On Breakfast and Marshmallow Fluff~

I am in no way telling anyone to eat marshmallow fluff. I am using it to make a point.

I am an avid fan of breakfast. I eat it every single day. I've come to realize that it's truly a part of a healthy lifestyle. I try to start out with good things for breakfast like peanut butter on whole grain toast or english muffins or yogurt and fruit.

I also have a horrible sweet tooth. I love to smear a bit of jam on my peanut butter to make it just a little yummy. Recently a friend of mine mentioned that she puts a little marshmallow fluff on her peanut butter toast. My response was to think, "Oh that's naughty."

The next day I went to the store to get marshamallow fluff. Although it has no nutritional value it's absolutely delicious and I had a craving. I put it in my basket and went to the next aisle. Gripped with guilt and picturing my future cavities and tighter jeans I put it back. I picked it back up and put it back down, the picture of indecision. I turned the jar around to the side with the nutrition label and said aloud, in the middle of the store, "Oh you've got to be kidding." Then I tossed it into my cart and headed to check out.

A tablespoon of marshmallow fluff is 20 calories and 3 grams of sugar. Here's how that stacked up against a tablespoon of some of the other items in my pantry.

grape jam = 30 calories, 6 grams sugar
lime marmalade - 50 calories, 12 grams sugar
apple butter = 35 calories, 7 grams sugar
honey = 60 calories, 17 grams carbohydrates

After comparing it to the other items I've used on my morning toast the marshmallow fluff didn't seem to wicked.

It is important to remember that I actually do measure out a tablespoon of peanut butter and a tablespoon of marshmallow fluff. I've noticed that when I stop measuring and start guessing is when I tend to overeat. For example, while a tablespoon of marshmallow fluff is 20 calories, a jar of marshmallow fluff is 720 calories. Measuring takes me two seconds and keeps me on track.

The Bottom Line? 

• How many calories are pictured in the above breakfast? Approximately 282 calories. This includes the fruit.
• Although the marshmallow fluff isn't good for you, it isn't the most evil thing on the shelf.
• If I don't measure my portions I get into trouble. Measuring becomes a habit like all others, the more often I do it, the less time it takes.
• The moral of the story? Read the label :)

Happy Breakfasting!