Begin the Holidays with Breakfast

Editors Note: This article was originally featured in our Nov/Dec 2008 issue.

Begin the Holidays with Breakfast

One of the easiest ways to improve your nutrition is to start the day with breakfast. A recent survey reported that 92% of adults consider breakfast the most important meal of the day, but less than half of those surveyed said that they eat breakfast every day (Food Insight, July/August 2008).Not feeling hungry after waking up and not having enough time were the reasons cited for not eating breakfast.

Skipping breakfast increases your odds for being overweight by almost 5-fold. Studies show that even though more total calories may be consumed by those who eat breakfast, they are less likely to be overweight. The exact mechanism of breakfast consumption and weight management is not well understood, but those who skip breakfast will burn150less calories than someone who does eat breakfast. In other words, stoking the metabolic furnace early in the day appears important.

Eating breakfast every day is a documented technique used by those who have successfully lost weight and kept it off. However, in the U.S. where over 60%of adult’s are overweight, 20% to 30% do not eat breakfast, plus 90% of dieters skip breakfast.

Where breakfast is eaten turns out to make a difference, as well. Eating breakfast out versus eating breakfast at home can double the risk of obesity.

Unmotivated with the usual breakfast fare? Try peanut butter (or other nut butters) on whole grain toast, crackers, or apple slices; hard boiled eggs with salsa; or reduced-fat cheese sticks with fruit. Take some food cues from the holidays and bake pumpkin and pecan whole grain muffins or make a sandwich with turkey leftovers.

Enjoy the holidays with friends and family and make that resolution to eat a healthy breakfast before the busy day begins.