Too often you have probably heard someone tell you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. On the surface that may be true, it may have been 12-14 hours since you last ate (we are not counting snacks for this example).  However, your body can store a lot of energy and keep functioning for a long time.  Missing one meal may make you full hungry but there are no health issues that will come from a longer fast.  What is true is that less than half of the population in the US and Europe have a meal for breakfast.

Sometimes We Just Don’t Like Breakfast Foods

Nothing is written in stone that says you can only eat breakfast foods for breakfast. Tradition has moved us into a mind set where breakfast is eggs and bacon, maybe pancakes or possibly cereal (hot or cold).  If you truly don’t feel feel hungry in the morning, particularly if you aren’t accustomed to eating breakfast, these foods may be quite unappealing.

Health and diet experts believe that people who skip breakfast end up eating more over the course of the rest of the day.  Even having a piece of fruit or some yogurt can help to stave off food cravings the rest of the morning.

So what is the best mix of the right nutrients and vitamins, something that will give you energy for the start of your day?  Even if you don’t usually eat breakfast you should have sometime after you wake up to give your body a boost.

It doesn’t have to be complicated or difficult to have a good breakfast.  Start by making a list of what you like and then create some breakfast plans around the list.  Do you like fruit?  Make a smoothie or add fruit to cereal.  Do you have a favorite chicken recipe?  That can work for breakfast as well as lunch.

Simple Breakfast Tips

* If you are stretched for time and need a faster breakfast, try making some breakfast burritos.  They are quick and easy and you can keep them in the freezer. You can use whole-wheat or regular tortillas, scrambled eggs (either whole, all whites, a mix, or an egg product), some veggies like onions and peppers, and any type of protein (meat or meatless).

* It worked when you were a kid, so consider making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich on whole wheat bread. The whole wheat gives you fiber (helping to make you feel full). That can make a fine breakfast that is quick to prepare.  You might add a glass of milk or some fruit to give your meal some balance.

* Hot or cold cereals can make for a fine breakfast.  Just make sure it’s not the only thing you eat.  Top off your cereal with some banana or blueberries, or swapping out dairy for soy milk for a healthy dairy addition.  If you are trying to cut fat out of your diet,  stick to skim milk.
Statistics show that over half of us don’t eat breakfast, so it pays to have a few short cuts to get around those excuses.

 

* Many of us eat our breakfasts on the go, meaning we are searching for food that travels well. In this case a well made smoothie is a good place to start.  If you have a blender in your kitchen you can create your own special smoothies.  Watch the ingredient list closely if you purchase a smoothie at a coffee shop.  Some of these drinks include a lot of cream and sugar and can have up to 600 calories. You can purchase a good blender or smoothie maker to have at home and whip up your own smoothie in less time than it takes to stop at a smoothie store, and you ‘ll know exactly what’s in it.

Breakfast Can Be Low Calorie

Breakfast might be the easiest meal to fill up without using a lot of calories or fat. You can fry up an egg, add a slice of Canadian bacon and put the two into a toasted English muffin for a 200-calorie, filling breakfast.
There’s no law that says you have to eat breakfast foods for breakfast. You legitimately might not feel hungry in the morning, particularly if you aren’t accustomed to eating breakfast. Study after study shows that people who skip breakfast end up eating more the rest of the day than people who eat a solid breakfast every morning.