You’ve probably heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Many people choose to skip breakfast, often as a way to lose weight, and simply get the day going with a strong cup of coffee. Nothing too much wrong with that, right?
Well not so. Health is not only related to what food you eat, but also related to when you eat it. Skipping breakfast has been associated with hardening of the arteries and may make you more likely to overeat later in the day. In fact, you may want to make breakfast your biggest, and highest quality, meal of the day. Some research shows that doing so may help with long-term weight management.
For a nourishing breakfast, the trick is to steer clear of sugary cereals as well as calorie bombs like pancakes and bagels.
A “breakfast of champions” is focused on whole foods and includes plenty of protein. Research suggests that a protein-packed breakfast can help reduce food cravings, stabilise blood sugar, and prevent overeating later in the day. Think of having porridge and banana with pumpkin or sunflower seeds, greek yogurt with raspberries, blueberries and chopped nuts, or eggs on wholemeal toast with smashed avocado are all good choices.
Sources: The Importance of Breakfast in Atherosclerosis Disease: Insights From the PESA Study.