What are you having for breakfast tomorrow morning?
A) I have no idea
B) Whatever I can grab while running out the door
C) Breakfast??
If you answered A, B, or C, read this post! Breakfast is THE most important meal of the day!
Our family starts each day with a healthy breakfast. Cohen gets whole grain baby oatmeal with a side of fruit, Cade gets oatmeal with a little honey, peanut butter, and a sliced banana. Shane and I have been eating a protein shake (2 different types of protein powder, one for him, one for me) with a tablespoon of peanut butter, some frozen fruit (I've been using blackberries... yum!), 1/2 cup of raw oats and a dash of flax seed. Steel-cut oats are best, but we use Old Fashioned Oats.
We are also love scrambled eggs in the morning. (Ladies, eat the yolks too! They are a source of vitamin D!) I add some shredded mozzarella cheese and some ground pepper, and then we eat our eggs with a WASA crispbread (smeared with peanut butter, of course!). Peanut butter is a great source of protein and "good fat", but it DOES contain sugar. I am working on a substitute for PB, but haven't found anything yet. Even natural PB has added sugar. For this reason, I always measure how much I use (1 serving = 2 tablespoons).
Another favorite breakfast of mine, is homemade Banana Nut Cheerios. I use one cup of cheerios, a dash of milk (whatever you have, I use almond milk), half of a (sliced) banana, and some sliced almonds. MmMmm!
NOTE: Cade loves his oatmeal in the mornings... so much, that when we read Goodnight Moon before bed at night, I will read "A comb, and a brush, and a bowl full of--" and he says "Oatmeal!" :)
See the references and links below for more healthy breakfast choices!
Why does eating breakfast help control weight?
from Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
Here are some of the ways regularly eating a healthy breakfast may help you lose excess weight and maintain your weight loss:
- Eating breakfast reduces your hunger later in the day, making it easier to avoid overeating. When you skip breakfast, you may feel ravenous later and be tempted to reach for a quick fix, such as candy from the vending machine. In addition, prolonged fasting — which occurs when you skip breakfast — can increase your body's insulin response, which in turn increases fat storage and weight gain. In fact, skipping breakfast actually increases your risk of obesity.
- Eating breakfast gets you on track to make healthy choices all day. People who eat breakfast regularly tend to eat a healthier diet — one that is more nutritious and lower in fat. When you skip breakfast, you're more likely to skip fruits and vegetables the rest of the day too.
- Eating breakfast gives you energy, increasing your physical activity during the day. A healthy breakfast refuels your body and replenishes the glycogen stores that supply blood sugar (glucose). Skipping breakfast is associated with decreased physical activity.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/food-and-nutrition/AN01119
More great benefits of eating breakfast, and what to eat:
More ideas for healthy breakfast choices:
Great info! What kind of protein shakes do each of you use?
ReplyDeleteMy protein powder is low calorie, and does not have any fat, sugar, or lactose. I use it to help build lean muscle, and usually only have it after a hard workout. Shane's is a higher calorie protein to help build muscle. He still has a high metabolism and has to work hard to keep his daily calorie intake up :)
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you know this, but you really have to watch your protein intake. It's very important, but if you're not working out at all, consuming too much protein can cause you to gain fat instead of muscle.
Thanks Kelly!
ReplyDelete