Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Are Grits Good For Me?


I’m a Southerner. I work out, run for cardio, and eat a good diet. (high protein, low carbs). So here's my question. Are grits good for you or bad for you? I get tired of eating oatmeal all the time. And I know grits are corn-based, but are they bad for me from time to time?

If you're looking to make serious changes to your body, then grits are probably not the best choice for carbohydrates to go with your breakfast. One 1-cup serving contains about 37 grams of carbs, 4 grams of protein, and almost a gram of fat.

Now, compare this to a 1-cup serving of oatmeal, which contains only 13.5 grams of carbs, 2.1 grams of protein, 2.2 grams of fiber, and only .5 grams of fat.

I'm a big believer in moderation. So, during the week, I follow a pretty strict diet, and on the weekend, I relax a little bit and eat what I want. If you crave something different at breakfast, try to limit it to one or two days a week, (maybe on the weekend).

Grits, as part of a balanced diet, are not "bad" for you, but there are clearly better carbs to accompany your breakfast. If you tire of oatmeal, you might try the Kashi brand of cereal, which is packed with fiber.