Wednesday, April 04, 2007

Why don't you eat breakfast?

You know you should. Every doctor, every nutritionist, every teacher and every parent have told you it's the most important meal of the day. You know it's the most important meal of the day. Yet you still don't eat it, do you?

Why?

32 comments:

Paula said...

I always eat breakfast. If I don't, I get a big(ger) headache. Mostly I eat in the morning and afternoon, and not much at night. But I probably don't have a nutritionist's dream breakfast. Typical is a raisin bagel with peanut butter.

Granny Snark said...

I eat breakfast if I'm hungry and don't eat breakfast if I'm not. And one does not necessarily make me feel any better, or more energetic, than the other.

It always bugs me when nutritionists, doctors, or anyone makes broad-brush statements that ostensibly apply to everyone. I prefer a "listen to your body" attitude, rather than eating because it's time or because I should.

Jodie Kash said...

I eat breakfast but not until 10:30 a.m. or so. I do the gym every-weekday-morning at 9:00 and can't have more in my stomach than coffee with soy milk. I'm the oddball who performs better on an empty-ish tank.

Unknown said...

What, coffee isn't breakfast? Pshh!

Kos said...

"It always bugs me when nutritionists, doctors, or anyone makes broad-brush statements that ostensibly apply to everyone."

I think in this case, they're right. The body needs certain things to function, but it also needs certain things to keep laying the foundation for health and well-being now and in the future. And that's every body. The problem is, most people don't know what they should eat for breakfast, or how much, or when. You may be able to function just fine without any breakfast on a given day, but your body is being forced to improvise in ways that can be detrimental to your health.

Kos said...

"I do the gym every-weekday-morning at 9:00"

Get a job!

Anonymous said...

The only time I skip breakfast is when I oversleep and I don't have time. Otherwise, always.

Jodie Kash said...

Get a job!

I gots me a faboo job I do from right here, in my crib, cat on me lap and in my work out duds all day long.

Jealous much?
(hey...name that movie quote!)

Anonymous said...

I am an avid breakfasters, and somtimes a bruncher, and always a buckmaster.

While I know that they say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it's also sometimes the most delicious meal of the day.

What could be better than cheddar cheese biscuits smothered in ancho sausage gravy, with scrambled eggs on top? I mean, it's just delicious! More restaurants should serve breakfast all day long, so that no matter when you get up, you can have some yummy waffles, pancakes, sausage, maple syrup, orange juice (or mimosa), delicious fresh brewed coffee, oh my goodness I'm hungry...

Anonymous said...

I have to drink breakfast (gee - that sounds kinda funny).

I can't eat anything solid before noon; I've been nauseous every morning ever since I first became preganant.

Of course, that was twenty-six years ago - but unfortunately I never got over it...

Webmiztris said...

does a cigarette count as breakfast? ;)

but seriously, I eat breakfast at least 5 days a week. supposedly it helps keep you skinny because you eat less during the day and it gets your metabolism going or some scientific shit.

fringes said...

Okay, when I was young, my mom always made us eat at least a bowl of cereal in the mornings before school. On the days I managed to skip eating the cereal, I noticed that I wasn't raging hungry by 10 am. So, I grew up thinking that eating breakfast only made me hungrier, so I started skipping it so I wouldn't start gnawing on my hand during English Lit.

But then, I later learned (only five years ago) that it was the cereal (Cheerios and Frosted Flakes, if you must know) that was making me so hungry, not breakfast itself. The carbs in breakfast cereal are those sugar-rush, eat something else with this kinda carbs. Cereal is not a stand alone breakfast. It's a supplement for bread, eggs, all that. It's the energy fuel while the other food is the sustenance.

Knowing this now, do I eat breakfast? Sadly, no. I can't get out of the habit of skipping. My first meal of the day today was five minutes ago and it's after 2pm. I'm trying to get better, I really am.

Thanks for the reminder. Next time, I'll take my long-ass comment to my own effing blog.

Kos said...

"Cereal is not a stand alone breakfast."

That's such an important point. What's most important for breakfast is protein, fiber and complex carbs (like what you get from wheat toast or good-for-you cereals). That's fuel for the day, and not just for you body but for your brain. Dumping refined sugar into your system in the morning is so bad for you.

"Next time, I'll take my long-ass comment to my own effing blog."

Nah, just break it into 3-4 smaller comments. That way my comment count gets up and my ego stays massaged. ;-)

Anonymous said...

I eat breakfast every day. Sometimes it's just a celery stick and a cheese stick, but I make sure I eat something before 8 AM.

Don said...

What's most important for breakfast is protein, fiber and complex carbs (like what you get from wheat toast or good-for-you cereals).

Sounds like a lot of trouble to me.

I get hungry about nine, and then I eat a little and I'm fine until eleven, and then I'm hungry until ten at night whether I eat anything or not.

Natsthename said...

I never used to eat breakfast regularly until I started Weight Watchers. Now, if I eat a good breakfast, I don't overeat the rest of the day! But, I must have lots of coffee.....

Falling on a bruise said...

I prefer the snooze button and an extra 10 mins which of course then means i am bolting about trying to find everything and get out the door. It's the coffee & cigarette breakfast for me also.

