Breakfast is important because your body needs a source of energy after going the whole night without food. Although it may be difficult to find the time to fit in breakfast in the morning, a little planning can make it possible. Consider less traditional breakfasts as well as common breakfast foods to make this easier.
Benefits
Breakfast helps people meet their daily dietary requirements for vitamins and minerals while keeping the amount of fat and cholesterol down. This can help with maintaining a healthy weight, as well as lowering the risk for high cholesterol and heart disease, according to MayoClinic.com. It also improves concentration, productivity, problem-solving, creativity and hand-eye coordination.
Significance
Eating a nutritious breakfast can make it easier to resist high-calorie and high-fat treats because it makes it easier to go until lunch without feeling hungry, notes the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. It also provides the energy needed to get through the morning and be productive, making it more likely that children will do well at school and have the energy to participate in sports and other physical activity.
Options
Although the KidsHealth website says it is better to eat anything for breakfast than not to eat breakfast at all, a healthy breakfast will fill a person up for longer and give her more energy. (Breakfast can be made up of typical breakfast foods like cereal or pancakes, or it can be something less traditional, like leftovers from dinner the night before.
Features of a Healthy Breakfast
A healthy breakfast will include foods that contain whole grains, protein, dairy and fruits or vegetables, according to MayoClinic.com. It should be low in fat. When choosing cereal, it should have at least 3g of fiber, less than 13g of sugar and less than 120 calories per serving.
Expert Insight
Johns Hopkins recommends planning ahead for breakfast and starting the preparation the night before so it is easier to eat a healthy breakfast in the morning. Making sure to stock up on breakfast foods that are portable is also helpful, since then breakfast can be eaten on the way to work or school or after arrival on those days when there just isn't time to eat before leaving home.
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