breakfast...

The one meal that is the most important but often the most forgotten. It's so easy to keep hitting the snooze button instead of getting up and starting the day. If you are like me, you like to take your time in the morning getting ready for whatever the day has ahead. I will typically get up, put my coffee on, take a relaxing shower and watch Kathie Lee and Hoda while I get dressed. If I'm not doing that I'll go to the gym.

Even though my two morning routines are very different, they have one thing in common: breakfast. I always make sure I have something to eat for breakfast, even if I'm eating it on the way to class. There really is no excuse these days not to have breakfast and no by breakfast I don't mean fresh squeezed OJ and an omelette. It by no means has to be as extravagant as that.

For a quick grab and go breakfast I'll have a granola bar, oatmeal bar, Greek yogurt or a protein shake. On days that I have more time, I'll make myself a smoothie, oatmeal with a cut up banana or banana and peanut butter. None of these things are expensive and it's all good corduroy. 

There have been so many studies done to show the benefits of having breakfast. 

1. Faster metabolism - Having breakfast will help you jump start your metabolism and help burn as many calories as possible during the day. By having breakfast it can potentially boost your metabolism by 10% a day, to ensure this try and have a healthy breakfast like oatmeal, Greek yogurt or an egg.

2. More energy - A healthy filling breakfast will help boost energy for the day. By having something that will stick to your ribs, like eggs, whole wheat toast & oatmeal, you'll have more energy for a longer period of time. The fiber and carbohydrates in breakfast will help keep you more energized through the day.

3. Better memory - By eating at the beginning of the day, you are more likely to increase short term memory.

4. Less snacking - If you don't have breakfast, hunger is likely to set in before lunch time. This will lead people to snack on high calorie and high fat foods.

5. Starts the day in a good way - By this I mean if you get up a little earlier to enjoy breakfast it can make all the difference in the day. For instance, you will feel less rushed, more relaxed and prepared to start the day. It can make all the difference in the way you approach the day.

6. Lower bad cholesterol - Breakfast eaters are more likely to have better cholesterol and less sensitivity to insulin than non-breakfast eaters.

7. Enhance immune system - You'll be putting more vitamins and minerals in your body. You will also be developing a lifelong habit that is heart and body healthy.

8. Weight control - People who eat breakfast are less likely to be overweight. Especially if breakfast is the largest meal of the day, people who have breakfast as the largest meal of the day are more likely to loose or maintain weight compared to others who have the same daily calorie intake but do not use breakfast as a big meal.

9. You won't be as cranky in the office - With more food in your belly, you will be less likely to snap at those annoying co-workers first thing in the morning.

10. Healthier skin - Certain foods will help make your skin look amazing! Breakfast is the easiest way to put these foods into your daily diet. Some of these things are, fruit, Greek yogurt, and tea.

After all of those benefits doesn't it seem like it's worth it to hit that snooze button one less time in the morning? 

until next time... xoxo J

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