Have you eaten breakfast this morning or do you belong to the breakfast-skippers group? No nutritionist or doctor will tell you to miss your breakfast unless absolutely required. Yet, many people do so. Especially the "non-morning" people who probably would like to avoid that time of the day and everything that comes with it, including breakfast.
After fasting all night, breakfast fuels your body so you start the day with energy.
Although all three traditional meals are important for supplying the daily nutrients, nutritionists give a lot of importance to breakfast which is the foundation of healthy eating habits. Several studies have been conducted on breakfast and they all conclude the same breakfast is important.
Breakfast is the easiest meal to skip. Some excuses heard for skipping breakfast:
Lack of time, not hungry in the morning, bored with breakfast items, trying to lose weight, no one to prepare it, combining breakfast and lunch into brunch works better.
ARE YOU A HEALTHY SNACKER? CHECK HERE AND GET INSTANT RESULTS.
Impact of Skipping Breakfast
Skipping breakfast may hinder growth because the body will be forced to use its protein stores to meet its energy requirements in the morning.
A study of breakfast eating patterns in school children revealed that children who skipped breakfast had a much lower nutrient intake for obvious reasons. The growth of the children who ate breakfast was better than that of the children who skipped breakfast.
Children who ate breakfast were also ahead of those who didn't eat breakfast, with respect to class attendance, test performance, and participation in extra-curricular activities.
Why is breakfast important?
Studies have shown that eating breakfast is associated with improved strength and endurance in the late morning, along with a better attitude towards work. The brain has no reserves of glucose, which is its main energy source. This energy has to be constantly replenished for the brain to function well. Breakfast helps to replenish the blood glucose levels after a night's empty stomach.
Several research studies have shown that eating breakfast has advantageous effects on late morning mood, satiety, and cognitive performance. In one study, where reasoning, inference, and problem-solving abilities were measured, it was found that eating breakfast was beneficial, and skipping breakfast consistently caused hunger and led to performance difficulties on tasks requiring concentration.
This study also showed that a balanced breakfast is more effective in suppressing hunger than an unbalanced one.
Related: Not Losing Weight? 4 Breakfast Mistakes You Might Be Making
A full satisfying breakfast: The correct approach
An unbalanced breakfast suppressed hunger only for a short while. Breakfast is the last meal one should skip in a weight-loss program. The body burns energy efficiently in the morning and therefore, weight does not increase by eating a good breakfast. A small breakfast or no breakfast and a large dinner are weight watchers' enemies.
On the other hand, a large breakfast and a small dinner keep the appetite up in the morning.
Explore: Best Nutritious Foods/Fruits You Should Have in Breakfast
Benefits of a healthy breakfast
A healthy breakfast does these things to us:
- Breaks the night-long fast.
- Supplies energy when the body needs it most.
- Controls the urge to snack.
- Prevents irritability, lethargy, and fatigue.
- Helps to stabilize blood sugar levels.
- Boosts mental functions.
- Provides about one-third of the day's nutritional requirements.
- Helps to control weight by promoting regular meals.
If you have a particular condition that needs more precise surveillance when it comes to nutritional intake, consulting a dietitian for healthy meal plans can help you manage the condition appropriately.
Add value to your breakfast
A few important notes while making breakfast
- Use milk, curd, or buttermilk without cream.
- Oil, butter, or ghee intake should be minimal or can be avoided completely.
- Avoid fried foods.
- Sweets and sugary items should be avoided.
- Avoid refined foods made from maida and use whole wheat foods instead.
- Don't drink caffeinated beverages.
- Include lots of fruits.
- Stick to natural foods as far as possible and keep away from foods with too many additives.
Your body and brain need their morning fuel. Don't deprive them by being an only coffee and 'I smoke for breakfast' person.
FAQ's
Skipping breakfast can lead to fat gain. Is this true?
Yes, it can. The reason for weight gain among non-breakfast eaters may be due to the prolonged fasting state the body enters when one goes too long without eating. When the individual finally eats, the body tends to store the food as fat, as a survival mechanism.
