Do you think a nutritious breakfast is out of your reach because of your busy schedule? Or do you perhaps feel it is not as important as some people say?

Why breakfast makes a difference

Eating breakfast every day helps in making your body feel full as well as promoting proper metabolic function and is a key part of managing proper weight. According to the American Dietetic Association, “starting your day by eating a healthy breakfast can actually help people lose weight or maintain their weight better than those who choose not to eat breakfast each day.”

The National Institute of Health recommends that eating breakfast on a regular basis makes it less likely that a person will overeat later in the day. The majority of individuals who successfully drop pounds and keep them off eat breakfast every morning.

The fact that breakfast is the most important meal of the day cannot be stressed enough. In a sense our bodies are fasting for a period of anywhere from eight to twelve hours while we sleep. For that very reason the body needs energy to get it moving and functioning to its optimum best come morning.

So what makes a nutritious breakfast?

It is important to think, “1-2-3 energy” when deciding what to eat for breakfast. In other words, think one serving of protein (such as peanut butter, cheese, yogurt, eggs or milk), two servings of fruit and three servings of grain. Including fruit with your breakfast helps you get your recommended daily requirement of vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates. Fruit also helps prevent constipation. An excellent suggestion for breakfast would be to have two slices of wholegrain bread with a tablespoon of peanut butter and a glass of orange juice. Oatmeal is a good breakfast choice, especially for those trying to lose weight as oatmeal helps slow down the process of digestion and makes a person feel fuller for a longer period of time.

Protein

Getting enough protein at breakfast should be high on the priority list. A nutritious and quick breakfast for those anxious to get out the door right away is a bowl of oatmeal or high fiber cereal, a banana (which is high in potassium) and a glass of milk. To get even more protein, have a piece of whole grain bread (or toast) with peanut butter on it and a decent sized glass of low fat milk (skim or one percent is best).