Of all possible ways to eat, indulging in a big lunch is one of the worst. You’re probably aware that going without breakfast is bad for you, but you probably don’t know that a big midday meal doesn’t even the score. Lunch is not a pick-me-up; it actually pulls your energy down. A recent study found that a group of people who ate a large lunch lost as much efficiency when they returned to work as if they’d gone with a whole night’s sleep. On the other hand, a separate ten-year-study found that eating breakfast increases efficiency. Another study of adolescents, found that kids do better in school when they eat breakfast.
Even so, more than half of all Americans skip breakfast. If you’re part of the no-breakfast club, change your eating habits first thing tomorrow morning. Start off the day with a good breakfast, and, at midday, have a light lunch, or if possible, wait until you finish your important chores before you take a break to eat. In some jobs, maintaining your efficiency can be important to your safety.
Why is breakfast so important? When you wake up in the morning, you haven’t eaten for eight to twelve hours. Your blood sugar and stored carbohydrates are low, and you may be short of other nutrients as well. Your morning meal “breaks” the “fast” and replaces the calories and nutrients you need to help keep you going all day. The calories are burned up quickly, faster than at any other time of the day.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture says that breakfast is so important that anything you have is better than nothing (but avoid sweets like sugary doughnuts) even if you only drink a glass of juice. But you’ll do yourself the biggest favor of all if you have a good breakfast. The point is to eat foods that are rich in protein, such has left over chicken, turkey or meatloaf, even sandwiches made with tuna or peanut butter; cheese and whole grain crackers are another good choice.
Of course, the old standards like oatmeal and fruit are still a good bet for breakfast. Bon appetit!
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