Does it take you hours to crawl out of bed in the morning? Do you struggle with daytime sleepiness even after you’ve gotten yourself to school, work or other functions? Your breakfast might be to blame. If you aren’t starting your day with healthy, high-energy foods, you’re basically running on empty until you finally eat something with nutritional value. Here are four ways to change this and eat a better morning meal.
1. Whole Grains
Whole grains have the good kind of carbohydrates that take a while to digest, so not only will you feel fuller for a longer period of time, but you’ll also reap the benefits of a slow stream of glucose. As you probably already know, your energy levels are directly tied to your glucose levels, so a whole grain breakfast is one of the best that you can eat if you’re looking for energy. Go ahead and have that oatmeal with the extra cinnamon sprinkled on top. It’s good for you.
2. Leafy Greens
Spinach, kale and other leafy greens are an excellent way to start the day. You just have to figure out how to incorporate them into your mornings. Smoothies are the easiest option; you can blend them together with just about anything, so the sky is the limit when it comes to creativity. Another idea is omelets or breakfast burritos with your veggies tucked away inside. Talk to someone with a Master’s in health informatics for more possibilities.
3. Eggs
Eggs are a fantastic source of protein, and there’s also evidence to suggest that they can help with food cravings later in the day. But don’t throw the yolk in the trash! While it does contain a higher amount of calories than the egg white, it’s also the main source of the egg’s nutritional value. If you want your daily recommended servings of zinc, phosphorous and selenium, it’s imperative that you eat the yolk.
4. Yogurt
Yogurt gets a bad reputation as a health food because so many varieties come packed with candy, nuts and other sweet things. If you can avoid these temptations, however, yogurt is actually a fantastic source of energy. Plain yogurt comes with all kinds of nutrients, including protein, calcium and potassium, and all of them will give your body a boost before you start a big day.
These are just four foods that will put a little extra pep in your step. Say goodbye to lethargy and hello to energy when you eat the right breakfast in the morning!
