As a child I never went a day without breakfast, which is why as an adult the idea of skipping breakfast is just crazy to me. The reasons to eat breakfast are endless, but here are some of the main reasons to eat breakfast according to the latest issue of Today’s Dietitian Magazine;
- It kicks starts your metabolism. Think of your metabolism as aIt can’t keep burning unless you feed it fuel! If you don’t feed it fuel for several hours, it starts to die and that’s just not good.
- Breakfast eaters are more likely to have a BMI under 25 (According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey)
- There is a lot of research that shows apositive relationship between between eating breakfast and having a healthier nutritional intake throughout the day.
- Some research shows thatbreakfast eaters are less prone to overeating at night.
- Breakfast is the perfect opportunity to add a good amount of fiber, and hopefully one or two servings of fruits/vegetables into your diet.
- Some studies show that eating breakfast may enhance memory and increase attention span.
- Research has shown that eating breakfast, especially one that contains carbohydrates, can improve your mood.
- Especially important for women who are pregnantor thinking of becoming pregnant, breakfast can be a great way to get the recommended amount of calcium and folic acid (for pregnant women the recommendations are 1000 mg calcium/day and 600 mcg folic acid/day).
- If you are pregnanta prolonged fast can result in slow growth of the baby and maybe even preterm labor. Eat breakfast!
Many people think that breakfast has to be large. I had a client once tell me that she doesn’t eat breakfast, but that she has a piece of toast with peanut butter every morning. Ummm….that’s breakfast! It doesn’t need to be a giant meal, it just needs to be something. I have other clients who say they “don’t have time” for breakfast, and then a light goes on when I tell them they can have a banana, an apple, a yogurt, and/or a granola bar (on-the- go food!) and that would be perfectly sufficient.
The best breakfast is one that includes;
- A whole grain
- Some calcium
- One or two servings of fruits and vegetables
I go through breakfast fazes. This summer I loved using fresh strawberries in my breakfast.
Last year I was on an oatmeal + almond butter + sweet potato + yogurt kick…..all year.
Here is my favorite breakfast, as of now; A Fruit and Yogurt Parfait!
Two layers of pumpkin, blueberries, plain Greek yogurt, granola, and unsweetened cocoa.
