BUILD A BETTER BREAKFAST

You have probably heard the saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. While it may not necessarily be more important than lunch or dinner, it is a meal that many of us tend to skip for a variety of reasons. A recent study suggests that skipping breakfast may do more harm than we previously thought. Skipping breakfast tends to leave us low on energy and extra hungry at lunch, but it may also increase our risk of dying from heart disease. Here are some tips to start your day off right with breakfast:

GET SOME GRAINS
Breakfast is a perfect time to get in some whole grains. There are so many delicious options – oatmeal, whole grain muffins, and even whole grain pancakes – to choose from. Be cautious with portion size though. While whole grains are good, breakfast grains in general can get a little out of hand with their portion size. If it doesn’t fit in your hand, it might be a little too big.

FRUIT AND VEGGIES
Fruit gets a lot of attention at breakfast and it is a great choice, but don’t forget the veggies. Most of us could use more vegetables each day, so starting out with some at breakfast gets you on the right track. Vegetables add color, flavor and nutrients to omelets, scrambles and frittatas. Vegetables not typically eaten at breakfast are finding their way on to menus in the form of vegetable hash, smoothies and even breakfast salads and are all worth trying.

DRINK WISELY
Coffee and tea are two of the most popular breakfast drinks, but they vary widely in how well they help us start our day. Be cautious of add ins that are high in sugar and calories that add up quickly and are easy to overdo in a drink. Breakfast is also a good time to start hydrating. With little to no water intake overnight, your body will thank you for adding a glass of water to your morning routine.

Reference:1. Shuang Rong, Linda G. Snetselaar, Guifeng Xu, Yangbo Sun, Buyun Liu, Robert B. Wallace, Wei Bao. Association of Skipping Breakfast With Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality. Journal of the American College of Cardiology Apr 2019, 73 (16) 2025-2032

Written by Jennifer M. Roberts, MS, RD
JULY 2019
balanceittakesyou.com

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FUEL YOUR WORKOUT

Are you kicking off the New Year with a new workout routine? Whether you are training for a marathon or just trying to become more active, eating well will support your goals.

FUEL
Working out without eating well is like trying to drive a car without gas (or a good charge). You won’t get very far. What and how much you eat will depend on your goals, but there are some general rules that should work for most of us. In the 1-4 hour window before you exercise, eat or drink some carbohydrates. The closer to exercise time you eat, the simpler and more familiar the item should be. Throughout the day make sure you are getting enough carbohydrates to match your intensity level. The harder the workout, the more you will need. If changing your weight is part of your goals, keep that in mind when choosing your food. If you are looking to lose weight, make sure you keep enough protein in your diet to maintain your muscle.

HYDRATE & RECOVER
We are generally more aware of how important drinking water is when it is hot out. Cooling isn’t the only reason we need water, though. You will tire more quickly and not see all of the benefits of exercise if you are dehydrated. Keeping a refillable water bottle with you can be a good reminder to drink. After exercise, focus on giving your body what it needs to recover, especially after very intense exercise. This will help you be ready for your next workout or activity. Water along with some carbohydrates and protein is a good mix for most. Apple slices with peanut butter, yogurt with granola or a grilled chicken sandwich are good examples.

MEASURING SUCCESS
Increasing your activity level should help you feel more energized. If you find yourself feeling especially tired or weak overall, this could be a red flag that you’re not meeting your nutrition and fluid needs. Regular visits and conversations with your doctor can help identify and address issues. A Sports Dietitian can also help with an individual nutrition plan to support your activity goals. Find one at https://www.scandpg.org/search-rd/.

Reference:Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Dietitians of Canada, and the American College of Sports Medicine: Nutrition and Athletic Performance. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2016;116:501-528.

Written by Jennifer M. Roberts, MS, RD and Julia Jordan.
JANUARY 2019
balanceittakesyou.com

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