Is Breakfast Really That Important?

Short answer: Yes!

You’ve probably heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But why? After fasting through the night, your body needs energy—breakfast is an energy booster! Eating breakfast replenishes your glucose stores to give you more energy for the day and helps to improve your attention and memory. This is why it is especially important that children eat breakfast! If that isn’t enough motivation, breakfast foods are often rich in essential vitamins and minerals, so by eating breakfast you are more likely to reach the recommended daily amounts of essential nutrients.

Even if you understand the benefits of breakfast, there are probably still reasons that are keeping you from eating in the mornings. Here are some reasons why you might skip breakfast and how to solve those concerns:

1. “I don’t have time!” – Breakfast doesn’t have to be complicated! Plan and prepare your breakfast the night before so the morning isn’t such a rush. Plan food that you can take with you on your way to work or school.

2. “I don’t know what to eat” or “I’m bored of breakfast foods” – Get creative! Spend time before you go grocery shopping looking up new recipes and then plan your meals. Do you prefer sweet or savory things in the morning? Mix it up! Are you tired of the smoothie you’ve been drinking every morning? Try a different fruit or a different nut butter. Maybe even venture out and cook your eggs a different way!

3. “I’m not hungry in the morning” – Don’t be afraid of waiting some time before you eat. If you are going to work or school, bring something that you can eat when you feel ready. Many times, our bodies have been trained to not be hungry in the mornings because we often skip this meal. Starting to eat a small breakfast will help to jump start your hunger cues again!

4. “I’m trying to lose weight” – Eating breakfast in the morning can actually help you better manage your weight. By eating a nutritious meal in the morning, you are better able to manage your appetite throughout the day. If you don’t eat a solid meal in the morning you are more likely to snack on foods throughout the day to satisfy the energy needs of your body. By making good food choices in the morning, you will likely make better food choices throughout the day!

Needs some ideas for healthy breakfast meals? Try these!

· Oatmeal – Add a variety of your favorite fruit, nuts, nut butter, and honey! Have you ever tried baked oatmeal or overnight oats? Make them the night before for a quick, easy, and nutritious breakfast in the morning!

· Cereal – Are you a fan of the classic breakfast cereal? Go for it! Try to find a whole-grain or high protein cereal and pair with a high protein milk, like Fairlife, and fresh fruit.

· Greek Yogurt – Add fruit, nuts, a drizzle of honey, or ¼ cup of granola to Greek yogurt to make a delicious parfait. Make it in a mason jar the night before to take with you on your way to work! For more protein, try Ratio or Oikos high protein yogurt.

· Toast – How many different things can you put on toast? The answer—a lot. Top it with an egg (scrambled, fried, sunny side up), avocado, nut butter, yogurt, fruit, or cheese. These are just a few of the endless possibilities!

· Smoothie – Smoothies are a great way to get a variety of nutrients with an endless possibility of flavors! If you haven’t looked at my previous blog post all about smoothies check it out HERE!

· Breakfast Burrito – Use a whole grain tortilla and fill your burrito with eggs, bacon or sausage, peppers, spinach, onions, salsa, and cheese! For those of you with limited time in the mornings, take time one day a week to pre-prep burritos for the week by wrapping them in foil and putting them in the freezer. Then in the morning, put them in the microwave and you’re good to go!

To wrap it all up, breakfast is important! Make the effort to fuel your body in the morning so you will have the energy for the day. Set your alarm for 10 minutes earlier or prep the night before so you can have time to make breakfast a priority. Taking time to plan and pre-prep your meals can relieve stress and save you time in the mornings. And, eat what you like!

If all else fails, grab an apple on your way out the door!

I'm here for you and I believe in you <3