What is Breakfast?

Breakfast is exactly what you think when you separate the word in two: break fast. So whether or not you eat early in the morning or mid-afternoon, your first meal of the day is breakfast because you are breaking your fast from the night before! 

Okay, so what? 

You might be asking yourself… 

Is it really important to eat breakfast?

The answer is yes! It is really important to eat breakfast! And there are lots of reasons why.

Why Breakfast is Important

Because breakfast is the first meal of the day, it helps your body replenish its low blood sugar levels. Replenishing your low blood sugar levels has endless benefits! Here are seven…

7 Benefits of Breakfast

1. Energy

Because food provides vital nutrients that keep your body running, the first meal of the day serves to boost your energy levels. When you eat breakfast you make sure your body has enough energy to start its day!

2. Good Nutrients

Lots of breakfast foods (but not all of them!) contain good fats, proteins, and

carbohydrates that help you stay fuller longer and keep you feeling good throughout the

day. It also means you get an extra chance at fulfilling your need for veggies, fruit, and calcium (p.s. calcium doesn’t have to come from dairy, it can come from veggies, beans, soy, and fish too)! 

3. Faster Metabolism (potentially)

Yes, eating breakfast can help with weight regulation. When you eat breakfast, you

signal to your body that there is enough food to go around. This helps your body not hoard calories. Instead, your body burns calories knowing more food will come. So, eating breakfast can boost your metabolism although there is debate around whether people who eat breakfast tend to make healthier eating choices in general which results in slimmer waistlines.

4. Prone to Eating Healthier Foods

People who eat breakfast tend to make healthier eating choices throughout the day (which impacts weight). This is because their body isn’t desperately calling out for fatty and sugary snacks due to excessive hunger. Essentially, when you give your body the nutrients it needs when you wake up, you won’t make food choices when you are positively ravenous. Eating a snack in the morning is better than nothing!

5. Healthier Heart

People who eat breakfast have healthier hearts! Eating breakfast helps regulate blood pressure and cholesterol levels. In addition, as discussed above, not eating breakfast can lead to unhealthier eating choices later in the day which can have negative effects on your heart. 

6. Lower Chance of Developing Diabetes

Because eating breakfast reduces spikes in blood sugar levels, eating breakfast lowers your chance of developing type 2 diabetes. Eating, in general, helps with insulin, a hormone that controls glucose (essentially energy) in your body. Eating breakfast keeps you from becoming insulin resistant, which greatly lowers your chance of developing type 2 diabetes, and allows your body to use and store energy taken from the foods you ingest!

7. Happier Brain

This one is a no-brainer (ha!), when you don’t eat your energy levels crash. And just like everything else in your body, your brain needs nutrients to run. If you have a big day ahead of you or are looking to use your brain (which you will end up doing whether you want to or not), eating breakfast is a must. 

Importance of Breakfast for Kids

All of the breakfast benefits above apply to kids too! After the body fasts during a night of good sleep, fuel is needed to wake the body up and get it going for the day. Kids who eat breakfast do better in school and are able to be more active and engaged throughout the day. Their bodies are growing so nutrition is doubly needed!

But what about those picky-no-breakfast-for-me eaters?

Try lighter snacks like balanced smoothies (meaning low-sugar), yogurt and granola, healthy bars, or fruit. That way it won’t feel like a whole meal but will give their bodies a kickstart to the day. Even a piece of peanut butter toast or some nuts is better than nothing! 

For those who need extra inspiration when feeding younger kids…

With the benefits in mind, let’s talk about the consequences.

Negative Impacts of Skipping Breakfast

  • Potential weight gain (slower metabolism)
  • Hair loss
  • Higher risk of cancer
  • Higher risk of diabetes
  • Unhealthy cravings
  • Bad moods (and lower energy)
  • Slower brain
  • Migraines

It’s pretty simple… if you want to feel good eat breakfast!

Key Ingredients for a Breakfast Pantry

Now that you know eating breakfast has many benefits, it’s important to keep in mind that what you eat for breakfast is important too. Sugar and saturated fats are never the way to go. This means some of the breakfast favorites like pancakes, donuts, sugary cereals, and bacon/sausage don’t make the cut for breakfasts that will fuel your day. 

(You can have them every once and a while, I won’t tell!)

If you find yourself craving your breakfast favorites, try opting for healthier alternatives like whole-grain pancakes and waffles! 

Some great breakfast staples are fruits (frozen or fresh), whole grains (like oats!), and healthy protein (eggs!). Breakfast tacos with eggs and avocado and overnight or morning-made oats with fruits are easy, balanced breakfast ideas! 

Check out this great list for more!

I get that mornings can be busy, especially with kiddos. However, getting up a little earlier in the morning, or prepping something the night before, so you have something nutritious to eat for breakfast is well worth the trouble for you and your kids!

So… 

Make time for breakfast, your body, and your family, will thank you!