Eating breakfast deprives you of extra sleep. And more comes out of your wallet at the grocery store. If you’re trying to lose weight, you might think breakfast is one meal you could skip. But is it really helping you lose weight? Is it really saving you money?
You may have heard the saying, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” Each meal is crucial, but starting your day off with a hearty meal comes with its benefits:
- Provides energy from glucose, which enters the brain, allowing us to think more critically.
- Gives us more vitamins and minerals.
- Controls our weight.
- Helps lower cholesterol, which can lower the risk of heart disease.
In college, there are times when those extra 20 minutes of sleep feels more necessary than eating breakfast. But skipping the morning meal can be detrimental to our health. It decreases our metabolism and increases our cholesterol. Skipping breakfast will not help us lose or maintain our weight because it causes us to eat more throughout the day, thereby gaining weight.
For a heart-healthy breakfast, we need 4 things:
- Whole grains—Read more about it in my previous post: http://lilfitbirdie.com/white-bread-vs-whole-grain/
- Low-fat protein—peanut butter, lean meat, poultry, fish, hard-boiled eggs
- Low-fat dairy—milk, yogurt and cheese with a “low-fat” label. For non-dairy eaters, read this to learn how you can get the same nutrients: http://lilfitbirdie.com/for-non-dairy-eaters/
- Fruits and vegetables
If you’re opting for cereal, choose ones with at least 3 grams of fiber, 5 or less grams of sugar, and around 120 calories per serving, and always have it with a piece of fruit!
If you slept past your alarm and are in a rush, grab a granola bar that’s loaded with just as much fiber, such as a Fiber One bar, a fruit, and milk or calcium-enhanced orange juice, and eat it on your way to work.
Next time you think about skipping breakfast, think about all the benefits you’re missing out on!
Sources:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/food-and-nutrition/NU00197/METHOD=print
Photo Credit: http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/green-breakfast-options-gallery
