Break Fast

Until about a year ago I rarely ever ate breakfast. For some reason I could not get over the idea that eating breakfast meant wasting calories on a meal I really didn't like that much anyway. That was until I realized that skipping breakfast is never a good idea. Think about it this way. You finish your evening meal at 7:30 and barring any late night snack attack, you don't eat again until the next morning. In my case that can be about 13 hours in between meals. Literally when you eat in the morning you are breaking the fast your body has been in since dinner. And in addition eating in the morning not only helps break that fasting period but it also gets your metabolism going allowing you to start burning calories.

But as good as eating breakfast is eating a plate of fried hash browns, fatty meats and pancakes is not always the best recipe.

The ideal breakfast should be an balanced combination of protein, a fair amount of fiber (as low glycemic carbohydrates) and little fat. Here are some quick, healthful ideas:
A bowl of whole-grain cereal with calcium-fortified soy milk and some fruit. Add a tablespoon of freshly ground flaxseeds on top as a source of omega-3 fatty acids.

A soy shake (blend 1/2 cake silken tofu, 1/2 cup apple juice, 1 cup frozen organic strawberries and 1 banana).

Keep some hardboiled eggs (choose free-range, omega-3 fortified eggs) on hand to eat with

wholegrain toast. Include a glass of calcium-fortified orange juice and a container of nonfat plain yogurt. Add your own fruit or granola.

With these suggestions you'll be on your way to a great start to your morning.

"'When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,' said Piglet at last, 'what's the first thing you say to yourself?' 'What's for breakfast?' said Pooh. 'What do you say, Piglet?' 'I say, I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?' said Piglet. Pooh nodded thoughtfully. 'It's the same thing,' he said."A. A. Milne, 'The House at Pooh Corner'