This Morning nutritionist's breakfast cereals warning - and what to eat instead

A top nutritionist has issued a breakfast warning to Brits, advising them on what to eat and avoid for their morning meal. Rob Hobson, a Sunday Times best-selling author, appeared on ITV's This Morning where he shared his favourite breakfast choice - porridge oats.

He praised the versatile food for its health benefits, noting that a 40g bowl of rolled oats contains around 3g of fibre, a nutrient that approximately 90 per cent of Brits lack in their diet. Oats also pack in 4.8g protein, which can account for about 10 per cent of the daily protein needs for most women and eight per cent for most men, depending on the type of milk used.

Additionally, oats are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. "Breakfast is a great opportunity to get nutrients like fibre into your diet which is something many of us do not get enough of," Hobson said. "It doesn't matter when you eat as long as you are eating regular nutritious meals throughout the day."

He added: "My fave is always going to be oats because I love the versatility they offer. Porridge, soaked oats or chuck them in a smoothie. Does it contain a good amount of fibre? Breakfast time is a really good chance to get some fibre in your diet and, as a nation, we don't get enough fibre in our diet," reports Surrey Live.

Eating three servings of wholegrains a day has been linked to smaller increases in waist size, lower blood pressure and blood-sugar levels among adults in middle-age or older, according to health experts. Wholegrains also contain beta-glucan, a type of fibre which dissolves in hot water, making you feel fuller for longer.

Oats and oatmeal have been associated with numerous heart-healthy benefits, such as lowering cholesterol and aiding weight control. However, sugary cereals remain a popular choice, as do fortified cereals - those that have added ingredients.

"Sugary cereals do not a lot of fibre. A 40g bowl can have as much as a doughnut," Rob warned. He advised checking the sugar content of your cereal and if it's high, consider eating less of it and pairing it with a slice of wholemeal toast or serving it on yoghurt with fruit to reduce your sugar intake and increase fibre content.

"Wholemeal breads and wholemeal cereals are a really good chance to get some really good nutrition into your diet."

He also debunked the myth that the cereal option with the most protein is the healthiest, stating: "People seem to think the cereal option with the most protein is the healthiest option, but that is not always the case. The ingredient list can be quite long as they are all UPF. Some are healthier than others, some much more than others."

Rob went on to say: "They started fortifying cereals at the beginning of the 20h Century. It was to deal with vitamin and mineral deficiencies, but it still goes on now. There is vitamin D, which is good for your bones and great in the winter, because we do not get enough vitamin D, and iron."

He added: "Fortification is actually quite good because there is a part of the population that still does not get enough nutrients into their diet. Teenage girls , have a notoriously low intake if iron, so fortified foods are actually a good addition to their diet."