Small Steps: Making Time For Breakfast

Is skipping breakfast part of your daily routine? Trying to start your day running on empty just makes your life tougher and is more stressful for your body. You may be dragging your feet and feeling more tired without even knowing it. Here are a few ways to help get you in the habit of eating breakfast everyday.
Food stylist: Anne Disrude
Prop Stylist: Alistair Turnbull

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Food stylist: Anne Disrude Prop Stylist: Alistair Turnbull

Is skipping breakfast part of your daily routine? Starting your day running on empty just makes your life tougher and is more stressful for your body. You may feel tired, without knowing why. As we begin Breakfast Week here on Healthy Eats, here are a few ways to help get you in the habit of eating a morning meal every day.

The Benefits

Food is fuel. If you skip breakfast, you’ll end up going around 15 or more hours without refueling. Without properly energizing yourself, you can start feeling sluggish, irritable and your brain won’t function as well. Studies show that kids do better in school when they eat breakfast, and the same goes for adults. The primary source of energy for the brain is glucose (a.k.a. sugar) — so it’s important to get in those whole grains during the morning and get your thinking cap up and running.

The Goal

Don’t like to eat in the morning? This is a common complaint of folks who skip breakfast. As I tell my clients -- start slow. Grab some fresh fruit like a banana or apple. It takes your body time to adjust to your new eating schedule so keep at it. Then start adding food so you can start your day with a balanced meal. Some easy breakfast ideas:

TELL US: What do you eat for breakfast?

Toby Amidor, MS, RD, CDN, is a registered dietitian and consultant who specializes in food safety and culinary nutrition. See Toby's full bio »

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