Two weeks ago, our challenge was to pack your lunch; in other words, prep your lunch either the night or morning before you needed to eat it. This week we are piggy-backing on that same idea but focusing on breakfast instead. Commonly referred to as “the most important meal of the day,” breakfast definitely sets the pace for healthy or unhealthy choices throughout the day. By ‘breaking your overnight fast” everyday with a balanced and filling meal you can set yourself up for success for the entire day.
I’m not going to list out all the benefits of eating breakfast but here is a short list that should be convincing enough.
· Breakfast encourages healthier eating.
· Breakfast balances blood sugar levels.
· Breakfast kickstarts your metabolism.
· Breakfast boosts energy levels.
· Breakfast promotes heart health.
· Breakfast stimulates the brain.
The basic formula for breakfast: Pair carbs with proteins. The carbs give your body energy to get started and your brain the fuel it needs to take on the day. Protein gives you staying power and helps you feel full until your next meal.
It can be as simple as a combo of:
· Whole-grain cereals or bread for carbs
· Low-fat milk, yogurt, or cottage cheese for protein
· Fresh fruit or veggies, again for the carbs
· Nuts or legumes for even more protein
We are busy people and sometimes a cup of coffee may be all have time to consume during our mad rush through our morning routine. The idea of cooking yourself a warm balanced breakfast sounds fantastic but who has time for that? Thankfully we have all sorts of ideas to make this easier. From overnight oats to precooked oat and egg white pancakes or muffin egg cups, we’ve got you covered. Many of these are batch recipes so you can make them once and use them all week, or make a few different types and freeze them to pull out whenever you are rushed and need a quick breakfast.