Breakfast can Control Snacking Habits

Its a classic scene. You didn’t eat breakfast in the morning, its too early to have lunch and you are starving. You walk by a vending machine and what do you see? A chocolate bar that looks oh so tasty. Your brain fights your stomach, its so bad for you but you’re so hungry so the stomach wins and here you are snacking on a chocolate bar to fulfill your hunger.                                                                            (Gary Knight)

Skipping breakfast can lead to unhealthy eating habits later in the day. You are so hungry by the time its lunch that you overeat and snack more often than you would like to admit. During these times you are more likely to reach out the sugary and fatty foods such as chocolate and chips, which may give you a temporary energy boost but it will not last you very long. It would also increase your calorie intake much more, which could have been avoided by having breakfast.

Studies have shown that people who eat breakfast, but in particular a high protein breakfast, can help control these cravings during the day. It was found that those who ate a high protein breakfast were less hungry and were fuller compared to those who just at a regular breakfast. Furthermore, the participants had brain scans done and the high protein breakfast eaters were found to show less activity in the areas that controlled food motivation. (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition by Leidy, H)

If you think that eating a high protein breakfast might be a slow effect, then you are wrong, according to Leidy, it takes only 3 days of high protein breakfast eating for your snacking habits to adjust. Only 3 days! (Siddique, A)

Try these for more protein:

• Eggs and meat
• Milk
• Plain Greek Yogurt
• Tofu
• Nuts
• Beans

Remember if you want to ‘Think like a beast, have your morning feast!’

E.C