It’s not often you hear a health and weight loss tip that suggests you EAT! However, in the case of breakfast, eating is the best advice you can get. Breakfast is not just the way you start your day, but more importantly, it’s how you set up your body for the rest of the day. The most commonly known benefit of eating breakfast is that it kickstarts your metabolism, making your digestion and nutrition retention more effective. Remember that after waking up, you have essentially been fasting for the last 8 hours so your body is in need of replenishment, both hydration and nutrition. Eating a solid, healthy, and varied breakfast sets your body up for a more energized, alert, and happy disposition on your way out the door.
Skipping breakfast on the other hand can have some pretty awful effects. Other than slowing your metabolism down to a grinding pace, it can also inhibit weight loss, by making you more hungry later and likely to overeat or snack on sugary carbs. Skipping breakfast can also raise your insulin resistance and hypertension levels which can lead to heart disease and even diabetes. So there’s pretty good evidence to suggest that breakfasting like a king (or queen) is the way to go!
Sometimes, there just isn’t the time to make a healthy breakfast though. Often times I have to wake up at 5:30am and am just too rushed and tired to make something more than a piece of toast. So I found a delicious, gluten free way to avoid skipping breakfast that takes less than 5 minutes right before I go to bed. OVERNIGHT OATS. While you’re sleeping, they’re mixing, to create a delicious, fiber rich breakfast pot you can take with you on your way out or have ready to munch as soon as you hear that alarm. Here’s one of my favorite recipes I’ve made:
In a mason jar, tupperware bowl, or ceramic bowl mix:
- 25g organic steel cut oats
- 20-25g vanilla whey protein powder
- 75g fat-free greek yogurt
- 1/3 cup of unsweetened almond milk
- 1 tsp organic chia seeds
- 1/3 cup frozen (or fresh) raspberries
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
After mixing all the ingredients in a bowl (or whatever container you prefer), cover it then let sit in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning you’ll have a heart healthy, protein packed meal as ready to go as you are!
