I don’t know if breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it is definitely my favorite meal of the day.
I like food, I look forward to eating, and when I wake up in the morning, I am eager for my first meal!
I honestly can’t remember the last time I skipped breakfast… not because it’s a rule I hold myself to, but because I enjoy it.
I feel good having eaten it,
So, I don’t miss it.
Ever.
And I almost always have a plan for what to eat for breakfast, so though it can take a bit of time and forethought, something will get eaten. Every day.
Now, I’m not suggesting that eating breakfast makes me morally superior (or even necessarily healthier) than someone who doesn’t.
I’m simply sharing that it’s such a non-negotiable part of my routine that I often have a hard time relating to how optional it seems to be for many people.
Not everyone. But I have noticed a trend.
And because I’ve literally talked to hundreds of clients on this very topic, I’ve picked up on a few common reasons for this skipping breakfast trend:
- “There’s just no time.”
I hear this one a lot, often from parents. They make sure everyone else in the house eats, but somehow they get left off the list. - “I’m just not hungry.” Especially common among people who’ve skipped breakfast for years. Eventually, their bodies stop sending hunger cues in the morning.
- “I forgot.” Believe it or not, this comes up quite a bit, particularly for people who work from home and dive straight into work after getting out of bed.
- “I’m trying to lose weight.” Many people believe that delaying their first meal or skipping breakfast altogether is the best way to cut calories. In my experience, that strategy usually backfires, leading to intense hunger and making it much harder to eat in a balanced way later in the day.
- “I don’t know what to eat.” It sounds simple (I mean, we’ve all been eating our whole lives, right?), but breakfast is one of the meals people struggle with the most. They either get stuck in a rut or have no ideas that feel realistic for their schedule.
Now, there are certainly people who genuinely function better without breakfast. If that’s you, and you feel energized and satisfied throughout your morning, keep doing what works for you.
But many of my clients have experienced the benefits of eating breakfast consistently… they just struggle with the logistics of making it happen.
That’s exactly the kind of problem-solving I do in one-on-one nutrition counseling. If you live in Illinois and think you’d benefit from personalized support, I’d love to help.
In the meantime, if your biggest challenge is simply figuring out what to eat, I put together a video sharing some of my favorite breakfast ideas.
The foods I enjoy may not become your favorites, but hopefully they’ll provide a little inspiration if you’ve been feeling stuck.
Breakfast doesn’t have to be your favorite meal like it is mine. But I do think it’s worth considering.
Eating something in the morning can help satisfy hunger and provide energy to start your day.
Eating a balanced breakfast (one that includes protein, carbohydrates, and perhaps some fruit or healthy fat) can help you stay satisfied longer, support your energy and concentration, and, for many people, reduce the urge to overeat later in the day.
If breakfast has felt like an afterthought, perhaps this is your sign to give it another look.
