Most people who lose weight and keep it off are breakfast eaters. There is a reason for that. “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day” is not just something cereal companies came up with to sell cereal. Eating breakfast helps people to manage their hunger better and thereby make better food choices throughout the day.
James O. Hill, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado, says that breakfast helps us to spread out our hunger and manage food choices better throughout the day. He also says that people who eat breakfast don’t get that burning hunger later in the day that causes them to overeat.
Now calling a bear claw and a Big Gulp breakfast is not quite going to do it. Eating a healthy, hearty breakfast can really make your day. The beauty of eating a hearty breakfast is the fact that you’ve got all day to burn off the calories!
Following are just a few tasty ideas to help you add a healthy breakfast to your day no matter how busy you are (many can be prepared ahead of time and grabbed on your way out the door).
Apple Brown Betty
Slice an apple and sprinkle it with cinnamon. Microwave for three minutes then add one tablespoon each of raisins, chopped almonds, and chopped walnuts. Eat with one cup of light vanilla yogurt.
Egg Sandwich
The Egg McMuffin will do in a pinch but it does contain much more fat than the version you’d prepare at home. Fry one egg white and place on a toasted whole wheat English muffin with one slice Canadian bacon and one slice low-fat cheese.
Yogurt Parfait
Layer one cup of light yogurt with a half cup fresh or frozen (unsweetened) berries and top with one tablespoon chopped walnuts.
Oatmeal
I happened upon a great way to make oatmeal quickly in the morning by using my rice cooker. I’d put all the ingredients, except the water, into my rice cooker the night before and then just turn it on when I woke up. By the time I was out of the shower, my oatmeal would be ready. No watching the pot, waiting for it to boil and standing around stirring like Mom used to do. Try it yourself by putting a half cup of rolled oats, a tablespoon of chopped walnuts and a quarter cup of raisins or dried cranberries in your rice cooker. Add a cup of water before you turn it on in the morning and voila!
Breakfast Burrito
Scramble two egg whites with one ounce of low-fat cheese and one quarter cup of diced onions and bell peppers. Serve on a whole wheat tortilla with two tablespoons of salsa.
Apple with Cheese
This is the quickest breakfast to grab on your way out the door. Just grab an apple and a stick of low-fat string cheese. Believe it or not, this is a great breakfast too.
Whatever your tastes, if you are trying to lose weight, don’t skip breakfast.