No matter what you may read, breakfast IS the most important meal of the day – this is non-negotiable. What you eat for breakfast determines how you perform at work for the first half of the day, how effective your cardio is, and ultimately how you feel.
When you wake up in the morning you have probably woken on the very last possible ‘snooze’ alarm, you’re looking for something quick and convenient for breakfast, after all, your body has been in fasting mode for several hours. The good news is that you don’t need to reach for those sugar-laden breakfast bars and biscuits to get your healthy start to the day.
Fill your cupboards with the below breakfast carbohydrates to start your day as you mean to go on, SUCCESSFUL.
The best carbohydrates for breakfast
To avert hunger, feelings of fatigue, and poor concentration, you should choose the below breakfast carbohydrates. They will keep you feeling fuller and also keep your mind focused on the tasks at hand.
Oats – Oats are loaded with nutrients and fiber and are probably the best choice for a filling and satisfying breakfast. You can add any type of fruit, flavor or sauce to them for an extra kick.
Whole meal bread – Whole meal bread digests slowly and is also an excellent source of fiber, it will keep you feeling fuller for longer.
The worst carbohydrates for breakfast
Do you ever find yourself clock watching for lunchtime? Are you plagued by thoughts of hunger? What did you have for breakfast? It was probably one of the below offenders…
Toast – White bread is a high GI carb and after a night-time of fasting, your body will literally sponge this carbohydrate source up FAST leaving you feeling hungry very shortly after.
Cereal – Despite what the adverts lead you to believe, cereal is a pretty useless carbohydrate, never mind a breakfast meal. Cereal is usually a high GI carbohydrate loaded with sugar that will give you a temporary insulin spike, and will leave you feeling hungry again by the time you get to work.
Croissant & a coffee – The worst breakfast on-the-go offender. Are you guilty of grabbing a coffee for breakfast? Sure, coffee will give you a burst of energy, but does nothing for your body, much like the croissant. You will soon become fatigued and hungry.
The best breakfast of them all…
Oats and whey is without a doubt one of the best breakfasts you can start your day with. Why? Because it takes about 20 seconds to prepare, packs a hard-nutritional punch and will keep you FULLER FOR LONGER! Mixing oats with water then adding in a scoop of delicious whey protein takes seconds to prepare. The oats will provide you with a tapered release of energy and because they are a low GI carb, they will digest slower keeping you feeling fuller for longer.
Getting shredded?
If you are shredding up for a holiday or a particular social event then you may have heard rumors on the grape vine that you should cut carbs completely. Is there any truth to this? Yes, but there is a way of doing it and it certainly doesn’t involve not eating carbs whatsoever, it involves a slight adjustment to your morning routine. The most effective way to shed body fat is by incorporating fasted cardio into your routine. When you wake up, skip breakfast and perform your cardio on an empty stomach, be sure to drink/take plenty of water with you. After your cardio, then tuck into your carb based breakfast and your body will soak it up! The trick is in the timing not the elimination.
Carbohydrates are not the enemy, when chosen correctly carbs can enhance your performance, enable you to concentrate better at work, feel fuller for longer and help you to stay healthy. Pay attention to your breakfast and plan ahead if you need to, because it really is the most important meal of the day.