Granny Snark said...

Okay, I've decided you're right, breakfast is the most important meal of the day and I'll eat it every day.

Of course, I may eat it at 11:30 a.m., but hey, I can call it breakfast if I want!

gekko said...

An omelet or a scramble using something like Egg Beaters©. Spritz a bit of olive oil on a hot griddle, slice up a cup or so of veggies -- I like mushrooms, diced sweet peppers, tomatoes, and a big heap of fresh spinach leaves tossed onto the hot mess at the last moment until they wilt -- and saute. When nearly done, pour out two eggs' worth of egg white mix. Sprinkle with seasoning, a quarter cup of low-fat or fat free cheese (feta's great!), then pile the veggies into the middle. Let the egg cook a bit (I use that moment to feed the dogs) and then carefully tri-fold the egg over the veggies, slop onto a plate. Whole grain toast with a touch of butter. Takes about 8 minutes total to cook, and I wipe the griddle down with a wet paper towel while it's still hot to clean up the oil and veggie goo.

Cuppa coffee.

later in the day, a banana, or if I skipped the toast, I'll have a high protein whole-grain cereal bar with dried fruit in it.

'cept on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Then I have a bagel smeared with lo fat cream cheese.

Oh. quarter cup of some juice to wash down the vites, right after the 4 am work-out.

Or I might make a yogurt smoothie with fat-free, no-sugar-added vanilla yogurt, cuppa frozen berries, protein powder, little dash of cranberry juice, and ice. Top with granola and a few dried cranberries or raisins.

Breakfast EVERY day, and it's my biggest meal.

Anonymous said...

Jodie K: "Jealous much?
(hey...name that movie quote!)"

OOH! OOH! {raises hand frantically}

Heathers! One of the best movies EVER!!!

And I do eat breakfast. A coke and Doritos, breakfast of champions!

Anonymous said...

What's most important for breakfast is protein, fiber and complex carbs (like what you get from wheat toast or good-for-you cereals). That's fuel for the day, and not just for you body but for your brain.

I mean this in the nicest possible way, but... for whom did you say you worked?

O' Tim said...

Cereal is not a stand alone breakfast.

I'm crushed. And Jeff of all people agreeing makes it unbearable. Oh, Honey Bunches! I can't live without you!

Cheezy said...

I usually skip breakfast on weekdays. I just wanna get to work... and I usually don't feel hungry until lunchtime.

Paradoxically though, when I wake up on Saturdays (and sometimes Sundays too) I have mighty powerful cravings for a big greasy egg/ bacon/ sausage/ mushroom/ tomato/ black-pudding/ and toast feast!

I don't think this is unusual :)

Keera Ann Fox said...

I'm in the "how could you not eat breakfast" camp, but I have learned a few things from people not like me: Not everyone can take an early meal, but those folks often drink something instead, like juice.

I have a life-long habit of cold cereal for breakfast on weekdays but it's rolled whole-grain flakes (four kinds) with nuts and raisins and added. If I know lunch is going to be late, I'll add a soft-boiled egg or two. If I am forced to leave without eating, I prefer a glass of milk to a cup of coffee.

Kos said...

Wiggy, I work for an ad agency. Why?

Kos said...

O'Tim, the key word was standalone! I have not turned my back on my beloved Cereal! And it's not just for breakfast, you know that! Exclamation point!

Anonymous said...

Wiggy, I work for an ad agency. Why?

Mais oui! That is why your little info piece... "...That's fuel for the day, and not just for you body but for your brain"... sounds like it came from a commercial brought to us by The Wheat Farmers of America Advisory Board.

BTW - the snippet of your short film was hilarious! I wish I could catch the whole thing.

Kos said...

"sounds like it came from a commercial brought to us by The Wheat Farmers of America Advisory Board."

Ha! Oh, man, I'm either really pathetic, or really good!

We're working on getting Hempmento up on iFilm. I'll certainly let everyone know if we do.

Unknown said...

I hate, hate, hate, hate eating before noon, but I find that if I don't force down a couple hundred calories' worth of protein in the morning, I have the most God-awful mood swings. So I do it. I hate it, but I do it. I don't like breakfast foods in general, so often I eat something really weird like cold chicken.

Kos said...

I love cold chicken in the morning!

JennyJinx said...

Protein in the morning is the best thing to get your brain in gear for the day. I think my husband's eyes bugged out of his head the first time I made fish for breakfast. Also, whole grain cereal (or any other "good" carbs) are best at bedtime because they help kick up the Serotonin and help you relax.

Anyway, so when is the recommended best time to eat breakfast? Do you have to set your alarm clock to get up and eat? Is it different for midnight workers? Is there a set number of hours between meals that you should eat and does this determine what time breakfast should be eaten?

I honestly don't eat breakfast when I first wake up. I have to get a cup of tea and sit by a window/outside for a while to get myself ready for the day. Helps keep me grounded through the day (mostly). I usually eat afterwards, though, if only just an egg.

Kos said...

"so when is the recommended best time to eat breakfast?"

That is a very good question, and I'm sure varies from person to person.