Is Breakfast Really Important?
- tracyskitchen20
- Nov 22, 2021
- 3 min read
Growing up my mom always said, "breakfast is the most important meal of the day". But she never said why it was the most important meal. As I grew up and started working, having kids, busy life kicked in. Breakfast became the least important meal to me and I only grabbed the coffee in the morning. Then when I was on a "diet" breakfast was more food, more food was more calories, and I just thought the less calories I eat in the morning the more I can eat later in the day.
Well, breakfast got its name for exactly what it is, the break after the overnight fasting. So, is it really important to break the fast in the morning? Yes it is!! For a couple really good reasons. First, it restores glucose to give you energy and alertness. Second, it actually helps with weight management.
When you sleep at night and you are not eating, you are fasting. During this fasting your body breaks down its energy source, which is glucose. Your brain needs glucose for energy. When you go all night with out eating, your energy level (glucose) is low. Eating breakfast boosts your energy levels and gets your metabolism up for the day. This is why breakfast eaters are more likely to be more physically active in the morning than those who don't eat until later in the day.
Speaking from experience, since I have regularly been eating breakfast, I do wake up better with more energy. I don't call myself a morning person, but I used to be terrible getting up. I would be up for a couple hours before I felt awake. Now I know my body was just looking for fuel in the morning. That's why I was so sluggish. Now I fuel up every morning with food and coffee.
So, how does eating breakfast help you to lose weight? Well, when you eat in the morning you are preventing large fluctuations in your blood glucose levels, which helps you to control your appetite. When you eat before you become really hungry (hangry) your less likely to grab whatever you can to gulp down fast. They invented fast food for a reason. Its high energy, high fat, and loaded with sugar and salt. Everything we don't want for breakfast. When we skip breakfast we tend to nibble on snacks, normally low in fiber and high in fat and salt. Without that boost of energy that breakfast gives we may feel lethargic so we grab those high energy drinks to get us thru the afternoon hours. These things add to us gaining weight. What can we eat then?
What are some go-to breakfast ideas?
Fresh fruit is always a go-to. Blueberries is one that should always be on hand. (Blueberries are considered a brain food.)
Oatmeal - use plain and top with fresh fruit. Or make a batch of overnight oats. Check out these Carrot Cake Overnight Oats Carrot Cake Overnight Oats: TYH #7 - YouTube
Whole grain toast with avocado, boiled eggs (I like to keep some ready to go), pita and hummus, or prepare a batch of muffins in advance Blueberry Lemon Oat Muffins: TYH #6 - YouTube
Smoothies are fast and you get in a lot of essential vitamins and nutrients. You can add anything from fruit, veggies, greens, seeds, nut butter etc...
Most of us don't have the time to sit down to breakfast before the day begins. But that doesn't mean skip breakfast. It just takes a little bit of preparing either the night before or on the weekend. This way you can eat at home, in the car, or at work. Make a batch of something ready to have for two or three days. Or at least the night before make sure its ready to go in the morning. If you don't have a plan you will fall right back into the same habit you have of just letting breakfast go.
On the weekends I normally plan out my whole week of meals. Most of the time I go ahead and prep my breakfast. It may sound crazy but when you prep meals in colorful dishes it brightens your morning. Give these a try. They are my favorite.
So, give breakfast a try. Make it the most important meal again. You will thank yourself as the days and weeks go by! You will have more energy in the morning and you will see that it is helping you reach your healthy weight goals.
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