Breakfast: How? When? Where?
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Growing up we have been told time after time that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but why breakfast? Most of us are in a rush in the mornings to get ready and make it to work on time. Making breakfast is the very last thing on our minds. The truth is making time for breakfast in the mornings is not just important if you don't want to feel hungry before lunch. Also, breakfast plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and even with weight management. What role exactly does breakfast play?
Breakfast Speeds up Your Metabolic Rate: Breakfast is the first meal of the day and should be consumed, theoretically, within one hour of waking up. After a long night of sleep, breakfast tells your body that it is time to wake up and start expending energy in the form of calories. Breakfast is also responsible for stabilizing your blood sugar, which is low in the morning when you have not eaten since dinner the night before.
Breakfast Improves Your Mood: As soon as you wake up, stress hormones are already being released in your body. Our alarm clocks, children, to-do lists, and morning email checks are often triggers on top of many other things. Eating a balanced breakfast helps your body produce dopamine and serotonin which help control your mood and also improve memory and cognitive ability.
Breakfast Can Help You Control Your Weight: Eating breakfast helps you maintain your hunger signals. Those who do not eat breakfast are more likely to be so hungry at lunch they overeat. If you are not starving by lunch time you will make better choices when deciding what to eat. Studies have shown that those who eat breakfast tend to be slimmer than those who do not and those who have lost weight are more likely to maintain the weight loss if they eat breakfast.
Breakfast gives you energy and sets the tone for your entire day. Now that you know why breakfast is so important, the next question for many is what is the best breakfast? There is no magic breakfast food, the important part is making sure you include this meal at the beginning of your day. Here are a few guidelines for choosing your breakfast items.
1. The worst breakfast is no breakfast at all. Always eat something for breakfast, even if it's a little.
2. Eat what you like. If you do not like something, you will not eat it, no matter how good it is for you.
3. Moderation is key. You do not have to eat a perfect breakfast everyday, but try to keep balance across the week.
4. Diversify your breakfast. You need a mixture of protein, carbohydrates and fat. -bad example: Eggs alone would not be a complete breakfast. -better choice: An egg with some tomatoes or fruit and a serving of whole grain bread or cereal is a better option.
5. Did we mention Moderation? One pancake with fruit on top instead of syrup is okay, but four pancakes is a little excessive for your average breakfast.
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