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Bring Back Breakfast

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Choose the best breakfast:
A. Leftover cold cheese pizza and orange juice
B. Peanut butter and banana sandwich and milk
C. Cold cereal with raisins and soy milk
D. Shake made with frozen fruit, milk, juice, and wheat germ
E. Poptarts, a hard-boiled egg, and vegetable juice
If you chose A, B, C, D, or E, then you're correct! The best breakfast is the one that you'll eat regularly (and is relatively well-balanced).

The Neglected Meal

Gone are the days when it was unthinkable to start the day without a good hearty breakfast. Now people have more excuses than you can shake a spatula at for why they cannot or do not eat a morning meal. Do any of these sound familiar?:
  • I do not have time.
  • I am not hungry in the morning.
  • I am trying to lose weight.
  • I do not like breakfast foods.
  • When I eat breakfast, I am more hungry mid-morning.

The Case for Breakfast

We have all heard it—breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But you know what, it is true. Here are some reasons why:
Breakfast is the time to refuel. After fasting for the 8-12 hours after dinner and during sleep, your body needs to replenish its energy supply. The brain is especially in need of a fill-up, because it has no place to store its main energy source: glucose, which comes from the foods we eat. Without eating you won’t be able to think or concentrate. Muscles also rely on glucose for a portion of their energy.
Eating breakfast is associated with better attitudes about work and school. People who pass on a morning meal are often tired, irritable, or restless in the morning.
Eating breakfast regularly is associated with maintaining a healthful weight. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, people who skip breakfast are more likely to overeat at snack time and other meals throughout the day.
Breakfast can add to the healthfulness of your diet. Breakfast food can be an important source of the following nutrients in your diet:

No More Excuses

Now it's time to let go of those excuses.
I do not have time. A little planning may help.
  • Have quick foods on hand:
    • Dry cereal, have a variety of types for mixing
    • Single-serving containers of yogurt
    • English muffins or whole wheat bread or bagels
    • Fresh, canned, or dried fruit
    • Instant oatmeal
  • Spend time on the weekend or a week night preparing easy-to-grab foods for the week:
    • Make your own muffins, breads, or granola
    • Hard-boil several eggs
    • Make pancake batter and keep it in the fridge; in the morning, ladle some on the griddle and top with fresh fruit
    • The night before, whirl together a breakfast shake—milk/yogurt, fruit, ice, and wheat germ—and store in the fridge
  • Pack foods that you can eat on the commute or at your desk:
    • A Ziploc bag of dry cereal or trail mix
    • Cereal bar or granola bar
    • Can of vegetable juice
I am not hungry in the morning. Eat something small, such as toast, juice, or an egg, at breakfast time. Bring along a snack for when you are hungry mid-morning.
I am trying to lose weight. Studies have found that people who regularly eat breakfast cereal regularly tend to have lower body mass indices. Skipping breakfast sets you up to be ravenously hungry later in the day, which can lead to overeating. Of course, you still need to make healthful choices. Be aware of portion sizes. For example, many bagel-shop bagels and muffins are much higher in calories than you think. Also, stay away from some of the traditional, fatty breakfast foods, including:
  • Bacon
  • Breakfast sausage
  • Hash browns
  • Biscuits with gravy
  • Doughnuts and pastries
  • Foods with lots of cheese
I do not like breakfast foods. Anything can be a breakfast food:
  • Last night's leftovers and a piece of fruit
  • Grilled cheese and tomato sandwich
  • English muffin with peanut butter and banana
  • Bagel topped with avocado spread and sliced fresh tomato
  • Cheese, crackers, and fruit
  • Tomato soup and crackers
  • Pizza, hot or cold, with orange juice
  • Pita stuffed with low-fat cheese and salsa
  • Cottage cheese with fresh or canned fruit and graham crackers
  • Smoked salmon, cream cheese, and cucumber on a bagel
  • Baked potato topped with cottage cheese or salsa
When I eat breakfast, I'm more hungry mid-morning. Hunger pangs are a healthy, normal signal from your body. Bring along a healthy snack for these times. Or try eating a little more protein or fat with breakfast to keep you feeling full longer.

Back to Breakfast

Eating a healthful breakfast helps prepare your mind and body for the day ahead. Try some of these ideas to bring breakfast back into your routine.

RESOURCES

Eat Right: American Dietetic Association http://www.eatright.org/

Fruits and Veggies Matters Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/

CANADIAN RESOURCES

Dietitians of Canada http://www.dietitians.ca/

Health Canada http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/

References

The importance of breakfast. University of Floriday IFAS Extension website. Available at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/he550. Accessed September 12, 2012.

Obesity in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/. Updated August 16, 2012. Accessed September 12, 2012.

Overcoming excuses for skipping breakfast. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website. Available at: http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=4294967960&terms=breakfast#.UFElZbKPWSo. Accessed September 12, 2012.

Start every day the healthy way. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website. Available at: http://www.eatright.org/Public/content.aspx?id=3393&terms=breakfast#.UFElELKPWSo. Updated February 4, 2008. Accessed September 12, 2012.

Revision Information

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

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