We’ve all been lectured to never, ever skip breakfast—but for those of us watching our waistlines, the morning meal (when many of us aren’t so hungry) seems like an easy way to trim down calories for the day. I’ve been guilty of eating a grapefruit half, a yogurt or even just a tablespoon of peanut butter, swigging some black coffee and then heading out for the day. And honestly…when I think of foods like pancakes, omelets and even granola, I think of celebratory brunches or what you eat when you’re on a cruise—not ordinary breakfast fare. Well, it turns out that I have been doing breakfast all wrong for all of these years. I happened to catch my favorite health TV show the other day, and the focus was on why you actually want to go big at breakfast and smaller throughout the day (and not the other way around).
There’s a phrase that stood out in my mind: “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.” The logic behind this recommendation is both about weight loss and digestion:
-You’ll convert this bigger morning meal into energy that will last you throughout the day
-You’ll be less likely to get indigestion at night (ever eat a big dinner and then lie on the couch, then spend all night with heartburn? I certainly have!)
So how do you go big at breakfast? Do not reach for those break room donuts! Instead, eat nice-sized portions of whole foods, with a good ratio of protein to carbs to fats. Some healthy-yet-hearty recommendations:
–Vegan Pumpkin Spice French Toast (the coconut cream and pumpkin puree combo is decadent!)
–Carrot Cake Oatmeal Infused with Cinnamon Tea (a delicious nutritional powerhouse thanks to chia seeds and omega-rich walnuts)
–Hazelnut Coffee Protein Pancakes (Greek yogurt, protein powder and eggs will keep you full for hours, and half a cup of coffee will amp up your energy levels to boot!)
What do you eat for breakfast? Comment below or tweet me @AnitasJourney!