Food To Recover: The Importance of Breakfast

Many people do not stop to consider how important breakfast is for our bodies. We hear it's the "most important meal of the day" without really claiming why. Many people sleep for 7-8 hours and often do not eat right before bed. That means your body has been without fuel for up to 10+ hours. If you wake up, skip breakfast, and continue to go without energy, your metabolism will slow down and try to save energy to fuel your body until you eat something. Breakfast is an opportunity to set the pace of your day; to start your day with nourishing foods that allow you to stay energized, focused, and feeling good. If you are looking to lose weight, research shows that people who eat breakfast are more likely to lose weight and maintain their weight loss.

While the balanced plate method mentioned in the last post may seem unrealistic for breakfast, it sure isn’t! Try some of these breakfast ideas:

Add vegetables like kale, celery, spinach, beets, carrots, and/or avocado to breakfast shakes with oatmeal, yogurt, and a banana
Whole grain toast with some eggs and veggies and a small piece of fruit
Banana breakfast bars or Peanut butter bars can be good homemade on the go grabs
Store-bought granola bars can keep you fueled without exceeding your sugar intake
Egg muffins can be made ahead of time and give you a protein punch on your way out the door
If cereal is your go-to, make sure there are limited added sugars and at least 5 grams of fiber!
Complex carbohydrates (oatmeal, quinoa, whole grain cereals) and a protein food (nuts, eggs,yogurt, lean meat like turkey sausage or canadian bacon) will fuel you up and keep you satisfied until a mid-morning snack. This type of breakfast will also not spike your blood sugar, which will reduce high-sugar cravings for the rest of the day.
This 4-ingredient breakfast guide may give you more ideas
Make-ahead overnight oats are a favorite (basic recipe here)
Protein-packed breakfast recipes