Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but there are a few things you may be doing that could derail your diet. The average American breakfast is so un-balanced it will lead to weight gain, a mid-morning energy crash, and cravings for sweet foods.
1. Skipping breakfast may be worse then actually eating something high in fat and calories. Eating nothing can cause your metabolism to slow down, and studies show breakfast eaters are more likely to maintain a healthy weight and make better food choices throughout the day.
2. You don’t have to give up your morning coffee, it’s what you put in your coffee that can make the pounds add up. Sugar, flavored syrups, half-and-half, and milk can turn a simple cup of coffee into more calories then in an entire meal. If you can slowly make your coffee a little less sweet or creamy everyday , you may see weight loss results quickly.
3. You may think a glass of OJ with breakfast is a great way to start your day, but most store-bought varieties are packed with sugar. A healthy version of OJ is about as much as you can squeeze from one orange, which is only about 2 gulps. A better idea is to actually eat an orange. That way you get the vitamins and minerals of the juice, along with the fiber that can help keep you full till your next meal.
4. Don’t rely on breakfast bars. Granola bars, protein bars, breakfast bars are easy and quick, but many of them have as many calories as dessert! Most bars are just candy bars or cookies in disguise.
5. Donuts, muffins, french toast, and waffles taste amazing, but they are likely to cause a spike in blood sugar, followed by a low-energy crash, which can leave you hungry and irritable.
6. One of the most common breakfast mistakes is to only eat carbohydrates. Unless we add protein, we will have cravings before lunchtime, and are likely to then add more calories to our morning with more unneeded calories.
7. Thinking cereal is healthy is one of the biggest myths we need to change. Even though it says low-fat and good for your heart, that’s all marketing. Cereal is high in sugar and salt, and very few people are able to eat less then two or three servings to feel full.
5 Breakfast choices to avoid…
1. a large bowl of cereal with reduced fat milk
2. just a piece of fruit
3. just a tall glass of orange juice
4. just a flavored coffee
5. a donut, muffin, or bagel
A FittChick “approved” breakfast would be filled with lean protein and a healthy carbohydrate. Switch up a few of your breakfast habits and the pounds may be falling off in no time!