Breakfast

[thyme4change]

I've never skipped breakfast. I've never understood how people can do that. Breakfast is the BEST!

But, my husband eats better lunches (healthier and smaller portions) and loses weight when he eats breakfast. I'm not sure if it is that he only eats breakfast when he is focusing on being healthy, or if eating breakfast helps him be healthy the rest of the day.

[pig]

I never eat breakfast. I just can't stomach anything with coffee.

[chiver78]

overall? I don't know. I do generally eat a larger lunch if I haven't had a chance to have breakfast. I usually try to get a little carb, a little protein for breakfast. maybe that fills me up enough that I don't need a big lunch.

[azphx1972]

I'm not a morning person so I usually don't eat breakfast either. I do keep some oatmeal packets at work if I do feel hungry, but that's pretty rare.

[pig]

"I do keep some oatmeal packets at work"
I do this too but I incorporate them into my diet as a meal.

[Deleted]

I almost always eat breakfast. I don't understand how people can skip it, either - I mean I haven't eaten in over 12 hours, how can I NOT be hungry? Especially now with the baby, skipping breakfast is really not an option. I don't know about the whole "eating a lighter lunch" thing, but I know that eating breakfast lowers my chances of biting someone's head off when I get into work.

[Deleted]

ugh, those oatmeal packets are loaded with sugar and preservatives (unless you get plain).

[azphx1972]

My philosophy is that if I feel hungry, I will eat something. I just rarely feel hungry or starved in the mornings. I don't prescribe to the "eating when it's a prescribed time to eat" philosophy. I let my body tell me when it feels the need for nourishment, and I try to give it the best fuel (high quality food/nutrients) possible. I know this goes against many traditional teachings, but it works for me.

I've also had a mild interest in calorie restriction research, so I try to keep my calorie intake low partially for that reason as well.

[cael]

Before I had my current job, I went to work at 10am, stayed up late & woke up late and I was never a morning or breakfast person. Now being at work at 8, I find I die until lunch and have no energy if I don't eat at least something for breakfast. Usually it's a bagel, or cottage cheese & fruit, or some cereal, or some combination of those. I probably don't eat enough since I'm usually starving by lunch, but at least it's something.

[Deleted]

AZ, I just meant that I'm usually really hungry by morning so I don't understand how people aren't hungry in the morning. But you have to do what's best for you. You know your body better than I do!

Cael, even before I got pregnant I could never make it from breakfast to lunch without a snack. I usually bring some fruit and another snack like peanuts. Now I bring cheese, fruit, and some sort of carb to snack on.

[azphx1972]

cael, I think you make an excellent point. I don't start work until later in the morning, so by the time lunch rolls around, I'm just hungry enough to eat something. I would probably feel hungry if I started working earlier too. Thanks for the correction.

[pig]

"ugh, those oatmeal packets are loaded with sugar and preservatives (unless you get plain)."

I get the plain ones. And yes they taste like crap but they get the job done.

[Deleted]

Mar 28, 2011 11:22:40 GMT -5 @insurancegal said:

Mar 28, 2011 11:10:07 GMT -5 @moneyjenny82 said:

ugh, those oatmeal packets are loaded with sugar and preservatives (unless you get plain).

OOO! Plain oatmeal! I've been buying it due to the budget and have been doctoring it up with:

~Mandarin oranges or
~A few chocolate chips (don't you judge me;) or
~Fresh strawberries or
~A bit of margarine or
~This morning: a bit of maple syrup and brown sugar

I buy the big ol' container of quick oats. If I'm planning to eat oatmeal for the week, I'll make one big batch and flavor it with a little sugar or honey and cinnamon. Sometimes instead of water I'll cook the oats with a half water half 100% fruit juice mixture. It's great with cranberry pomegranate juice. And I only drink "100% juice, no sugar added, no artificial sweetener" juices. I highly recommend Northland Dark.

Lately I've been eating cereal. I "discovered" Mom's Best - a no-frills brand with less sugar and preservatives than the average cereal. It's cheaper too!

[thyme4change]

You know - even if they don't add sugar, there is still a lot of sugars and calories in 100% juice. 8 oz of juice contains more calories, all from sugar (fructose) than a can of coke.

I'm a big believer in more "natural" foods too. But cane sugar is just as natural as the sugar in juice. So, be careful that you aren't substituting 2 calories for 1 calorie and declaring yourself healthy. You might not be getting as much benefit as you think.

[Deleted]

Mar 28, 2011 11:45:19 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

You know - even if they don't add sugar, there is still a lot of sugars and calories in 100% juice. 8 oz of juice contains more calories, all from sugar (fructose) than a can of coke.

I'm a big believer in more "natural" foods too. But cane sugar is just as natural as the sugar in juice. So, be careful that you aren't substituting 2 calories for 1 calorie and declaring yourself healthy. You might not be getting as much benefit as you think.

the right kind of sugar in moderation is part of a balanced diet. The sugar in fruits is the right kind. Plus, I don't drink it every day. I actually only have a glass on the weekends since I'm aware of the sugar content. I hate it when people shun fruits because they have sugar in them. They also have lots of other vitamins and nutrients that are good for you. I'm in no way the picture of health, but I believe that good health isn't just about calorie counting and weight loss.

