During a busy morning, it’s easy to let breakfast fall low in your list of priorities, but taking just a few minutes to have something to eat can really make a difference to your day. If you don’t have time to eat before leaving the house, we have lots of breakfast ideas that can be eaten on-the-go or when you get to work.
Breakfast provides the body and brain with fuel after an overnight fast – that’s where its name originates, breaking the fast! Without breakfast you are effectively running on empty, like trying to start the car with no petrol!
Here are a few facts on the importance of breakfast:
In one study, people who moved a large percentage of their energy intake to their morning meal had lower weights (as well as improved insulin function) compared to people who ate most of their energy later in the day.
Also, hildren who regularly eat breakfast have higher IQs than those who only eat breakfast on occasion. Regular breakfast consumption is associated with better behavior in school and better academic performance, including better grades and achievement test scores.
Breakfast helps you reach your daily recommended servings of fruit and vegetables. Those who eat breakfast also tend to consume more milk and whole grains than those who skip the meal. And as you probably know, milk offers up important calcium for your body. Breakfast also fills your stomach, helping you to avoid overeating and snacking later in the day.
Research shows that a breakfast high in protein—such as an omelet or Greek yogurt—is more likely to keep you fuller longer, preventing you from overeating or making poor food choices later on. In one study, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated reduced activity in the portion of the brain making food demands for several hours following that first, protein-heavy meal.