Everyone seems to know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Even with that knowledge, there are millions of people around the world who willingly skip breakfast every morning, thinking that a cup of coffee will do the trick. The truth of the matter is that breakfast really IS the most important meal of the day, especially if you are trying to lose or maintain your weight. By including a healthy breakfast in your diet, you’ll find that weight loss will come much easier.
Origins
The origins of the word are quite simple – you are breaking a fast. Don’t forget that you are not eating for at least 6-9 hours while you sleep, which is kind of like a fast of sorts. Important nutrients like proteins cannot be stored overnight, therefore the levels of these are fairly low by the morning. The body needs to replenish these levels, so you can think of breakfast as the match that lights the fire. It gives your body an important energy boost that a cup of coffee simply can’t match.
People who skip breakfast probably don’t realise that eating breakfast can help someone avoid some illnesses and diseases. A long period of sleep can probably put your sugar levels out of whack, so by having a healthy breakfast, you are returning your sugars to a normal level, thus preventing diseases like diabetes. If you are trying to lose weight, a big breakfast can fill you up so you don’t eat too much at lunch or snack on junk food before then. Don’t forget, by being active during the day, your body will burn many more calories than at night, so if you are not hungry for lunch, the chances of overeating are lowered. People who skip breakfast will tend to eat very large lunches, thus possibly putting on weight. But who would have thought that by eating more in the morning you could actually lose weight?
What Foods to Eat
Healthy foods like fruit, eggs and high fibre cereals will give a person a good amount of important vitamins and minerals they will need throughout the day. Not eating these at the beginning of the day makes it harder to make up for during the day. You need to remember that without the proper nutrients at the beginning of the day, your body will not function properly. By having a healthy breakfast, you are more likely to choose healthy foods during the day as well, and this will allow you to keep getting the right nutrients.
All you need to do is to set aside 15 minutes each morning. You’ll be amazed at how much of a difference it will be in your diet. It is best to include foods from at least three food groups. As an example, a couple slices of whole grain toast with peanut butter and banana will give you something from the bread food group, proteins, and fruit food groups. Simple, isn’t it? Why not go for a fourth group by washing everything down with a big glass of milk?
Having a healthy breakfast doesn’t mean having to have a huge stack of pancakes with sausages every morning. Even if you have a single piece of fruit or a muffin with a glass of milk is certainly better than not having anything. Remember, breakfast really IS the most important meal of the day! By having a healthy breakfast, you are setting yourself up to have a great day in terms of nutrition.
