"When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread." - John 21:9
Researchers have found many benefits from eating breakfast and with school underway, now is a perfect time to get into the breakfast habit.
Breakfast Research
Among the recent research:
- Children who skip breakfast make more errors and are slower to recall facts.
- Children who eat breakfast solve math problems more quickly.
- Children who eat breakfast do better on vocabulary tests.
- Children and adults who eat breakfast are more likely to get the vitamins and other nutrients they need.
- Adolescents who eat breakfast tend to have a lower body mass index, even if they have one or two obese parents.
- Adults who eat breakfast eat less calories throughout the day and make better food choices.
- Adults who eat breakfast lose more weight than those who skip breakfast.
The benefits of breakfast apply to grown-ups when it comes to the research shown above (less errors, better math and vocabulary).
Breakfast Guidance
- Dinner leftovers don't have to be dinner again. Heat them for breakfast instead.
- Put together an egg casserole the night before, and slip it into the oven when you get up.
- Make a smoothie containing one cup of milk, 1/3 cup cottage cheese, 2-3 tablespoons of raw nuts and 1/3 cup fruit (blueberries, strawberries, raspberries) for a quick, delicious and healthy breakfast meal
- Scramble eggs with various vegetables and cheese or make an omlette.
- If you decide to have cereal, choose a high-fiber, low-sugar cereal like Fiber One.
Five On-the-Go Ideas
- Natural peanut butter and banana (or apple) slices on whole-grain toast.
- Cheese wrapped in a whole-grain tortilla and some fruit.
- Raw nuts (almonds, walnuts) and fruit (berries) stirred into yogurt.
- A fruit smoothie blended with milk, cottage cheese and raw nuts (walnuts).
- Two cheese sticks with a piece of fruit.
These tips should help you get into the habit of eating breakfast consistently. It really is the most important meal of the day!
