What to Eat for Breakfast

 

When did breakfast get so complicated?  In the era of avocado toast and Acai bowls, what happened to traditional eggs and toast?  Research now shows that its not so much what you eat for breakfast, but whether you eat or not.

I love breakfast food.  Eggs, toast, smoked salmon on bagels, pancakes, waffles, oatmeal, omelets... you name it.  I could eat this type of food every day and not get board.  But for the last month I have been skipping breakfast as part of an intermittent fasting plan.  There are tons of videos about this technique for weight loss on YouTube, and even a book I read to get motivated*.  My personal goal was to add a rule set to my daily routine to help me overall eat fewer calories.  I did the 16/8 technique, where I stopped eating after 8pm and started back at noon; lunchtime.  It didn't last.  I did try to have a "breakfast dinner" and eat oatmeal and cereal for an afternoon snack, but it just wasn't the same.  I am still OK with not eating after 8pm, but I just couldn't give up my breakfast foods, and seriously; my morning coffee ritual.

And there you have it.  You should eat for breakfast what helps you to feel good, because it will be the foundation for your energy and attitude for the rest of the day.  After a little bit of research, I found that there is some science behind my intuition.  In her book, Eat your Way to Happiness*, Elizabeth Sommer talks about not just what you should eat, but when you should eat, and how it can make you feel.

This just makes sense, but I have struggled to accept this advice.  If you are someone who has tried to lose weight, than you have probably seen a lot of advice emphasizing how to stop emotional eating and mindless snacking.  If your stomach isn't rumbling, then you shouldn't be eating.  But there is something to be said for daily rituals and happiness, and for many eating breakfast, whether its a healthy protein smoothie or a cappuccino and a croissant, makes an emotional difference.

What does your morning ritual involve?  Do you have routines involving food that make you happier? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Daily Writing Response 8/300

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