ask the dietitian
By Suzanne Carere, BASc, RD
Q. I find that I rarely have time to eat breakfast in the morning. Just how important is it? What alternatives do I have?
Suzanne: What is it about breakfast? The mere mention of the word brings fear to the hearts of some of my clients. I think they would rather be told to run 20 laps around a field than sit down and eat a bowl of cereal before work.
Starting the day off with food is crucial for your overall health and physical performance. Breakfast helps to kick-start your metabolism, provides instant energy, replenishes glycogen stores, prevents overeating at lunch and prepares your body for the day that lies ahead.
A healthy breakfast contains a mix of protein, fat and complex carbohydrates. A simple rule is to make sure it contains at least three of the four food groups. For example, peanut butter and jam on whole wheat toast with a glass of milk covers all four.
Despite knowing all of this, however, the same excuses for not eating breakfast are used over and over. Not having enough time is one of the most popular. If this is your problem, it helps if you prepare your breakfast the night before or eat a meal supplement bar/drink on the way to work.
Not being hungry in the morning is another popular response. Chances are if you’re not hungry in the morning, you overate the night before. Snacking at night keeps you feeling full the next day. Finally, not liking breakfast foods can be a major obstacle. If you find yourself skipping breakfast for this reason, eat something else. There’s no law that says you have to have cereal in the morning or starve. Eat a slice of leftover pizza or make yourself a turkey sandwich. Trust me – you can be a morning champion on more than just Wheaties.
Suzanne Carere, BASc, RD,
is a Director at Allied Health in Markham.
Contact her at 905-474-5754 x 2018
or at suzanne.carere@healthwithcare.ca
2600 John Street, Unit 207, Markham, ON L3R 3W3 T: 905.475.5222 F: 905.475.6369
