Benefits of a Well-Balanced Breakfast

What does the word Breakfast mean?

The word Breakfast is made up of two compound words “Break” and “Fast” which simply implies that you are “Breaking a Fast” that you have been keeping since you last went to bed. After a good 8 hours of sleep, the first meal that you put into your body is what is known as Breakfast.

Why is a good breakfast important?

Breakfast is believed to be the most important meal of the day by many doctors and nutritionists. Well! This is more than just a saying because it is backed up by science and how our bodies function internally as well. Think about it? After having your dinner; you probably are awake for another hour or two before you go to bed for the night. If you maintain a good sleep cycle then that means you slept for at least 8-10 hours. After 10-12 hours of break, your body has run out of fuel and for your mind and body to function properly you need a good healthy breakfast to kickstart your day.

Since this is the first meal of the day it is important to think about how you want it to start and as a result what you should put inside your body. Definitely avoid any high sugar or high-carb foods. Start with something fresher, greener, and something high in protein. A well-balanced meal is the best way because it will keep your mind and body more active and in turn more productive.

Benefits of a well-balanced Breakfast

Being the most important meal of the day, breakfast does have a lot of benefits involved. Some of them are highlighted below:

The most important benefit of a well-balanced breakfast meal is that it provides the right nutrients and fuel needed for your body to be active and productive throughout the day!

A good breakfast helps control weight. I might not be an expert, but if you do skip your breakfast then you tend to overeat the meals that follow throughout the day which will not be beneficial if you are working towards controlling your weight. Of course, a balanced meal is beneficial when you want to control weight especially when it’s combined with a good exercise regime.

Another great benefit of a good first meal is that it prevents you from having low blood sugar. Low blood sugar levels are generally associated with irritability, hunger, and fatigue. To balance that you will likely go for more sugar content in your other meals which is never a good choice for your body and mind. A balanced blood sugar level in your body is known to improve your cognitive performance and overall mood.

A good breakfast jump-starts your metabolism giving you a kick-start for your day ahead!

Another benefit of a good breakfast is that it increases focus and concentration especially if you add fresher and greener components to your meal.

Consuming a balanced breakfast is also believed to help lower your cholesterol levels which in turn leads to healthier heart health as well!

And of course, a good breakfast meal will leave you feeling full for an extended period of time which generally saves time and keeps you happy. Isn’t that the goal?

How to Plan your breakfast?

Most people believe that protein breakfasts are suitable for both the muscles and the brain but should be done in moderation due to their tendency to create deficiencies in other areas. So “How do you plan a balanced breakfast?” I think we have established the fact that a healthy breakfast needs to keep your morning running smoothly without overwhelming your system with either too much or too little food. A good place to start thinking about things to add to your breakfast is with some fresh fruits, cereals, eggs, oatmeal, yogurt and/or sandwiches. Become creative and try different combinations that will make your breakfast more appetizing and interesting. A well-balanced meal needs lots of protein, some carbs, and lots of fresh greens or fruits.

Most people skip breakfast because it takes up a lot of their time. But taking 30 minutes out for yourself in the morning will keep you more productive throughout the day. And there are various ways to save time when it comes to breakfast. A good idea would be to think about breakfast the evening before and prepare what is necessary so that you can start the most important meal of the day early.

Think of ways you can tackle some breakfast tasks either an evening before or even on the weekends. You can cut fruits ahead of time, prepare sandwich mixes for a speedy sandwich in the morning or even prepare a veggie filling for your omelette. This way your breakfast stays healthy and is well-balanced and at most, it will take only 10-15 mins in the morning for you to prep.

When it comes to your daily schedule, include physical activity in your daily schedule. Generally, a good practice is to stretch for 5-10 mins once you are out of your bed and then go on about your routine tasks. This little change of adding a bit of stretching and a good meal to your morning routine energizes and keeps you productive throughout the day.

Healthy Breakfast Ideas

Being a recipe creator; I do come up with a lot of recipes on Herbs N Garlic but here are some of my recommended breakfast recipes that will help you kickstart your day and are well-balanced to provide you with the nutrition needed.

1. If you are looking for a perfect mix of protein and carbs in your breakfast meal along with some fresh greens then this Potato and Chorizo Breakfast Hash is just the BEST! Loaded with protein along with spinach and fresh micro greens. Make this with or without eggs, it turns out absolutely delicious every time.

Recipe Link: Potato & Chorizo Breakfast Hash | Herbs N Garlic Total Time: 30 minutes

2. A cold and refreshing breakfast is another great idea for your mornings and I love yogurt with granola for the same. But definitely don’t skip the fresh fruits in this recipe because that is what makes this so good. Loads of healthy probiotic from yogurt, crunchiness from granola and muesli along with some nuts and freshness from fruits makes this yogurt Parfait with Granola an amazing breakfast.

Recipe Link: Yogurt Parfait with Granola | Herbs N Garlic Total Time: 5 minutes

3. Some days I love a more loaded breakfast and sandwiches with protein filling are what I need. This delicious chickpea salad Sandwich is here to save your day. Loaded with a delicious chickpea mix served with fresh crunchy lettuce is so good. Best part? This sandwich can be made hot or cold and you can make the chickpea mix ahead of time and can reuse it for breakfast throughout the week.

Recipe Link: Chickpea Salad Sandwich | Herbs N Garlic Total Time: 10 minutes

4. The most visited recipe on my blog is these delicious Turkish Poached Eggs. They are a treat to eat. It does require a bit of effort but what are weekends for! Once you get a taste of this delicious breakfast combination, I can bet you that you will not go back!

Recipe Link: Turkish Poached Eggs | Cilbir Recipe | Herbs N Garlic Total Time: 25 minutes

5. Another sweet breakfast which is also one of my favorites is these decadent Chocolate Banana Muffins. They are gluten-free and you can whip the batter in a food processor or a blender. Pour into muffin tray and bake. Trust me the simplest breakfast recipe that will leave your house smelling Uber amazing!

Recipe Link: Chocolate Banana Muffins | Herbs N Garlic Total Time: 25 minutes

Final Thoughts!!

A good meal at any time of the day is important for our bodies but breakfast keeps our bodies energized throughout the day. A great morning routine with a healthy meal is the answer to the lethargic feeling we sometimes get. With work from home becoming a norm in most households, we need to make sure our health is prioritized and I bet you will love the feeling after a good breakfast and some stretches in the morning. Leave your views in the comment section on what you think are the benefits of a good breakfast and if you need more articles/recipes regarding breakfast!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A foodie at heart and analyst by profession, Gurleen is the face behind Herbs N Garlic.

An experienced Content Creator and blog writer bringing to you recipes that will nourish your body and excite your tastebuds. Her motive is to inspire people to stop, reflect and appreciate everything that food and Nature has to offer.

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