When you wake up and break the fast of the previous night, you need to treat it as the fuels that will kick start your day. Breakfast affects your entire day, from how you choose your afternoon meals to your ability to concentrate. But people often make the mistake of passing on breakfast despite its numerous positive benefits. Reconsider skipping breakfast for these reasons:
Control your weight. Eating breakfast aids in the fight against obesity because many studies show that skipping breakfast regularly is linked to excessive weight gain. After fasting for up to 10 to 12 hours a day and not having breakfast, eating a balanced and nutritious meal gets your metabolism back on track. Plus, if you skip it you may be starving by lunch, which just might lead to poor meal choices.
Refuel for the day. If you think about food as fuel and energy for your body (calories are units of energy remember), having breakfast is a way to refuel. Having enough food and energy allows you to re-energize and prepare for a potentially fast-paced or demanding day.
Intake needed nutrition. Get a head start on your daily intake of vitamins and nutrients by eating nutritious foods such as eggs for protein, oatmeal for fiber and fresh fruit for Vitamin C. Grab breakfast on the go, such as a banana with organic peanut butter, to gain needed nutrients for developing or maintaining your health.
And while multivitamins aren't a bad idea, the best way to get the vitamins and nutrients you need is by eating them naturally.
Curb junk food cravings. Filling up on breakfast satisfies your appetite so you don't have cravings for junk food or other nutrient-deficient foods. If you're not hungry by mid-afternoon, you won't be tempted to tear into a bag of chips or a packet of pastries, which is easy to do when you’re sitting behind a desk.
Increase focus. A breakfast high in fiber and low in sugar allows for quick thinking and increased focus when making decisions and solving problems. By not having to think about hunger, which affects your mood, you can concentrate on necessary tasks and your job.
Begin a day of small meals.
Consider having breakfast as a start of small meals throughout the day, which allows your metabolism to pace itself when converting food into energy or fat.
Save money on lunch. Put your money where your mouth is, literally, by satiating your appetite with breakfast before spending a ton of money on a big lunch. If you save $10/week by doing this, that’s over $500/year (which you can then spend on a little shopping spree for yourself).
About the Author Jamie Eberle is the Chief Financial Officer of BeLiteWeight, which has helped over 6,500 patients have safe, affordable and successful weight loss surgery over the past eight years. Jamie has had bariatric surgery and knows the ins and outs of the different procedures they run, including: gastric sleeve surgery, gastric sleeve plication, Lap Band and gastric bypass surgery, among others. BeLiteWeight focuses on each patient's needs to help them choose the right procedure and get started on the path to a healthier life.
