Is there any truth to the claim that breakfast is the most important meal of the day? The simple answer is yes, eating first thing in the morning comes with many benefits. The word itself tells you everything you need to know—it translates to breaking your fast. A lot goes on when you sleep; your body spends that time rejuvenating after a long day of mental and physical activity—and it does it all without any new fuel.
Morning Meal’s Impact On Productivity
The importance of eating breakfast goes beyond eating just anything. What you eat matters just as much as when you eat it. Consider some facts you might not know about that critical first meal.
What Are the Benefits of Breakfast?
Eating breakfast improves concentration and memory throughout the day. Studies show that children and adolescents who eat a healthy breakfast are more proficient at problem-solving and tend to have better eye-hand coordination. So why should it end in elementary school?
Breakfast provides those same benefits to adults on their way to work, but the perks go further than a boost in brain power. There is evidence that eating breakfast helps control hunger, so you are less likely to binge during lunch or dinner. The Mayo Clinic reports that people who take time for breakfast:
- Get more of the recommended vitamins and minerals
- Manage weight better
- Stick to a low-fat diet
- Have lower cholesterol levels
A balanced breakfast refuels the body by restoring glycogen, so you have more energy when you need it. The keyword here, though, is balanced.
What Is a Balanced Breakfast?
A great foundation for a filling breakfast has whole grains, lean protein, healthy fats, and plenty of fruits and vegetables. What you don’t see on that list is sugary doughnuts, processed cereals or high-fat breakfast meats.
Protein takes the longest for your body to digest, so it helps control your appetite for hours. Protein-packed eggs are a practical choice for a morning meal. Tack on good fats found in avocados over a whole-wheat English muffin, and you have a winning breakfast combo.
If cereal is one of your easy breakfast options, then focus on low sugar and high fiber offerings. Choose a cereal with at least three grams of fiber, low sugar, and around 160 calories.
Getting Serious About Breakfast
Who says that all sit-down events have to focus on dinner or that every business meal has to be a lunch? As healthcare reform shifts to wellness and prevention, businesses are seeing breakfast in a whole new light. Options like a breakfast catering service are becoming more common for consumers and businesses alike.
Adding a breakfast catering service to employee benefits could pay for itself in lower health insurance costs, fewer sick days, and better on-job performance.
Is a balanced lifestyle all about breakfast? No, but it’s a good place to start. What you eat in the morning can set your mood for your entire day, so why would you consider skipping it?
