Has anyone ever told you, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day”? Have you ever felt a difference on the days you eat breakfast and do not? Today I skipped breakfast and my body is not too happy about it.
When breakfast is consumed, you break the overnight fasting period and the daily supply of glucose is recharged. On top of that, more daily nutrients are consumed and the daily intake of fiber and calcium is higher. Lastly, it has been shown that less fat is consumed during the day.
Studies have shown that those who tend to skip breakfast have a higher BMI and eat less calories during the day. More in depth research showed a diminish in mental performance because the brain receives a lack of nutrients. When studying children, the ones who ate breakfast had a decrease in anxiety, depression, and hyperactivity. The ones who did not eat breakfast were seen to have lower test scores and behavioral problems.
Research conducted in Australia and other overseas places have found that eating high fiber breakfast cereals such as Kellogg’s All-Bran, Heartland Granola, and Great Grains reduces fatigue. Personally, I love Great Grains Banana Nut Crunch. If you love banana bread and could eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner like me, definitely try this flavor. Other great breakfast options are pears, strawberries, oats, and whole wheat toast. Each of these contain a great amount of fiber and are easy to prepare. If you want to get more creative, there are millions of recipes online and some even come linked with video tutorials.
For the most part when I skip breakfast, I replace it with an iced coffee. Iced coffee is low in fiber, vitamins, and minerals, and very high in fat and sugar. Replacing my typical bowl of oatmeal with an iced coffee leaves me feeling lethargic. In other words, fatigued and sluggish. This is a very common side effect of not eating breakfast. Actually, as I write this article that is exactly how I am feeling, hence why I decided to write about the importance of breakfast.
Reading into why breakfast is important really opened my eyes. I know in college I was always skipping breakfast which made my focus nonexistent in class. For now on breakfast will be an everyday staple.
Written By: Beth Ann M.
