5 Benefits of Having Breakfast Every Morning

Breakfast has always been hailed as the most important meal of the day. We’ve heard this from our parents, our teachers, the TV –and it may just have put us off breakfast for good. However, eating breakfast really does come with a lot of benefits. Skipping it may be causing you more harm than you realize. 

That being said, let’s take a look at the benefits of eating a meal in the morning. We’ll also talk about what you can do to adopt this habit if you are not currently a breakfast eater.

1. It Can Help You Lose Weight 

Eating a healthy breakfast gives you that sense of fullness that prevents you from munching on sweets and starchy foods between meals. Even though it’s the first thing you eat, it reduces your hunger levels throughout the entire day. In other words, it makes you less likely to overeat later in the day. 

This will naturally help you lose weight, if that’s what you’re looking to do. Either way, it will set you up for a pleasant day of eating foods that are good for you and that you actually enjoy.

Some people believe that skipping breakfast will help them lose weight, but that’s not actually true. In fact, not giving your body the nutrients it needs will make it believe there are no nutrients readily available. Consequently, it will start to store what you eat for your next meal, just in case. This will lead to some unwanted added pounds and not a leaner version of yourself. 

Breakfast stimulates your metabolism and essentially kickstarts your body in burning fat. It also prevents that binge-starve routine that we all sometimes fall into, as it provides a steady influx of calories. Thanks to that, you never actually need to feel hungry – just eat to fuel your body for the rest of the day.

2. It Provides the Energy You Need 

The food you ate yesterday has all been used up by the time you wake up in the morning. Your body has turned it into the energy it needs to regenerate and repair the microdamage it endured from the previous day. So, when you get up, the first thing it wants is more fuel to be able to keep going at the same pace. 

When you don’t eat breakfast, you are essentially starving yourself. You may not feel hungry, but your body is already operating in a different way. When you teach it that there’s always a new, healthy, and tasty meal coming, it will be able to keep your energy levels constant. When you don’t, these levels will have large dips. That’s when you are most likely to reach for caffeine or sugar to fuel you further. 

Now, we all know that’s not the best source of energy out there. A good breakfast consists of carbs and proteins. Both of these will help your body take on the day instead of running on an empty tank.

3. It Improves Your Performance 

Breakfast gives your brain cells the nutrients it needs to work properly. This helps you focus better, thus improving your performance at work and in life in general. 

Plus, it makes you feel stronger and more stable. We all know that slightly weak feeling of hunger or the irritable mood we get into when we’re hangry. But there is absolutely no reason why we ever need to get into that state. 

4. It’s a Moment for Yourself and Your Loved Ones 

Whether you eat it on your own or with your family, breakfast is that time of day that can set your entire day up for success. It’s the calm before the storm. It can give you a moment or two to collect your thoughts, take a deep breath, and just slow down before you start rushing around.

Even if you’re going to grab your breakfast on the go, try to eat it slowly and in peace, as opposed to while you’re walking to work. If you need to get up 15 minutes earlier, do it. Think of it as a mental health moment that will enable you to have a great day. 

5. There are Countless Tasty Options 

Breakfast is that one meal a day that provides endless options. You can eat something sweet or something savory, and you don’t even have to make it in the morning. You can prepare something overnight, like this tasty Raspberry and Chia Yogurt Parfait (my personal favorite make-ahead meal), and just eat it straight out of bed. 

From pancakes and crepes to toast and croissants, there’s something on the breakfast menu you are going to love. Stop making excuses and just “eat your breakfast.” 

How to Start Eating Breakfast 

If you’re not a breakfast eater, here are some tips that can help you incorporate this meal into your everyday routine:

• Start small. Don’t try to eat a large meal straight away. Instead, go for protein shakes, smoothies, or yogurts, then move on to oatmeal with fruit, granola, or salads.
• Eat what you like. There’s no point in eating meals you don’t enjoy just because you think you need to.
• Make them in advance. There are countless overnight breakfast recipes. By making your meal in the evening, you’ll eliminate the excuse of not having enough time to make breakfast in the morning.
• Have an option in the pantry. Stock your pantry with oats, granola, fruits, and yogurts. That way, you will always know there’s something healthy to grab on the go when you’re in a rush.
• Don’t expect it to happen overnight. You will need some time to form your breakfast habit. So, even if you do skip a couple over your first weeks of breakfast eating, don’t beat yourself up about it.

Final Thoughts 

Breakfast, just like any other meal, can be a lot of fun. All you have to do is treat it like an enjoyment and a treat. Look at it as a chance to give your body something it will like and benefit from. That way, you won’t have that much of an issue eating it anymore.