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Nutritionist Dr Rosemary Stanton isn't convinced that it's on a par with other fibre sources. "I really believe the jury is still out as to whether inulin has the same benefits," she says. "It is a form of soluble fibre, but whether or not it is equivalent to wholegrain fibre I think is very much in doubt." My thoughts are thatit’s probably better to stay at home and have a nutritious breakfastthan trying to run off the sugar and oxidised oils. Remember “you can’t exercise your way out of a bad diet”.
Made in Australia (a plus) by Sanitarium, one of Australia's more health-aware food companies, so I'm surprised this rather processed drink has come out of their stable and been selling so well for years without a hint of criticism. Despite the presence of Hi-maize, beta-glucan and inulin (as in Coco Pops), it's not as high in fibre as Oats Express nor Coco Pops which does puzzle me a little. What about the vitamins? Take a look at the label below. How many sugars can you spot? How many seed oils? How many additives? Fortification? Have they hidden high fructose corn syrup in there but under a different name? This is not breakfast, this is a science experiment. Too easy. Available at major supermarkets as well as independent supermarkets and corner stores. Store in the fridge if you prefer it cold but can also be stored in the cupboard as its long-life. It's positioned as the thing you grab on those days when you are racing out of the door. Sustainability 7 out of 10A serving of oats with a handful of almonds and a sliced apple will give you about 11g of fibre (both soluble and insoluble), which is a third of your daily recommended intake. This is double – and in some cases, more than triple – the amount of fibre available in the liquid breakfasts we analysed. All three products have similar protein, fibre and fat but the carbohydrate and sugar content varies. The no added sugar has less sugar however sweeteners are used. The no added sugar vanilla contains 8.1g protein, 3.7g fat, 15.5g total carbs of which 10.1g has been highlighted as lactose. There is also 4g of dietary fibre. So, similar protein and fat content to the standard vanilla but over 12g, or 3 teaspoons, less sugar. It’s hard to know how much of the sugar is lactose as it’s not listed on the label but based on the ingredients list it’s likely been added to the standard vanilla whereas sweeteners are used for the no added sugar version. Filtered water, skim milk powder, cane sugar (4%), wheat maltodextrin, soy protein, vegetable oils (1.5%) (sunflower, canola), Hi-maize™ starch, corn syrup solids, inulin, fructose, cocoa (0.5%), cereals (oat flour, barley beta glucan), minerals (calcium, phosphorus), food acid (332), flavour, vegetable gums (460,466,407) vitamins (C, A, niacin, B12, B2, B6, B1, folate), salt.
I actually thought Up&Go WAS made from soy milk but it's not – it's a mix of reconstituted milk with a bit of soy protein. With its long list of ingredients (some of which are no doubt imported such as the soy protein and corn syrup solids and fructose) and artificial taste, this is one liquid breakfast that doesn't live up to the squeaky-clean image of Weet-Bix which has been an Aussie icon for generations. Up&Go trades off this healthy image but really is no better or worse than other milk-based liquid breakfasts. Or flavoured low-fat milks. Stanton also believes there is no excuse for kids who don't "like" breakfast. "If kids won't eat their breakfast, they need to learn better eating habits – it's just something they should be taught to do," she says. Processed convenienceWith claims such as "high in fibre", "fibre for digestive health", the "goodness of three grains" – you'd be forgiven for thinking the products are, well, high in fibre. But the industry's own voluntaryNutrient Claims Code of Practiceallows products with as little as 1.5g of fibre per serve to claim they are a "source of fibre". The dairy-free version is in between the standard and no added sugar option but unlike those flavours, it is both dairy and gluten-free. Studies consistently show that if you eat breakfast you're less likely to become overweight, and a nutritious breakfast can help reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes. Skipping the first meal of the day has also been linked to reduced intake of calcium and dietary fibre. Accredited practising dietitian Melanie McGrice says the growth of inulin as a dietary fibre in processed food places her profession in a difficult situation. "If you're going to skip meals, a drink is better than nothing," she concedes. "However, I certainly don't want to advocate that it's fine to drink these products every day." A sugary start This is higher in carbs than most low carb breakfast recipes, but still incredibly low compared to commercially available breakfast drinks and high in protein and healthy fats to keep you up and go go go for longer.
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