Breakfast IS the most important meal of the day. Breakfast literally mean “to break the fast”. If you go to bed at ten o-clock and don’t eat anything until noon, you are going fourteen hours without food. Our bodies need energy in order to function. Food is how our bodies get that energy. By starting your day off with something to eat, you are setting your body up for healthy energy levels. Some studies have shown that people who eat breakfast are mentally sharp throughout the day.
I had been going through the cycle of not eating breakfast since I was in middle school. In my mind it was completely normal. I felt like all I needed to start my day was coffee. By three in the afternoon, I was dragging. I thought that how I felt was normal. When I began to realize that i had blood sugar problems, the first thing I was told was to eat breakfast. The very idea of it made me nauseous. I was picturing this huge meal with bacon, eggs, sausage links, and hash browns. It seemed too heavy for me first thing in the morning- and besides that, I didn’t have time to cook. I am always running late! The truth is that you don’t need a heavy breakfast or to slave over a hot stove all morning. I was able to find ways to have my breakfast and be out the door at a reasonable time.
We live in a time when everyone is rushing to get from point A to point B. However, you can still get a proper breakfast without sacrificing any time. Lesia Cruz, Health Coach at Cruz Life Center, lists her favorite quick and easy breakfast choice:
- A dozen eggs boiled for the week
- Protein smoothies
- Quinoa cooked in a rice cooker with some olive oil and sea salt. Lesia likes to add almond milk, nuts, and fresh berries.
- Organic sausage or bacon patties cooked in the toaster over.
All of these are amazing options that don’t put a dent on my time restraint. But it was hard for me to go from not eating to eating something. In order to transition comfortably into my new breakfast routine, I began by adding protein powder and almond milk to my coffee. If you have a blender, you can blend your coffee and have a yummy frozen beverage. Since I don’t have a blender, I like to put my coffee on ice. Really these extra steps were fast and easy. But I still needed a substantial food. One thing I love is bacon. The night before I always cook a few pieces and have them in the microwave and ready to first thing in the morning.
It may not seem like something so small can be so helpful, but eating breakfast has helped me tremendously. I find that I am more focused when I come into work. I have more energy- and not just until two o-clock which is when my coffee usually starts wearing off. I have enough energy to complete tasks when I get home from work. I’m no longer dragging in, miserable and ready for bed at four o’clock. Breakfast is important. You don’t need the whole nine yards. You just need something to “break the fast”.
