PrintBy Shawn McKee
eDiets Contributor
Every night when I go to sleep I think to myself: Tomorrow I’m going to get up 30 minutes earlier and make myself a nice breakfast. And every morning I snooze through those extra 30 minutes, plus 10 more.
I will miss breakfast once more.
Apparently, I am not alone. An ABC News poll found nearly 4 in 10 Americans skips breakfast. It’s a slippery slope and the worst way to start your day.
“Breakfast is crucial for fueling your body, providing energy, maintaining metabolism and even improving concentration,” explains eDiets Director of Nutrition Pamela Ofstein. “If you skip breakfast, you may find yourself lacking energy, hungrier and more apt to overeat later in the day.”
Since most Americans are time crunched in the early hours, we’ve put together our five favorite ways to start the day because the most important meal is breakfast. While eating anything is better than nothing, these recommendations will give you what you need to power through your day.
“Eating a balanced breakfast is the goal — protein, carbohydrate and fat sources,” Pam says. “But if time is a constraint or you need something convenient, you don’t always have to go with the typical breakfast — grab a piece of fruit, yogurt and some nuts or wrap a slice of turkey and cheese in a tortilla.”
My favorite fast breakfast is cereal, but I’ve given up the sugary magic marshmallow happy-O’s for slightly more mature grownup fair. Whole grain cereals are the healthiest; full of fiber and teamed with skim milk you get a great dose of protein. Add your favorite fruit for more nutrients and a touch of sweetness.
When I eat in the car, it’s a Kashi granola bar, a banana and low-fat string cheese. There isn’t anything much quicker than that.
Even the college breakfast staple cold pizza is better than nothing. (While this wasn’t Pam’s favorite recommendation, she does agree that, in a pinch, this will work. Just don’t make pizza for breakfast a habit.)
Do you eat breakfast? What’s your favorite fast way to start your day?
Email Page
