The Most Important Meal of the Day

We all know that breakfast is by far the most important meal of the day, and a lot of research and studies can back that up, but now that the back to school season is in full swing, it is even more important to start the day off with the proper nutrients to fuel our bodies and minds!

It has been proven that those who start their day off with a balanced breakfast:

• Are more attentive
• Are more productive
• Are more focused
• Are less fatigued
• Are less irritable
• Perform better
• Have increased metabolism
• Have better learning and memory functions
• Have a reduced risk of heart disease
• Have more energy
• Prevent overeating during the rest of the day
• Maintain a healthier weight
• Obtain the vital amounts of essential vitamins, minerals, and foods from each food group
• Prevent many health risks, such as obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure

The list goes on and on with numerous studies and research to prove it. The bottom line is, there are no cons to eating breakfast, there is no reason why you shouldn't!

You can always find the time to eat even just a little something, it is better than nothing. The ideal breakfast consists of one serving from each of the four food groups, or at least three of them. Protein is a very good kickstart to the day, and remember to include some fresh fruit or vegetables.

I have four standard breakfasts that I can always rely on. I also try to rotate these breakfasts and include some other ones too for variety.

1. A bowl of whole-grain dry cereal with fresh fruit, a piece of whole wheat toast with all-natural peanut butter, and a tall glass of milk.
2. A piece of whole wheat toast with a hard-boiled egg cut up on top, a piece of fresh fruit, and a tall glass of milk.
3. A bowl of oatmeal with fresh fruit, a piece of whole wheat toast with all-natural peanut butter, and a tall glass of milk.
4. Two pieces of whole wheat toast, one with all-natural peanut butter and one with unsweetened applesauce, the remainder of the cup of applesauce on the side, and a tall glass of milk.

 As you can see, I include a serving from each of the four food groups. I also switch up which fruits and which cereals I eat often, for variety. I realize that not everyone is able to eat an all-star breakfast like this every morning, but please realize that there are plenty of other options.

The moral of the story is: EAT A HEALTHY, BALANCED BREAKFAST EVERYDAY!!!!!!!