Are you part of the breakfast club?

I ate breakfast every morning as a child. 

I thought everyone ate breakfast. 

I wasn't interviewing my friends and teachers at the time but I just assumed that my family wasn't the only family having the first of three meals each day. Since I've been coaching women on healthy eating habits at Ladies Fitness, I've realized that a LOT of you are not eating breakfast. You make sure your child eats breakfast but rarely make something for yourself.
To put things in perspective, I ask them "What time did you eat dinner?" 6:00pm. "What time did you eat again?" Usually lunch, around noon. "That means you haven't eaten anything in 18 hours!!"

Breakfast literally means to break the fasting period of the prior night.

When you do feed your body, she is like "Finally!!! (eye roll) Jeez. Since this lady never feeds me, I can't afford to burn the calories from this meal because I have NO IDEA when she is going to feed me again!"

Fuel your body to be fabulous!

If you don't eat breakfast and head out the door with low blood sugar, one organ in particular won't be operating at full speed: your brain, which requires a steady flow of blood sugar to run effectively. Studies show that children who eat breakfast have better memories and learn more than their classmates. That's why you all make sure your child is fed before he/she leaves the house. Right?!

Also...when you blow off breakfast, you pig out later on. Breakfast keeps your appetite in check for the rest of the day. If you skip breakfast, your groaning stomach wll convince you to skip the bowl of soup you brought and go out for Chinese food with the other girls in the office!

When you wake up, wake up your metabolism! Metabolism slows down during sleep and doesn't rev back up until you eat again. Eating 30-90 minutes after waking is going to jump start your body into burning fat...and if you keep it happy with food every three hours, it will continue to burn fat.

Let's talk food!

Ok, I've told you 'why' to eat...now let's talk 'what'! When it comes to breakfast, just about anything is fair game. But remember...we are eating healthy! So anything 'healthy' is fair game!

Your diet is going to be high complex carbs, low fat, high fiber, whole foods and mostly plant based.

A friend recently passed along this delicious baked pear oatmeal recipe. You can bake it on Sunday and heat up small portions each morning! You can use apple instead of pear. I did not add the pumpkin seeds or hazelnuts. Make it your own!

click here for recipe

• Another idea for make ahead breakfast is boiling five eggs on a Sunday night. Go ahead and peel them and store them in an airtight container. Each morning, your egg is already ready! Grab a piece of toast and you're good to go.  

• If you have leftovers from the night before, maybe chicken and rice, that looks good when you open the fridge, EAT THAT! Just because it isn't typical breakfast foods doesn't mean it won't work in waking up your metabolism! 

• Like peanut butter? Peanut butter on toast. Peanut butter on a frozen waffle (toasted of course!). How about peanut butter on a granola bar? Peanut butter is quick protein! Protein will keep you full. Don't worry about the fat in peanut butter. Your body requires some fat and it's good fat.

• How about a whole wheat tortilla with black beans, roasted peppers, a little bit of cheese and salsa?! You can roll it up, store it in the freezer and then microwave for 3 minutes in the morning.

• Prefer sweet? Layer a whole wheat English muffin with thin apple slices and peanut (or almond) butter. Wrap it up and take it with you!

• Love a McMuffin? At night, top a whole wheat English muffin with bit of butter, scrambled egg and a slice of bacon. Store it in the fridge and it will take only 60 seconds to heat in a toaster oven the next morning!

• A protein shake is an excellent choice when you are rushing out of the house. You can use milk, water or a combo of both with one scoop of powder. Shake it up in a Blender Bottle (has a little whisk ball inside so that your shake is clump-free) or use a single serve blender (Hamilton Beach single serve blender)

Did you know that you can scramble an egg in a coffee mug in the microwave?! 

 Learn how!

 Do you have a favorite breakfast idea? Please share it below!