Do You Eat Breakfast?

By: Jayda Siggers, PhD

It is estimated that 25% of Americans start the day without breakfast. The top two reasons (reported) for skipping breakfast are 1) lack of time and 2) fear of weight gain.

“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” Does this sound familiar? Maybe you heard it a time or two running out the door, late, to catch the school bus?

A healthy breakfast may actually help you lose excess weight and/or maintain your weight loss. Eating breakfast has been shown to reduce hunger later in the day, helping to avoid those late afternoon cravings. When you skip breakfast, you may feel ravenous later as your blood sugar drops and then be tempted to reach for that quick fix. No! Not the vending machine!  It is cruel what our breakfast-deprived being can convince us to do.

In addition, prolonged fasting — which occurs when you skip breakfast — can increase your body’s insulin response, which in turn increases fat storage actually resulting in weight gain. Not weight loss. In fact, skipping breakfast actually increases your risk of obesity. Interestingly, when you skip breakfast, you’re more likely to skip fruits and vegetables for the rest of the day too. Not the greens, you must eat the greens!

A nutrient dense, high protein breakfast ensures you are on track to make healthy food choices all day. It also helps to prevent a mid morning blood sugar plunge. People who eat breakfast regularly, tend to eat a healthier diet throughout the day; a diet higher in nutrients and lower in fat. Eating breakfast begets energy, increasing your physical activity during the day.

So, does a nutrient dense, high protein, on-the-go breakfast exist? You bet, The Smoothie takes first prize. You will be amazed at how fast you can whip one of these up, in just minutes. And chalked full of vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein. Pour it into a travel cup and run off, late, to catch your bus.

Super Start Smoothie

Recipe By: Jayda Siggers

Serving Size: 4

Yield: 64oz

Ingredients:

4 cups frozen berries

2 carrot sticks, medium

1 avocado

2 tbsp. flax seed meal

2 cups milk (oat, hemp)

2 cups kale (or other greens)

1 can adzuki beans, (15 oz.) rinsed, drained

1 banana

1 apple

Directions:

1. Load all ingredients into blender (liquids first, then semi-solids and solids).

2. Add any other supplements (green powder, maca, etc).

3. Add water to desired consistency.

4. Blend on high until smooth.

Jayda Siggers, PhD, has a doctorate degree in Clinical Nutrition.
Currently, she is completing her certification in Holistic Health from
the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in New York. She blogs at
jaydamomphd.wordpress.com. She is also a Nutrition Counsellor at:
eatwholebevital.com