[thyme4change]

True - but many, many people substitute "healthy" things with no moderation for things that aren't really that bad for you and then give up when their weight ballons up. Like my friend who gave up vegetables because they didn't make a difference in her diet. Well - yeah, she was coating them with ranch!

I'm a big believer in fruit. But drinking your calories - from pop, fruit juice or beer - is a really easy way to deceive yourself.

[Deleted]

I don't eat breakfast unless I feel hungry and usually it's not much. I do make a big breakfast on Saturdays for the family, but that is later in the morning.

My favorite is people who eat twenty of the "low fat" cookies because they are healthy. ;D

[Deleted]

I'm a big believer in fruit. But drinking your calories - from pop, fruit juice or beer - is a really easy way to deceive yourself.

I agree 100%. That's why I only really drink fruit juice on the weekends - and I only have 1 8oz serving. 97% of the time I drink water. I have soda rarely. It started out as a budget thing, but now I don't even like the taste of soda. When I want to treat myself when we're at a restaurant I'll order an iced tea, but I order a water on the side.

[Deleted]

My favorite is people who eat twenty of the "low fat" cookies because they are healthy.

LOL, yeah, that cracks me up too! DH's aunt will do to the diner, order a whole bunch of crap, then get a Diet Coke.

[Deleted]

I'm guilty of loving orange juice.

[cael]

Mar 28, 2011 12:12:28 GMT -5 @moneyjenny82 said:

I'm a big believer in fruit. But drinking your calories - from pop, fruit juice or beer - is a really easy way to deceive yourself.

I agree 100%. That's why I only really drink fruit juice on the weekends - and I only have 1 8oz serving. 97% of the time I drink water. I have soda rarely. It started out as a budget thing, but now I don't even like the taste of soda. When I want to treat myself when we're at a restaurant I'll order an iced tea, but I order a water on the side.

I love soda, coke specifically what I've started to do is buy my customary cranberry juice along with a bottle of raspberry seltzer, so I have half and half. I think the bubblyness of the seltzer helps satisfy my soda craving, plus I'm having half the sugar of a whole glass of juice (and I love juice so I drink a lot)

[azphx1972]

I think the key to any healthy diet is moderation, but in general I try to eat complex carbs over simple ones. I don't find juice to be addictive as soda, so one small glass (with lots of ice cubes) at dinner is more than enough to satisfy my sugar craving.

[chiver78]

Mar 28, 2011 12:21:43 GMT -5 @missmargarita said:

I like orange juice and cranberry juice... mixed with my champagne. ;D

I like mixing cranberry with plain seltzer water. it cuts the tartness of it, and has a lot less calories as well.

[pig]

My MIL got herself a juicer and bought into it hook line and sinker. After about 3 months of juicing everything her hands turn and unsightly orange. You couldn't tell her anything so I didn't bother to ask her if she thought it was odd that she was changing color.

[teen persuasion]

Mar 28, 2011 10:32:28 GMT -5 @insurancegal said:

Do you find you eat less during the day if you eat breakfast in the morning?

No idea - I HAVE to eat breakfast every morning, I wake up hungry. I'm usually getting hungry again about 10:30am, too. I definitely need to graze thru out the day, or I start getting jittery.

On Sunday, after Mass, Rel Ed and grocery shopping, DS2 and I were both snacking in the kitchen while I was mixing up pancakes for brunch - we both were getting jittery and couldn't wait - it was only 11 am!

[wvugurl26]

I wake up hungry a lot of the time in the morning. The catch is if I have something big or heavy I'm sick. If I'm going to work I'll snack on some dry cereal and drink some skim milk while I drive to work. Around 9:30 or 10 I have some yogurt. Training or travel situations was always a challenge but I have it down now. Most of the time you get a morning break so I have a granola or cliff bar then.

[thyme4change]

I have something big and heavy every morning.


That's what she said.

[Sum Dum Gai]

I've never been a big eater first thing in the morning. Basic training really sucked since you eat breakfast minutes after waking up. I was literally gagging it down every morning. When I'm not working out I usually skip breakfast completely. Since that's not the healthiest thing ever I've started drinking a whey protein shake with my daily multivitamin in the morning. It's not the healthiest breakfast out there, but it's better than starting the day on an empty stomach, and I don't have to make or eat solid food first thing in the morning when it's really not appetizing to me.

[The J]

By the time I get to work, I've been up for about 2 hours and I'm starting to get a little hungry. I usually snack on things -- I have Kashi granola bars in my desk, or some fruit that I've brought. On the weekends, by the time I usually eat it's generally more like brunch, so I'll have something more substantial.

[Genuine GA Peach]

I do eat breakfast, but I'm rarely hungry until I've been awake for a couple of hours. I keep packets of Kashi hot cereals at work. I don't like instant oatmeal, but I keep a container of regular oatmeal at work too. I usually have Canadian bacon and sliced cheese in the fridge. I keep walnuts, almonds, and raisins on hand to eat on the run.

for me, hunger comes on suddenly and it's FIERCE! My breakfast is rarely enough calories to count as a full meal, so I'll have a slice of cheese or some nuts as a snack btw breakfast and lunch.