You’ve heard it said a million times: breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Right? But we’re all in different camps when it comes to breakfast.
Which Breakfast Camp Are You In?
- You don’t eat breakfast
- You eat breakfast every day
- You have breakfast (if coffee counts, that is…)
- Breakfast is a bowl of cereal
- Breakfast is a smoothie
- Bacon and eggs, baby!
- Cold pizza for me
- Can’t eat breakfast until at least 10:30 a.m.
- Breakfast for lunch (this can be a valid approach if you’re following intermittent fasting)
Why You Should Eat Breakfast
Did you know breakfast is supposed to be your biggest meal of the day? Packing in those calories after 6pm is the diet of a Sumo wrestler. Keeping your biggest eating to earlier in the day may be helpful for you. If you aren’t currently eating breakfast, here are a few reasons you may want to create a new habit.
- If you eat within the first 30 – 60 minutes upon waking, you’ll get your metabolism going for the day.
- If you eat a breakfast of balanced carbs/protein/healthy fats, you’ll be rarin’ to go.
- Don’t want to be sleepy by the time you get an hour into work or your school day? Eat.
- You’ll burn more fat, rather than muscle, throughout the remainder of the day.
Good-Better-Best
Need some ideas for where to start?
If you’re a cereal-eating human, make the switch from Captain Crunch (not assuming, just sharing examples) to Raisin Bran or Frosted Mini Wheats for starters. And then work your way to low-sugar options, ideally organic. Look for options with nuts and seeds for protein and fat to help you feel full. Or make the switch from cereal altogether to steel cut oats with LOTS of butter and a swirl of honey or real maple syrup. Another nice jump from cereal is to granola. Watch the packaged kinds for lots of added sugar! Try this homemade granola we love.
If white cottage bread calls your name every morning and wants to marry the jar of Skippy in the fridge, up your game to a 100% whole-wheat bread and all natural peanut butter or add variety with almond or cashew butter. Or step it up another notch with gluten-free or grain-free bread.
Eggs are a great inexpensive protein to start your day with. If you love eggs, take a step toward organic for better quality, or pastured eggs for the most nutrition — and admire those beautiful orange yolks! Same goes for sausage or breakfast patties, connect with Pasture Adickes or Nature’s Pantry Farm or a farmer local to your area for pastured meats with no antibiotics or hormones added. Don’t forget to add everything bagel seasoning to your eggs — or anything else for that matter.
If pancakes and waffles are your thing, opt out of frozen and double batch this family favorite and nobody will know it’s grain-free! Thin the batter a bit for perfect pancakes.
Try subbing in a smoothie once or twice a week. They are a great option when you’re running behind, because you can easily bring them in the car on the way to school.
Skip the Starbucks drive through and try our spiced chai latte or iced coffee recipes at home. They are both divine.
We could talk all day about where to start as it’s individual to where your family is at. For more, take a peek at the video below! If you’re looking for more gluten-free breakfast ideas, we’ve got those too.
