Breakfast is an Important Meal of the Day

Mornings are always hectic and I am always running late. Here went my morning routine on a typical day some months back:

# 6a.m. wake up

# 6.30a.m. Shower and dress up

# 6.45a.m. Put the kettle on the stove and log into office email

# 7a.m. check my meeting schedules for the day especially mornings

# 7.15 a.m. Prepare breakfast for my family

# 7.30a.m. Dress up my daughter for day care

# 7.45a.m. My family on the breakfast table eats breakfast (except for me)

# 8a.m. We all leave for our respective places of work.

While driving to work I would often wonder why I am starting to get a headache, which at times transformed into migraine. By 10a.m. I wonder why I am acidic and nauseous. By 11a.m. why am I feeling so tired and exhausted? By lunch time I would end up eating an extra-large lunch portion. The rest of the day would be spent feeling guilty about my giant sized lunch. I would keep looking at my watch restlessly. By the end of the day I would be grumpy, if not sick.

My days went on like this continuously for months. Then one day my mom came over to stay with me for a month. That was a treat to my family.

As we all know Moms are always right. In spite of my regular morning routine she would force me on the Breakfast table and would serve me a healthy nutritious breakfast. The Breakfast consisted of 2 egg whites, 2 slices of whole grain breads, a glass of orange juice, a banana, and a cup of tea. (Doesn’t this sound like a weekend morning?)

Those days I felt like I was a different person altogether; I did not get headaches or migraine, I was not acidic, I happily ate healthy and light lunch. I started enjoying my work, though I would still glance restlessly at my watch. But this was because I would miss my mom and would want to be with her. In the evening I would be pleasant and not grumpy at all. That whole month I ate breakfast every day and my days started getting better and better.

After she left I continued taking out 10 minutes in the morning to eat breakfast and I realized that Breakfast is an important meal of the day. My health improved, my approach towards life became more positive, and I started enjoying my work. I was happier and more active. Till today I make it a point to eat Breakfast every morning. Sometimes if I am unable to cook in the morning I quickly blend Smoothie for a “to go” breakfast. I also eat oatmeal, which can be prepared a day ahead. Eating Breakfast is one of my steps towards adapting a healthy lifestyle. “Eat Breakfast like a king, Eat Lunch like a common man, Eat Dinner like a beggar”,is an age old advice, and it is right. Skipping the most important meal of the day— “Breakfast”— is not advisable at all.

Now when I recall I always wonder why did I not eat breakfast in the morning with my family earlier. After all, it was only a matter of 10 minutes. The answer is, I did not think that breakfast was important enough. I always gave priority to some other work and kept ignoring my body signals.

There are many benefits of eating Breakfast:

1. Eating Breakfast in the morning will keep you fuller and hence you consume fewer calories during the day.
2. You feel energetic throughout the day
3. Eating breakfast helps your metabolism to function properly, thereby helping you to lose weight.
4. Eating a healthy breakfast restrains your body from dropping your sugar level down.

Pick 2-3 foods, including at least one from each of the following food groups:
-bread and grain (i.e.cereal, toast, muffin)
-milk and milk product (i.e. low-fat yogurt, low-fat milk)
-fruit or vegetable group (i.e bananas, apples, carrots)

Health Tip of the week

“Eat a Healthy Breakfast every morning”