Why is Breakfast the Most Important Meal of the Day? (December 2011)
Did you know the reason why our mothers promoted breakfast? When you don’t eat a morning meal your body enters a prolonged fasting state. It then starts to believe that you will not be eating anytime soon. When you eventually eat lunch your body stores those calories as fat because it thinks that “I better save these calories for later”. Not only does this result in weight gain, but what you are doing to yourself is creating a chronically slow metabolism. When we break the fast we get our metabolism “revved up” which makes our metabolism stronger and we are able to power through the day.
Clients will mention that once they begin eating something for breakfast they feel hungry all day. This is often times related to what they are eating. If the individual is consuming a refined carbohydrate breakfast such as a pastry or cereal they will certainly feel hunger sooner as opposed to having a higher fiber cereal or adding protein and fat to that meal they will find that they are satiated longer and won’t be thinking about their hunger as soon. The good news is that if you feel your hunger you are in tune with your body and you know your metabolism is working.
The opposite is an individual who is not hungry for breakfast because once they arrived home from work or school the night before the individual may be eating until they go to sleep. The late night eaters may also state that they wake up starving. The overeating kicks insulin production into overdrive. If an individual doesn’t enter a “fasting” state overnight, they wake up just as their blood sugar drops. It doesn’t seem to matter that there was a binge the night before the individual needs food immediately!
Another reason to consume breakfast is that research shows that students do better in school. An individual is able to think more clearly, problem solve and also be more productive at work. Also eating helps with one’s fitness/physical performance as an athlete. People tend to have a healthier diet overall encompassing more fruit, vegetables and a larger variety of food choices when they consume breakfast.
Finally the key part to having breakfast is planning. Perhaps keeping string cheese at your office with some high fiber cereal bars is your quick on the run meal or giving your child a piece of whole wheat toast with almond butter and banana. Last night’s leftovers are always tasty. There are many frozen entrees that make breakfast food if you want breakfast options (eggs) and if you have the time adding Greek Yogurt or eggs to your hot cereal could always make the meal more satisfying.
