Breakfast of Champions

We always hear "breakfast is the most important meal of the day". If breakfast is so important, is it okay to eat anything? Personally, I try to start my day with something healthy so that no matter how I eat the rest of the day, at least I started out on the right track. I usally eat a whole grain cereal with skim milk. Sometimes on the weekends, I will have yogurt and museli or I will make whole grain or pumpkin pancakes.

Breakfast can be just about anything and it varies depending on where you live.  Here in Germany, breakfast usually consists of bread, sandwich meat, and cheese or yogurt with museli.  England, on the other hand, has a heavier breakfast.  There you will be served sausage, beans, bacon, and cooked tomatoes.  France and Italy prefer lighter breakfasts settling with a pastry and coffee. 

Back in the states, we usually think of pancakes, french toast or waffles, eggs, bacon or sausage or cereal with milk.  Many of these foods, including those served in Europe, can be high in fat and calories.  If you do want traditional breakfast foods, you can try to make them healthier.  Use peanut butter on your pancakes instead of syrup (which is just sugar). Try turkey bacon instead of regular bacon. Make pancakes with whole grain flour instead of white flour. Add some cut-up onion or peppers to your fried potatoes.  Instead of sweetened yogurt, use plain yogurt and add your own fresh fruit.  Choose whole grain cereal verus a sugary cereal. 

If you are someone who does not like typical breakfast foods, think out of the box. Don't limit yourself to just bacon, eggs and pancakes.  I had a vegetarian roommate years ago who would make a vegetable stir-fry every morning.  I'm not sure what she put in it but there was always a lot of green.  This is way too much work for me that early in the morning but it is just an example of a different type of breakfast.  I have also seen people eat left-over pizza or other food from the previous evening for breakfast.  As long as the food is healthy, it is okay. 

 

What about if you do not like to eat breakfast?  Studies have shown that people who eat breakfast tend to weigh less than people that do not eat breakfast.  They also tend to do better on cognitive tests.  If you are not hungry by the time you leave for school or work, make sure you take a healthy snack for a mid-morning break.  This will give you an energy boost and help prevent overeating at lunch.

 

Even if you do not like typical breakfast foods, try to eat something healthy by mid-morning.  It will help your brain and your waistline.