Advice for Breakfast-Skippers

It’s a common mistake for dieters to skip breakfast. It seems to make sense, though—by missing a meal, you’ll be eating fewer calories and be closer to your goal of losing weight, right? Wrong.

Eating breakfast daily is an essential element to a successful weight-loss strategy. The National Weight Control Registry tracks people throughout the United States who have achieved and maintained weight loss and found that 80% of its members do not skip breakfast.

For the ideal breakfast, you should have a combination of protein, fiber, and carbohydrates. A lean protein like an egg, egg substitute, or turkey bacon will help you feel satisfied for longer. The combination of fiber and a protein, along with a whole-grain carbohydrate, will fuel you while slowing down your digestion, preventing your hunger from returning as quickly.

In addition to eating breakfast, hydration is also important. While you sleep, you lose fluids, and drinking a glass or bottle of water in the morning before breakfast can make you feel better, even better than a cup of coffee.

Being prepared for your breakfast can be helpful, too. You’re less likely to resort to fast food if you set up your meal ahead of time. Keep easily prepared breakfast items stocked in your kitchen, or try hard boiling enough eggs for a week.

If you aren’t hungry in the morning or if eating too early upsets your stomach, you can overcome these obstacles. Stop snacking or eating late dinners and you will find yourself surprisingly ready for breakfast when you wake up. If you suffer from an unsettled stomach in the morning, try a smoothie for breakfast instead.

A good breakfast is the key to starting your day right. Your metabolism, your mood, your digestion, and your weight loss can all be affected by what you choose to eat as your first meal of the day.