Cooking Tips For A Healthy Breakfast

Fill Up Not Out With A Healthy Breakfast

Do you skip breakfast?  Perhaps you feel that by the time you get everyone up and out of the house in the morning, eating breakfast is the last thing you want to do.  Do you also spend time worry about weight gain?  When you skip breakfast are you thinking; “Well, I don't need the calories anyway.”

Breakfast and fitness are more related than you might think.  The fact is, skipping breakfast can actually make you gain weight.  Not eating breakfast, whether due to running out of time or a conscious effort to bypass the calories, will do more harm than good when it comes to your fitness and weight control.

You might think that by skipping breakfast in the morning you are skipping calories, too, but that's just not the case.  What happens when you hit mid-morning?  Studies show that most people reach for a snack sometime during the day, and the people who don't eat breakfast typically reach for high calorie, high carb, high fat foods during the day.  Studies also show that people who skip breakfast, whether they snack during the day or not, also eat a larger dinner and often dessert.

Right now you could be saying; “Oh, but that's not me. I never snack and I eat a small dinner.”  That may be true.  However, your metabolism should be a concern then.  Eating first thing in the morning gives your metabolism the jump-start it needs to understand that it's alright now to start burning calories and fat.  When your body is given the 'green light' to get your metabolism in action, it knows that it doesn't need to hoard fat to survive.  You are telling your body that there is more food on the way, so it's okay to burn up what you already have.  Small meals throughout the day, beginning with breakfast, triggers the brain to tell the body that you are not starving.  Skipping meals is a danger sign to your metabolism that it needs to slow down, hibernate, and store that fat.

We see now how breakfast is an important meal in our overall weight control program.  However, you have to be careful when you choose your breakfast food.  If you are grabbing a toaster pastry,  doughnut, or even a bagel, your body will have a quick spike in blood sugar and then have an even quicker fall.  This 'crash' results in more eating of the same foods.  Your body will crave sugar and this will lead to overeating.  If you're going to skip anything, skip the sugar loaded, carb loaded goodies.  That's where breakfast casseroles come in.

Protein and fiber – that's what your body needs in the morning.  Eggs give you the protein and fat you need to function and feel full.  Fiber from veggies and whole grains are great sugar regulators that offer high energy for a long time.  Good carbs like raw oatmeal, multi-grain breads, black beans, and brown rice will keep you active longer.

Breakfast casseroles are built around protein, good carbs, fiber, and healthy fat.  This is the perfect meal to fill you up and not out.  You body gets the 'wake up call' it needs to start burning fat stores, while also enjoying all the nutrition it needs to get through the day without extra calories or sugar. 

Simply put, if you want to be at a healthy weight (and who doesn't!) then you need to eat breakfast every morning.  And not just any breakfast.  It has to be a healthy breakfast.  When you look at breakfast casserole recipes, you'll find lots of healthy ingredients all rolled into one easy to make and serve meal.  Isn't that what you want in the morning?  Make a breakfast casserole at night and stick it in the refrigerator.  When you put on your coffee, put your casserole in the oven.  In no time, you'll be able to enjoy a nutritious filling meal that will set you up for energy as well as weight control.