eggs_in_spinach_nest
One of the greatest ways people set themselves up to fail in their diets is by skipping or skimping on breakfast and lunch. I’ve covered the importance of a healthy, protein-rich lunch before. As for breakfast: why does a proper breakfast make a difference? Can’t you just eat your calories later in the day? Can you just grab a protein bar on the go instead of sitting down to an actual meal?
Yesterday I met with a new client, S, who is 6 months pregnant. Before you even think it: she is not trying to lose weight! But our conversation did touch on the rate of weight gain she has been experiencing in her pregnancy thus far and how it might be slowed, as her doctor is concerned it is a bit rapid.
Let’s just use this conversation as a jumping-off point! S told me she wakes up, has some yogurt before walking to work, then proceeds to eat some sort of carbohydrate (oatmeal first, then a bowl of berries, then a banana, typically) every hour, approximately, until lunch. She is constantly “snacky” and hungry, gaining weight rapidly and feels panicky about not having a snack on her at all times in case the snack monster attacks.
I told S that being hungry every hour is not normal. A proper meal, whether pregnant or not, should sustain one for at least 2-3 hours. If your meals are properly composed to include fat, protein and slow carbohydrate (think a sprouted grain bread over a bowl of rice krispies, or an apple over a toaster waffle if you’re wondering what I mean by “slow” carbs), you should be full for 3-4 hours or even longer, in my experience. Some of us need to eat more frequently, but the average person is usually experiencing snackiness and frequent hunger, often accompanied by a gut-wrenching panicky need to eat, due to improper fueling.
Sorry for the unkind words I spoke of hunger
Do you know this feeling? Would you believe me if I told you that it’s not normal to feel panic-hungry on a regular basis? That hunger should creep up slowly, providing you ample time to use your willpower and cooking skills to prepare (or purchase wisely) a meal that will satiate you again for several hours?
In 2007, researchers from Louisiana State University divided a group of overweight & obese women into two groups; the women were asked to eat either two eggs a day for breakfast, or have a bagel. After 8 weeks, the egg eaters had lost the most weight – 65% more weight than the bagel eaters. On top of that, they lost almost 2x the inches from their waistlines that the bagel eaters did, indicating not just weight loss but a change in body composition and degree of body fatness.
The same research team did a previous study indicating the egg breakfasters felt full much longer than the bagel crowd and, as a result, they ate less during the rest of the day. The protein content of eggs is believed to be mostly responsible for the weight loss and satiety effects, and I believe the great fat content also helps slow down the eggs’ digestion and contribute to the long-lasting feeling of fullness.
Concerned about eggs, cholesterol, and heart disease risk?So was S. But study after study has shown that daily consumption of eggs does not raise blood cholesterol. In fact, a protein-rich diet including eggs will help induce weight-loss and usually actually lower cholesterol!
[Tweet “Tweak your breakfast for a better, healthier body >>”]Here are a few go-to breakfasts to get you on track for next week, whether your goals are weight maintenance, weight loss, or moderate weight gain in pregnancy (simply increase/decrease portion sizes accordingly):
- 1/2 – 1 cup 2% cottage cheese (believe me, the caloric & fat difference is not worth the watery taste – stick with yummy 2%) and a sliced banana, sprinkled with cinnamon
- 2 hard boiled eggs with cayenne and coarse salt, plus 1/2 an avocado
- 1/2 cup Greek yogurt, blended with 1 small banana, 1 tablespoon almond butter, 1/2 cup frozen wild blueberries and a splash of almond milk or milk for blending, plus cinnamon & nutmeg
- 2-3 eggs sauteed with 3-4 cups (dry measure) baby spinach and topped with 1/4 cup salsa
- 1/2 whole wheat english muffin topped with sliced tomato and 2 eggs scrambled with feta cheese and oregano (usually splashed with ridiculous amounts of hot sauce)
- 3-4 natural turkey breakfast sausages (or lean pork or lamb sausages) sauteed with onion, garlic, kale or spinach and crushed chili pepper flakes
Got a favourite healthy breakfast? Share!
Check out more breakfast ideas HERE!