Ask Andrew: Is Breakfast Really the Most Important Meal?

We’re putting our newest trainer, Andrew Mlakar, on the line to answer your burning fitness and wellness questions. Shout yours out in the comments section, and we’ll write a post answering it!

Q: “I’ve heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Is that the case? And if so, why does it matter so much?”

A: Yep, breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. That first meal “breaks the fast” after a long night’s sleep. It alerts your brain that you’re shifting into a more active mode, and it wakes up your system by giving your metabolism the kick-start it needs to work productively all day long.

Ideally, you should eat an adequate meal one to two hours after waking up. That way, you’re setting off on the right foot for meeting the day’s nutrient needs. And, a healthy breakfast gives you an energy boost, amplifying a positive mood right along with it.

So what happens if you skip breakfast? It’s not good. You’re sending a message to your body that it needs to conserve energy, which can slow down your metabolism and cause a decrease in the number of calories you’ll burn throughout the day. You may also be setting yourself up for over-consumption or binging later in the day, especially when your blood sugar slumps and you’re so hungry you’ll reach for anything.

Be clear – not all breakfast choices are healthy. While it’s important to eat something for breakfast, you should focus on consuming nutrition choices that pack the fiber, protein and macronutrients you need to start your day out right. Think about pairing protein with a complex carb. You can pair fruits like fresh berries with Greek yogurt, oatmeal with protein powder stirred in, almond butter on a piece of toast, or eggs with an English muffin. Smoothies can be a great way to start the day. Try sprinkling your smoothie or fruit with ground flaxseed – it’s a gold mine of omega-3 fatty acids. Just two tablespoons contains more than 100% of your recommended daily intake for those heart-healthy fats. Blueberries are another superfruit that can be added to almost anything.

So eat your breakfast, and send more fitness questions!