Ahh breakfast… the meal some of us love, and others hate. According to a 2011 survey, 31 million people skip breakfast. Yes. 31 MILLION! That is a lot of peeps. You might be one of them – but we’re definitely not!
Short on time, sleepy, or just being lazy – we’ve all skipped breakfast… and probably regretted it. Breakfast really is the most important day… here are some reasons why we never skip breakfast:
- Energy – If you skip breakfast, it’s possible that you could be looking at around 12 hours or longer without any food. Imagine driving your car for 12 hours and not stopping for any gas to fill up? You can see where this would be a problem…
- Weight Maintenance – Studies show that breakfast can be important in maintaining a healthy body weight. (Johns Hopkins) If you’re looking to maintain or lose weight – eating breakfast can actually help you do so. Eating a healthy breakfast will keep you feeling full and help fuel you through your daily activities.
- Focus – Ever been sitting in class, at work, or in a meeting and your stomach is rumbling? How can you focus on what your boss is saying when the only thing you can think about is how you can’t wait to eat!
- Keeps your Heart Happy – According to Consumer Reports – “Research indicates that people who skip breakfast gain weight, which can lead to diabetes as well as high cholesterol and blood pressure all of which can raise your risk of heart disease.” Why wouldn’t you want to reduce the risk of these things?!
- Avoid Being Hangry -We’ve all been there… an ugly crossing point at which you turn from just being hungry into a ravenous animal. Arguments ensue, friends and family are lost, it’s a bad scene. That was a little dramatic – but really.. hanger is real and you can prevent it.
I know some of you are still reading and thinking ‘Ok.. I get it.. I should eat breakfast, but I’m still not going to because (insert lame excuse here)’.
Healthy breakfasts don’t have to be Boring – Scrambled eggs or toast with peanut butter can get pretty boring everyday. Which is just one of the reasons we usually turn to oatmeal for breakfast. There are a million things you can do with oatmeal…Seriously we’re not exaggerating. It is easy to make, and you can add in whatever toppings you want to keep it fun and fresh.
Don’t feel like cooking oatmeal or being creative with your toppings? Get a cup of Umpqua Oats. They make disposable cups of oatmeal that are made in the USA, non-GMO, gluten-free and kosher! You just add hot water and stir. Yea. It’s THAT easy. (The picture above was taken after an all-nighter studying for finals…which means my brain was mush, and I was still able to manage a healthy breakfast!)
Their oatmeal is delicious just as is.. but we’ve come up with 3 different recipes that take their flavors to the next level.. check it out:
Caramel Mocha : Take one Salted Caramel Meltdown Umpqua Oats and add in 2 tablespoons of dark chocolate chips. Absolutely sinfully good. Breakfast or dessert? You be the judge.
Super food Start to the Day : Take one Not Guilt Umpqua Oats (this one has apples, blueberries, flax and chia) and add in even more super foods! 1/2 tbsp hemp hearts, 1/2 tablespoon cacao nibs, and even a little bit of matcha or wheat grass powder if you’re feeling wild.
Berry Pie Plus Protein : Take one Jackpot Umpqua Oats and add in 1/2 a scoop of your favorite Vanilla protein powder. (I like About Time). It will create a delicious smooth and sweet breakfast. Top with extra fresh berries for more fruity flavor.
See? You don’t have to skip breakfast. It is easy to have a quick, delicious meal in the morning… just grab some Umpqua Oats!
DISCLAIMER-In order for us to support our blog, we may receive monetary compensation for our endorsements, recommendations, and/or link to any products or services from this blog. This post was written for Umpqua Oats in exchange for a charitable donation for my fundraising efforts.
