This Just In...Breakfast is Important Meal #1, Pop-Tarts Reviled
In a shocking coincidence, breakfast medical study number 3,432,916 has determined that breakfast continues its dominance as important meal #1. It was followed closely by brunch, happy hour, and newcomer 4th meal.
While this is something so unremarkable and so head-slappingly obvious, that I almost didn't feel obligated to share, I did notice something buried in the "words" of the article (I'm mostly a headline guy). Pediatricians hate Pop-Tarts. Despite their "seven essential vitamins and minerals", Pop-Tarts were called out as not contributing to "energy balance" and "weight control". So what do these guys have against convenience? Aren't sodium and sugar essential minerals? Aren't they better than nothing?
To answer these questions, I tried to contact 70's Pop-Tarts spokesappliance Milton T. Toaster about the breakfast brush-up. Unfortunately he died in 1987 of "crumb lung". His last words were reportedly, "It's time to pull the plug".
To me, breakfast is relative. Sometimes breakfast is waffles with maple syrup, chocolate syrup, whip cream, and chocolate chips. Sometimes it's half a pound of bacon, three eggs, and a cup of Irish coffee. My point is that a Pop-Tart might be a healthy alternative to someone else's breakfast. Sure, kids would be better off with fresh fruit, a veggie omelet and turkey sausage, but who the heck has time to make all that?
--Spanno
HickoryChick on March 04, 2008 at 06:45 AM
WORD!
My almost 3 year old is not a get-up-and-eat kind of gal, like I've become. She'll start the morning with a 4 oz lowfat yogurt drink, and at some point when we're leaving the house she decides she wants a breakfast bag to eat in the car. Usually the bag contains 1/2 a pop tart and either raisins or dried blueberries. Sometimes we'll even throw in a string cheese. If we have a banana that is edible (not green and not brown), sometimes that shows up, too.
Could her breakfast be better? Sure it could. Would I rather have her eat what she's eating than have nothing at all? Without a doubt.
bill bush on March 04, 2008 at 08:19 AM
How is it possible for the cereal industry in general to produce so many foods from so much grain with so little fiber? Pop Tarts are, from what I can tell, made/marketed for the younger consumer, but they are not fulfilling any kind of nutritional mission other than exchanging filler for finance. They're not alone. Look at all the empty breads on the shelf. Look at all the "granola" theme products. How does granola get produced with less than one gram of fiber in a bar, or even in two bars (some serving sizes as noted on boxes)?
Nyliesha Mickey-Brown on September 07, 2008 at 10:11 AM
I am a twelve year old girl.I walk to school everyday.I dont have time to eat breakfast most of the time,so I depend on a Pop-Tart to get my day started.There for I domt think a Pop-tart is a bad choice.Also people dont have time each morning to make a well-balanced meal.