In the frantic rush of the morning, breakfast is often the last thing on our minds. Between getting the family ready, getting dressed, hitting the snooze button a few times too many, eating breakfast tends to get lost in the hassle. We hear everywhere that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and still we don’t make time for it.
It’s Time to Make Time for Breakfast
It’s been shown over and over (and over) that eating breakfast is good for us. A good breakfast can get your day started on the right foot by boosting your energy and metabolism, getting you ready for the day ahead.
The Mayo Clinic has shown that those who eat a well balanced breakfast are more likely to do the following:
- Consume more fruits and vegetables
- Consume less fat and cholesterol
- Be more productive during the day
- Have lower cholesterol
- Have their weight under control
What to Eat for Breakfast
While planning for breakfast, make sure to have some variety. Make it fun. Buy or make whole grain bagels, muffins or bread. Flavor your own cream cheese with fresh fruit or honey and cinnamon. Cut up fruit the night before and put it over cereal or oatmeal, which can be easily cooked in the microwave. Make smoothies the night before with yogurt and fruit, ginger, cinnamon or nutmeg. Make fun muffins with your kids on a Sunday, then serve them all week.
Whatever you do, plan on having at breakfast:
One serving of whole grains
One serving fruit
One serving low fat dairy
The combination of the protein in dairy, the long lasting fiber in grains and the natural sugars from the fruit will make a great start to your day.
Whole grains include:
- Bagels, toast, oatmeal, cereal.
Fruits:
- Can be put over oatmeal, on toast, in smoothies, on cereal, as a side with some honey and cinnamon.
Dairy:
- Milk on your cereal, yogurt, cottage cheese, a slice of cheese.
By planning well and having good, wholesome ingredients on hand, the morning rush can be simplified and smoothed over. Including your family in on meal preparation teaches them not only that cooking is fun and easy, but that food can taste good and be even better for our bodies.
Get a jump start on your personal weight loss program today.
Sources:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/food-and-nutrition/NU00197
