Why I Never Skip Breakfast
I know not everyone loves breakfast or eating something first thing in the morning. It can come down to personal preference, but here are the top reasons why I always eat SOMETHING within the first couple of hours after waking up. Whether it’s something small like a piece of fruit or yogurt, a protein bar, or what I like to call a “big boy breakfast” (pictured), breakfast can really be the most important meal of the day.
#1. ENERGY. When I first wake up, I find that having some form of carbs either from fruit, juice, bread, oats, etc. helps me to wake up and kickstart my energy levels way more than coffee will. Even though coffee is mandatory :)
What I eat: My go-to breakfast is ½ cup of oats with 1 scoop of vanilla protein powder and ½ cup of frozen berries mixed in. Full of healthy carbs and a heavy dose of protein first thing in the morning. Which takes me to #2….
#2. PROTEIN. In order to hit my daily protein goals (I eat 1g protein per pound of bodyweight) if I don’t get started early in the day, I’m not really setting myself up for success. This means I usually have to make up for it later in the day which can be harder to do, especially if I’m busy. Plus, eating a heavy dose of protein first thing helps me stay full until lunch and eliminates the urge to snack! Win/win.
What I eat: As mentioned above, my go-to move is to add protein powder to my oatmeal. I also am a huge fan of egg whites with shredded cheese, or simply a protein shake or smoothie if I don’t have time to cook.
#3 MEAL TIMING. If I skip breakfast, I know I’ll be starving at lunch. This usually leads me to crave unhealthy foods and wanting to eat something I normally wouldn’t eat to “make up for it”. If I have breakfast, I know I’ll stay full until lunch and it helps me make healthier choices come lunchtime because I’m not making decisions with a “hangry” brain.
What I eat: The best thing about breakfast is that there are so many options. My breakfast stays pretty consistent (oats and protein powder), but depending on my day and how fast I need to be out of the house, I can be flexible as long as it includes a form of protein, carb, and a little healthy fat (nuts, cheese, granola, etc).
Experiment with different foods and different convenience levels (from super quick to break out the waffle iron) and see what works best for you and how it makes you feel energy and satiety wise!
Balancing breakfast can also highly depend on your nutrition and fitness goals, so if you have any questions about how to properly structure and/or plan a meal, shoot me a message and I’ll be happy to guide you!