Yes, you should be eating breakfast
I am sure everyone has heard the age old saying that “breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” but how many people are actually taking this advice to heart? I am here to make the argument that this saying is important to abide by, and explain why exactly that is the case.
It should be no shock that at times you might wake up dizzy, disoriented, or disgruntled—we have all been there. In order to remedy these feelings, I suggest you consume something with protein, sugar, and—something we all love, carbohydrates—around the time you wake up for the day. Remember that your body hasn’t had any food intake since the last meal or snack you had the night before. The word breakfast is therefore quite literally: You are breaking a fast by indulging in this morning meal.
If the sound or smell of food in the morning makes you nauseous, you are not alone. It honestly makes me feel the same way, but by starting your day with something to sustain you will make your mornings brighter, and might even help with those feelings of nausea that could actually be hunger-induced. In my opinion, eating something in the morning helps you to think more clearly, be alert, and even helps you to be a better problem solver.
Personally, I always feel more productive in the mornings after I have had something to eat. Some days, I leave my homework to do until the last second before class in the morning; I have found it to be incredibly difficult to complete said homework without some form of sustenance. Without my morning dose of nutrition, everything seems foggy and answers to questions are just out of reach because my body is subconsciously having to expend so much energy to keep my body running.
I am not saying that you need to go out and eat a three course meal to start your day, as that would be wildly unrealistic, but I am suggesting that you consume something more substantial than water (though it is also vital for daily body functioning). You could even drink something with sugar to help jumpstart your day. You should not feel like you are forcing yourself to eat or like you are making yourself sick, but you should be giving yourself a little blood sugar boost. On days where early-morning eating feels impossible, I personally enjoy drinking some chocolate milk as a meal substitute, because it is better than nothing.
Coffee is another one of my favorite breakfast substitutes. This may be controversial, but I believe that coffee is a meal all on its own. I will not get into the nitty-gritty of this matter, as I will save that for another article, but I stand firm on this belief as it has more nourishment than water. In my opinion, for something to be considered breakfast, it just needs to have more nutritional value than water—the bar is very low.
I do, however, want to note that just because something is not water does not make it a good breakfast. A good breakfast would ideally consist of protein, carbs, some form of vegetable, and maybe fruit if you are feeling feisty; that being said, eating something that ticks all of these boxes can be challenging for a college student with a busy schedule. Never feel bad for sticking to the basics: Some whole-grain peanut-butter toast or yogurt and granola (maybe even with some chocolate chips) are nutritious and cost-conscious ways to get a pep in that morning step.
If you are feeling ambitious and want an easy and portable way to tick all of these boxes, I recommend smoothies! These lovely beverages can be made to contain fruit, protein powder, vegetables, and whatever else you can fit in a blender. You can take your nutritious smoothie on the go, so it is less of an inconvenience to adequately nourish yourself. Our very own Mary Jemison dining hall even has a great smoothie spot for busy mornings! Also, in my opinion, having something to sip on is less daunting than trying to consume a solid on those mornings when my stomach and I are in the sensory trenches.
In short, breakfast should be an integral part of your life, and a staple in your morning routine to ensure you are getting the most out of your body and productivity. Your body works so hard to take good care of you, and helping out by giving it some fuel is a great way to team up with your body to create the best you!
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