Whether it was your doctor growing up, or a parent trying to get you ready for the school day, everybody has told you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. You’ve probably always wondered if this is true.
That saying originated in 1917 when Lenna F. Copper, an American dietitian, wrote an article in Good Health. She suggested that not enough attention was given to breakfast and that it should be considered the most important meal of the day. This led to the saying being used in cereal marketing campaigns. An outpouring of agreement and talk about breakfast continued for decades to follow.
The breakfast cereal market is expected to reach $21.3 billion by the end of 2023 in the United States. While some of this has to do with the classic saying and marketing, it also has to do with breakfast being important.
Whether or not breakfast is the most important meal of the day depends on the person and their nutritional needs. What we do know is that there are several benefits of eating breakfast (but we don’t recommend eating sugary cereals every day)!
Keep reading as we go through some of the main reasons why eating in the morning is so important. We’ll even talk about some of the best breakfast food items you should be eating; many of them are included on our menu.
Breakfast Gives You Energy for the Day
Breakfast is crucial because it’s the meal that kickstarts your day. After a full night of sleep, you need something to break the fast and start up your metabolism. Eating something in the morning jumpstarts your metabolism to help you burn calories throughout the day.
Skipping breakfast tells your body to conserve calories and not burn them. It will also leave you feeling sluggish throughout the morning and day. Eating breakfast energizes the body and will likely increase your physical activity during the morning and into the afternoon.
Starting your day with a morning meal replenishes your glucose so that you’re more alert and awake. This can make you more mentally sharp so that you’re better prepared for work, school, or whatever the day might throw at you. It can be hard to focus or process information without breakfast.
It Provides Important Nutrients, Vitamins, and Minerals
High-quality breakfast foods can be full of essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. You’ll also get key nutrients such as folate, calcium, and iron from healthy breakfast items.
Those important vitamins, minerals, and nutrients won’t magically show up in your body. You need to eat well to get the nutrients you need! People who eat breakfast are more likely to get the recommended daily amounts of vitamins and minerals when compared to people who skip breakfast.
People who skip breakfast are missing out on very important nutrients. Some of the most common nutrients that people may miss out on include the following:
- Folate
- Calcium
- Iron
- Vitamin A
- Vitamins B1, B2, and B3
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
Breakfast Can Help Reduce the Risk of Illnesses
If you’re still wondering, “Why is breakfast so important,” then hopefully this next section answers your question. Breakfast can help reduce the risk of many illnesses to keep you healthier for longer.
A healthy breakfast can promote and improve your heart health. Your body is most sensitive to insulin in the morning; this is when it uses blood sugar more effectively. Eating fiber-filled foods for breakfast can help lower your cholesterol in the long run. You can also better avoid high blood pressure, which can eventually lead to heart disease.
According to several observational studies, those who eat breakfast daily have a reduced risk of diabetes as well. Skipping breakfast frequently can increase your risk for type 2 diabetes. However, you should be careful and eat healthy breakfast items.
Breakfast can also help reduce the risk of the following:
- Obesity
- Stroke
- Elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol
It Can Help You Eat Healthier Foods
Skipping breakfast means you might be skipping over important vitamins and minerals. Eating breakfast gives you the opportunity to enjoy healthier food options like milk, whole grains, fruit, and eggs.
Eating breakfast will also fill you up so you don’t overeat during your other meals of the day. It can also prevent snacking throughout the day. Snacking often consists of consuming unhealthy foods because of their convenience. Getting full during breakfast can help you avoid those unhealthy food items.
What You Should Avoid Eating
It is key to resist breakfast food items that are high in added sugars and saturated fats. This means that donuts, pastries, and muffins aren’t great breakfast options. Even though those items might be tasty, their sugar content can make you more sluggish than skipping breakfast altogether.
Breakfast items high in sugar and fat can also cause weight gain, just like those foods would during other meals. It’s key to mix foods that have healthy carbohydrates, healthy fats, protein, and fiber.
Enjoy Healthy Breakfast Options at 3Natives
If you’re already a breakfast eater, or if you’re looking to get into the habit, 3Natives has several healthy breakfast menu items. This includes several types of coffee, acai bowls, smoothies, bagels, toast, and juices. The options are endless.
Whether you want something sweet, savory, cold, hot, or anything in between, we have breakfast choices for everybody. Stop in at your local 3Natives in Florida or Oklahoma and enjoy some delicious and nutritious breakfast. Our breakfast items will never have you asking, “Why is breakfast so important,” again.
