS, RD, CDN, registered dietitian and founder of Isabel Smith Nutrition.

This remains true for sweet cereals. Also, be aware that healthier looking options like granolas can also contain high amounts of sugar, so be sure to read the nutrition label before buying! And burn fat — fast — with these essential

Waffles

Waffles can be incredibly heavy on the simple carbs (meaning, they digest quickly and won’t keep you full for long), and have the potential to qualify as dessert depending on your toppings of choice. Some toaster varieties, if specified on the package, may offer a decent amount of fiber, but others can be seriously lacking.

Whether you make your own batter or pop some in the toaster, waffles don’t exactly provide you with a balanced breakfast. “When it comes to picking a great breakfast, you always want to combine protein or fat with minimally processed carbohydrates that are rich in fiber, for example, scrambled eggs with fruit or toast,” says Smith.

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Orange juice

Nothing quite hits the spot like a glass of OJ in the morning, right? This breakfast mainstay is actually loaded with sugar and relatively low in nutrition (especially highly processed, store-bought varieties). “Juice (particularly heat pasteurized fruit juice) in the morning can serve up a high dose of sugar and calories. Also, given that the fruit juice is processed at a higher temperature some of the nutrient value can be lost, too.

Instead, choose a freshly squeezed juice, cold-pressed juice or high-pressure-pasteurized fruit and vegetable juice that contains more nutrients and less sugar,” says Smith. A good rule is to look for a juice that boasts two veggies for every fruit included. Not into juice anyway? Then check out these

Bagel and cream cheese

Do your best to resist Einstein Bros. on the corner — there’s nothing smart about this a.m. pick. Bagels are calorie bombs — you might measure them as one serving, but one bagel is equivalent to roughly four slices of bread — and offer very little nutrition. Not to mention, most are considered simple carbohydrates, so unless it’s whole wheat, you’ll miss out on fiber content that would keep you feeling satisfied.

And sorry to slam your beloved schmear, but cream cheese is really only there to satisfy your taste buds, not your nutritional needs — even if it’s the veggie kind. If you really can’t kick your morning bagel, try eating half of a whole-wheat bagel with

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Pre-mixed oatmeal

Oatmeal can be one of the best ways to start your day and there are at least15 Ways to Lose Weight With Oatmeal. But pre-mixed packets offer a little more than you bargained for. “When we choose premixed oatmeal, we typically get less fiber because the grain is generally more processed, and more added sugar,” says Smith. For a healthier bowl, add your own fruit to plain oats. Nut butter, seeds, coconut, and cinnamon are all tasty and healthy add-ins, too.

Toaster pastries

The only thing these pastries are fueling is your nostalgia. Grabbing a Pop-Tart out of the toaster on your way to school as a kid may have been sufficient back then, but your body relies on your morning meal for energy — and this pick will leave you hanging. Anynatural energyyou do get from the superfluous sugar in these pastries will soon be followed by a crash. Also, the low fiber count doesn’t help balance things out either.

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Flavored yogurt

Similar to pre-mixed oatmeal, yogurt starts out as a healthy choice, before companies start to add consumer-attracting extras like artificial colors and flavors. “Yogurt in its plain form is great because it's a good source of calcium, protein and gut-healthy probiotics. However, in most cases, flavored versions contain lots of added sugar and syrup —especially fruit-on-the-bottom varieties. Choose a plain yogurt instead, and add your own fruit and even a few nuts for healthy fat that will promote slower digestion and increased satiety,” says Smith.