The Importance of Eating a Good Breakfast – Guidance from the Doctors at South Tampa Immediate Care
No doubt, you’ve heard it many times before: Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It’s true. Not only will a good breakfast provide you with the energy you need to start your day, but it will also aid your concentration, improve your strength, enhance your performance, and even help you maintain a healthy weight. While this is important for everyone, it is especially so for school-age children and teenagers, who consistently perform better in school after starting the day with a healthy meal.
Of course, not just any breakfast will do. A healthy breakfast meal should include a variety of foods, such as lean protein, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and low or non-fat dairy. This might sound time-consuming, but don’t be tempted to skip it or simply grab a donut, bagel, or fast-food item on your way out the door. Avoid the sugar, salt, and saturated fat, and instead consider the many quick and healthy grab-and-go options that fit the bill, such as:
- Low-fat yogurt and fresh fruit
- A hard-boiled egg and a banana
- Whole-grain cereal with fresh fruit and low-fat milk
- A veggie omelet with a slice of whole-wheat toast
- Oatmeal with nuts or raisins
- A whole-wheat English muffin with a scrambled egg, low-fat cheese, and a slice of tomato
- A whole-grain or bran toaster waffle with peanut butter and raisins
- A fresh fruit and low-fat yogurt smoothie
Interestingly, many studies show that people, both adults and children, who skip breakfast tend to weigh more than those who kick start their morning with a healthy meal. One theory on the reason suggests that eating a good breakfast can reduce hunger throughout the day, and thus help people make better food choices for snacks and other meals. Lean protein, such as an egg with a slice of Canadian bacon, is particularly satiating and effective at curbing hunger. As an added bonus, protein helps build lean muscle mass, which is metabolically active and thus facilitates weight management.
With a little advance planning, it’s not hard to ensure that you and your family will have a good breakfast every day. Pick up the items you need when grocery shopping and, if necessary, wake up 15 minutes earlier in the morning. It’s possible to fix and eat a healthy breakfast in 15 minutes or less.
Contact or visit the South Tampa Immediate Care walk-in clinic any time you would like to consult with a physician. For more information about family health and wellness, you may also find our online series of health articles helpful.
