This week I want to talk breakfast. Are you a breakfast eater, or a skipper? I absolutely cannot skip breakfast. If I do, my body is totally confused for the rest of the day, I seek out random snacks to try to make up for the missed meal, and I’m overall not a happy camper. For the types of clients I primarily work with (toddlers, kids, adolescent eating disorders, and women), breakfast is definitely one of the most important meals of the day. It’s a time to get in a whole bunch of nutrient-dense food (think calcium, fiber, whole grains) that you may otherwise be missing during the rest of the day.
Some people I meet skip breakfast or eat very light at breakfast to save calories in an effort to lose weight. It is a total MYTH that this “trick” will help you lose weight. Your body is way smarter than your mind, and will seek out those missed calories elsewhere (bigger dinner, late night snacks, weekend “cheat days,” etc.). Please, don’t skip breakfast in an effort to control your weight. Instead, try some of my ideas!
I’ve compiled a list of my favorite breakfasts that are satisfying and sure to keep you coming back for more. Breakfast, like any other meal, should have a mix of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins, along with fiber and color. Don’t worry about doing the math here; just take my lead and try some of these ideas!
- Mix ripe avocado and cottage cheese together, spread on whole grain toast
- Plain, whole-fat yogurt with nuts or seeds, granola, and fresh fruit
- Oatmeal made with milk and combined with a spoonful of peanut butter and fresh fruit
- Eggs made your way with whole grain toast (try hard boiling a dozen eggs on Sunday night if you’re strapped for time on weekdays)
- Homemade smoothies made with protein powder or Greek yogurt and milk (you totally don’t need protein powder if you use real dairy)
- Breakfast tacos with egg, black beans, or both!
- Overnight oats with yogurt or protein powder
If you need recipe inspiration, make sure you check out all my ebooks on jenbelangernutrition.com/ebooks. Be sure to sign up for emails too, where I share recipes twice a month! You can sign up for my FREE email list here.
Do you have questions about breakfast? I’d love to answer them. Please drop a comment below!