Why breakfast is so important

 

It's not uncommon not to feel hungry for breakfast, or to even have time. But there are real facts behind the saying, "eat breakfast like a king". The body relies on glucose as its primary fuel, vital for brain function and providing energy for the physical activities of the day. Skipping breakfast can result in lack of concentration, low blood sugar levels, energy dips and decreased productivity.

First of all, eating breakfast kick-starts your metabolism. If breakfast is not eaten, your metabolism will remain low, and you will not be burning off the calories that you should be burning. Who wants that? Surely you want your body burning as many calories as possible?

If you're not hungry for breakfast, have a think to what you had for dinner the night before. Did you have a big meal? Chances are your body is still digesting from the night before and it's not quite ready for a meal yet. Your digestion slows down as you sleep, which is a reason why eating late isn't a great idea in the first place.

If you must eat something as your tummy's rumbling at night keeping you from sleeping, try something protein-rich like yoghurt. A common reason for being hungry at night is actually dehydration, so water or a cup of hot milk may do the trick. Check-out some healthy late-night snacks.

Back to breakfast. The whole saying is "breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, dinner like a pauper." Think of an upside down pyramid - that's the ideal way to eat. Here's some suggestions for breakfast:

- 2 boiled or poached eggs with a slice of wholegrain bread
- Muesli with seeds, nuts and fresh fruit
- A fruit smoothie with ground seeds

You'll notice that 2 of those options are pretty quick - you could have them when you get into work if you don't have time at home. Generally speaking though, the earlier the better.

For lunch eat a substantial meal to energise you for the afternoon, but don't choose heavy foods and don't over-eat as this will just make you feel sluggish. A big salad with fish or chicken or a hearty soup would be good choices, or you could even bring in last night's leftover's from dinner!

For dinner - if you're used to big meals late at night, try to switch to something a little lighter by just reducing the portion size. You may feel very hungry in the morning, but what an incentive to get out of bed!

Happy Eating!