Breakfast: Good Start for a Good Day

Imagine having to spend every day of your life fasting for twelve hours at a time. By the evening you would be tired, irritable and unable to concentrate on anything. That's exactly what we do when we sleep! We go without food for 8 to 12 hours! Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. Our body's energy is depleted during the overnight fast and breakfast helps top up these used up energy reserves. It also gives us the energy to get our morning morning chores done. Yet breakfast is the meal that gets skipped most often.

Why Breakfast?

All of us benefit from a good breakfast, whether we are kids, teens or adults. Breakfast is the first chance the body has to refuel its glucose levels, also known as blood sugar. Glucose is the main energy source for the brain and is essential for its function. Blood glucose also provides energy to the muscles for physical activity throughout the day. So if you have stinted on the most important meal of the day, do not expect to be at your best in the classroom or at the office.

Even if you are dieting, don't cut back on breakfast. Having a good morning meal will curb your hunger for the rest of the day. In fact, people who eat breakfast tend to be leaner than those who do not. According to one study, missing breakfast is associated with a four times greater risk of obesity!

Kids who have breakfast tend to have better concentration, problem solving skills and hand-eye coordination. Breakfast eaters tend to eat healthy overall and these eating patterns usually continue into adulthood which may protect them from heart disease and some other serious health problems too.

What's for Breakfast?

Breads, cereal and porridge are great ways to start the day and are low in fat too. Try to have cereals that are high in fibre, with at least 6 grams of fibre per serving, but low in sugar (less than 10 grams per serving), add low fat milk and fruit and you can have a tasty morning meal.

A glass of Vitamin C-rich orange juice is also good as it helps build our immune system that can protect against diseases. Finish up with a glass of milk or a bowl of yogurt for your morning dose of Protein, Calcium, Vitamin A and B Vitamins.

An egg is also a good source of Protein (as it has all the 9 essential amino acids – the building blocks of Protein) to make your breakfast healthy.

Eating breakfast everyday can help you lead a healthier and happier life!