Despite the rising number of people who are becoming more heanh conscious, many of us still don't eat breakfast! One reason people skip breakfast is time. Most students and adults would rather rush out the door so as not to be late, than stop for a moment and get a bite to eat. But the same people who are in such a hurry to get to work or school may not realize that had they eaten breakfast, they would have had the energy to accomplish more things throughout the day, and the quality of their work (as well as how they feel) would greatly be improved.
This is because our body is built to fast at night, then we must "break the fast" with a full meal in the morning to jumpstart the body with enough energy to be active. Focus on macronutrients to start off the day is very important.
Macronutrients (broken down these are carbohydrates, proteins and fats) are our bodies' main source of energy, so a blend of protein and carbohydrates at breakfast will give you that boost of energy, giving your body the staying power to function optimally until lunch.
Many studies have found a close connection between eating breakfast and learning ability, attention span, and general well-being. Students who eat breakfast regularly are the ones who think faster, clearer, solve problems more easily, and are less likely to be irritable.
People who skip breakfast usually snack later in the day and eat heavy dinners - leading to weight gain! People who eat breakfast charge up their bodies for the rest of the day, keeping their eating patterns even and speeding up their body's metabolism.
Quick and versatile meals that help save time in the morning are cereal and milk (choose wholesome cereals that are iron-enriched, not loaded with sugar, and have high-fiber bran content) and instant noodles, which are tasty, easy to prepare (a blessing for fussy kids in a hurry) and are a good combJnation of protein and carbohydrates (choose brands with the "Sangkap Pinoy" seal and are fortified with vitamins and minerals for extra nutritional value). If you or your children are really in a hurry, you can take some instant noodles in bowls with you and eat them en route to school or work (thank goodness for modern conveniences).
A little effort to fuel your body at the beginning of the day is the key to keeping a healthy weight and getting the edge that you and your family need to succeed at school and at work.
