Is Breakfast Really Important?



How often have you heard that skipping breakfast is the worst mistake you can make? What about all the media reports and so-called health experts that claim that missing breakfast is a huge contributor to weight gain and obesity? Nothing can be further from the truth! It is actually healthier to continue the fast from sleep and eat a few hours after you wake up. This is because the digestive process is still going on until noon. Our body works very hard during the night and digestions does not end in the early morning hours. Adding more food can put more stress on digesting and leave you with less energy!  

Take time and enjoy

If you are relaxed in the morning and feel like starting your day with a healthy meal, the best choice you can make is to eat fruit or a fruit smoothie. Why? Fruit is packed full of nutrients and fiber and is a simple sugar, which means that your body does not have to break anything down (digest). This translates into instant energy for you! On the other hand, if you are in a hurry, rushing to get to the office and the kids off to school, do not sweat. Waiting until you get to the office or when you are in a relaxed state will make all the difference in the way you digest your food and how you feel.   Conventional breakfast foods like cereal, pancakes, toast, muffins, bagels, croissants, are among the absolute worst foods you can eat. I call them ‘FOODLESS FOODS”. They are highly processed and loaded with sugar! If you are one of the thousands of people out there still buying breakfast cereals for your family, please beware. If you take a look at the label, the first four ingredients on many cereals all translate into sugar! Sending your kids off to school with only this food in their bodies could lead to weight gain, poor concentration and hyper active behavior.  

Best choices for breakfast

  Some people feel the need to eat protein in the morning, but fail to address the health problems related to pasteurized dairy including yoghurt. Most commercial yoghurts on the market are also full of sugar!   Better breakfast choices could include sprouted toast with nut butters or avocado, and chia pudding. Your kids will love this pudding and it is a great way to get some omega 3 into their diet.  

Chia seed pudding

  3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk 4 large almond milk ice cubes 1/4 cup chia seeds 2-3 pitted Medjool dates 2-3.5 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract   Fill an ice cube tray with almond milk and freeze Put 3/4 cup almond milk into a vita mix or high-speed blender and add the rest of the ingredients including the ice cubes. Blend on highest speed until smooth. Eat immediately and store rest in fridge.   Enjoy!   The opinions shared in this article are those of the contributor and not Total Gym Direct.  

Frances Michaelson

A pioneer in the fitness industry, Frances opened the first personal training center in the West Island of Montreal in 2001. In 2008 , Frances had the “gut feeling“ that there was more to learn about health and how our bodies function, which led to further her education in the field of Naturopathy and holistic nutrition. She has since authored two books. Her latest book, "Do you Have the Guts to be Healthy" was published in March 2021. As a trainer and naturopath, she truly loves seeing people transform themselves by trusting their bodies instead of getting caught up in the medical system. Practicing health is the only way to live the gift of life well!
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