Let’s face it: we’re college students. Waking up a few minutes early for breakfast just doesn’t happen sometimes. While some of us would rather choose the warmth of our beds over a bowl of cereal or a piece of toast, studies indicate that we might regret this in the long run.
Having a hearty breakfast is key for jump-starting your day. Humans rely on their metabolism or the exact energy or caloric levels our bodies need on a daily basis. According to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Norris Cotton Cancer Center, eating breakfast can increase your resting metabolism by up to ten percent.
Some may see skipping breakfast as a method for weight-loss. While the short-term effects are there, more often than not, there will be harmful long-term effects. Studies show that those who skip breakfast tend to eat more throughout the day and are more inclined to munch on high-calorie snacks
Reaching for sugary cereals because you’re confused on what to eat? Bad news: you may want to rethink that as well. According to a study by the Environmental Working Group, a child who eats a bowl of sugary cereal a day for a year ends up consuming ten pounds of sugar.
All that being said, Spoon recommends eating a fiber-rich and hearty breakfast that will stave off hunger until lunchtime. This means eating a balanced meal; fruits, vegetables, lean meats and dairy products are all smart options.
- Photo by Becky Hughes
We at Spoon love oatmeal, whether it be prepackaged or rolled oats; it’s versatile and can be made either sweet or savory. Dress up plain oatmeal with peanut butter, banana slices and a drizzle of honey for a sweet treat. Craving something savory? Add sesame oil, soy sauce, scallions and a fried egg on your oatmeal for an Asian-inspired breakfast. Yum.
If you’re looking for something to-go, keep hardboiled eggs in your fridge or nut-rich trail mix in plastic Ziploc bags. Granola bars can also work well, but some pre-packaged granola bars are laden with sugar, so be sure to check nutrition labels before buying them.
The bottom line: in order to keep yourself healthy, remember to eat breakfast. In the long run, it’ll be worth waking up twenty minutes earlier.
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