So – you can’t eat breakfast in the morning, right? We are constantly told that we need to eat breakfast in order to have optimal health. There are studies that show that eating breakfast helps keep our metabolism firing, helps us to moderate our intake of food throughout the day and gives us that first burst of energy to get up and go.
But what if you simply have no appetite? What if the single thought of breakfast makes you feel queasy?
Don’t worry – you are not alone.
Some people have reported trouble with eating first thing in the morning, in fact, some people totally skip breakfast. There have been many studies done on this, some showing that around 50% of people totally skip breakfast and eat nothing before lunch.
There are many people who say, “I am a huge fan of breakfast and I find it hard to imagine those who simply can’t eat breakfast! Sometimes it’s the only thing that gets me out of bed in the morning!” Many people think of themselves as “morning people” but if you aren’t, there are many strategies you can take to make your morning routine easier. How much you eat at night and how long you sleep for might all have an impact on whether or not you can eat the most important meal of the day. Let’s see why.
Studies on why you can’t eat breakfast
A University of Missouri study examined the practice of eating breakfast in 2011. The study found that eating a healthy, protein-rich breakfast, can give you more energy, increases your satiety (how satisfied you feel) and reduces your hunger throughout the day, meaning that snacking was not as prevalent.
Do you sometimes feel nauseous or sick in the mornings? Read this post Why do I feel sick in the morning? | 7 tips to stop nausea before breakfast for a few more tips, or watch the video below!
Interestingly, the study also used functional magnetic resonance imaging which showed that, “using the researchers found that eating a protein-rich breakfast reduces the brain signals controlling food motivation and reward-driven eating behaviour.” The study was interesting because it followed several groups of teens who either skipped breakfast, or ate “500 calorie breakfast meals containing cereal and milk (which contained normal quantities of protein) or higher protein meals prepared as Belgium waffles, syrup and yogurt.”
When they compared the groups, both groups that ate breakfast felt more alert and more satisfied. However, the protein-rich group did the best: “The higher protein breakfast led to even greater changes in appetite, satiety and reward-driven eating behaviour compared to the normal
protein breakfast.”
So, why can’t I physically eat breakfast in the morning?
I know many people who insist that they can’t eat breakfast. If this is you then can I suggest one simple thing? The reason you cannot eat breakfast is because you are eating too much at night.
There is some truth to the expression, “Eat like a king at breakfast, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.” If you make sure that your dinner is light, then believe me, you will wake up hungry, wanting to eat. Do you sometimes feel nauseous or sick in the mornings? Read this post Why do I feel sick in the morning? | 7 tips to stop nausea before breakfast for a few more tips!
Here are some tips fixing the “I can’t eat breakfast” problem
- Eat a light dinner only
- Get plenty of fluid during the day, but stop drinking water two hours before bed
- Have breakfast stuff at home OR leave enough time to get something on the way to work
- Get into a routine, leave yourself enough time
- Work out what you like to eat for breakfast. Eggs? Toast? Cereal? Try new things, see what works
- Still can’t eat? Go for a walk or run and see how you feel
- Still, still can’t eat? Try a smoothie or a yoghurt, then have some toast a little later
- Make breakfast ‘you’ time. Do something you love, like read the paper or check your horoscope
- Listen to your body
- Give it a try! Stick with your program for a week and see how you go!
Are there people who say “Breakfast is NOT good for you”? Are you kidding me?
There are some interesting theories that eating breakfast is actually NOT good for you! I found a muscle-building site that seems to think that eating breakfast is not as necessary as people make it out to be. Blogger Mehdi gives seven reasons why breakfast is a waste of time. I think most of these reasons are pretty ridiculous, but here’re a few of his reasons:
- Breakfast doesn’t increase our metabolism
- Breakfast increases your hunger
- Breakfast impairs your concentration
- Breakfast is unnatural (!)
Do you sometimes feel nauseous or sick in the mornings? Read this post Why do I feel sick in the morning? | 7 tips to stop nausea before breakfast for a few more tips!
