Top 10 Unhealthy Breakfast Foods

We’re starting the list off with a classic quickie for those who must rush out the door. There’s no denying it; warm bagels are almost irresistible and businesses like the Einstein Bros. have only made them better. However, these bread products aren’t a breakfast you should rely on every day. Bagels contain a high amount of carbohydrates and fiber as well as calories overall. Thus, your blood sugar could spike from consuming this fattening food. On top of that, studies have found that bagels have doubled their calories within the past two decades. If you’re craving that bagel, though, go for one with whole grains and pair it up with some fruits or veggies.

These greasy strips of pork are the heart attacks of the morning! These days, it’s almost impossible not to see something bacon-flavored, ranging from chips and sodas to lip balm and deodorant. High in fat and cholesterol, it’s a wonder how we manage to survive eating one strip without a mild stroke. Because of the levels of saturated fat, bacon will only increase your risk of heart disease and/or stroke. It may be hard to resist the thousands of different foods we wrap in bacon, but for your health’s sake, it may be in your best interest to eat as little of this as possible.

Oh, yeah, this is WAY worse than bacon. Beware of this meat when eating breakfast from major food chains, as it could prove to be a deadly combination. Often served on sandwiches or alongside pancakes or waffles, sausages are more fattening than its bacon brethren, and just as greasy. They can contain twice as many calories as bacon, and still contain more calories than bacon when they’re meatless. So, if we can’t have bacon, and we can’t have sausages, what should we eat for our protein? Meats with lower amounts of sodium are great, but egg whites are great alternative along with protein-rich smoothies.

Bread with sugar coating? You would think we’d be talking about cinnamon rolls, but this Latin American sweet roll is just…well, look at it! Also known as conchas, Pan Dulce is typically a baked pastry with colored icing coating all around it. “But, what about without the sugar topping?” you may ask. An average pan dulce without sugar contains 235 calories, with 72% of those being purely carbohydrates and 1% being dietary fiber. While studies show that it can help regulate metabolism, it would be in one’s best interest to go for some fruits with some yogurt instead.

Chances are your kids have gotten you hooked on Captain Crunch or Honey Smacks. While we can see why kids love the taste of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, which has only 9g of sugar per serving, there are many other cereals that contain too much sugar than the recommended daily intake. Consuming cereals with at least 10g of sugar will basically set you up for a sugar crash later in the day. Thankfully, there are many healthier options in your local breakfast aisle, if you can’t give up cereal. Cheerios and Kix are usually the first options, but just make sure you look over that handy nutritional info block next time you’re grocery shopping.

While we all enjoy speeding through drive-thrus before work, this is not good for you in any way. The eggs used at some fast food restaurants may contain solvents used for anti-freeze, while the meats are just as greasy. Don’t forget, our first three entries (bagels, bacon, and sausages) also play a prominent role in the world of breakfast sandwiches. If that wasn’t bad enough, many of your favorite combo sandwiches can clock in up to 800 calories with high amounts of carbs, sodium, and of course, a rainbow of fats. If you can’t give up breakfast sandwiches, you’re better off making your own at home, with raw eggs and meat to cook yourself. Maybe include a few veggies, if you can.

Croissants may appear innocent with their light and fluffy texture, but it’s high on this list for being nothing more than cooked dough and butter – and sometimes sugar. In fact, an average croissant reaches a total of around 300 calories. That’s more than the bagel! These crescent rolls contain high amounts of sodium, cholesterol, and saturated fat; in other words, ugh! Too much of the stuff could possibly lead to higher risks of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or even death. Yes, they are mighty tasty, but after learning about this, we might be staying away from these for quite a while.

Where do we even begin for this one? Not only is the meal including the fattening waffle, but also with fried chicken thrown in the mix, we’re looking at a deadly duo that clocks in around one thousand calories. Fried chicken is a deadly food on its own, with most of its contents filled with fat and cholesterol. Waffles, on the other hand, are mostly fat, sodium, and cholesterol. Basically, we’re looking at a visit from heart disease. Surprisingly enough, there is a healthier alternative where waffles are made from whole wheat dough and chicken is oven-baked, not fried.

Don’t be fooled by the packaging. You may read “Made with Real Fruit”, but Pop Tarts are also baked with other ingredients. Fruit is merely a small percentage, and the same goes for many different toaster pastries you find at the bakery. The rest of it contains GMOs, artificial colors, and sugars aplenty. Read the back of any flavor and you’ll find that many chemicals and toxins make up these pastries, some of which even have questionable links to cancer. Did we mention it also contains MSGs? That’s especially present in one of the newest flavors; Maple Bacon Pop Tarts. Much like its flavors, the true dangers behind these on-the-go meals are almost too crazy to believe.

Before we unveil our unhealthiest top pick, here are a few Dishonorable Mentions:

Scones with Jam & Cream

French Toast

Granola Bars

You might as well be eating cake for breakfast. These days, we’re putting doughnuts in all sorts of different foods. Some can be turned into sundaes. Others are served at breakfast and are only loading up the calories. Yeah, we’re looking at you, Dunkin’ Donuts. We have doughnuts stuffed with chocolate, candy, jam, even pure icing. You aren’t just looking at large amounts of sugar, but trans fats and large number of artificial flavors are found in many of today’s doughnuts. Prepare for a large spike in your blood sugar and expect to be much hungrier in another hour or two.

Do you agree with our list? What are some breakfast foods that just as unhealthy as the ones we mentioned? For more nutritious Top 10’s published daily, be sure to subscribe to MsMojo!