Why is breakfast the most important meal of the day?

Surely you will remember how your mother insisted every morning telling you that Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And, indeed, our parents were not lacking (I would almost even say that if now you are the father, you will probably say the same to your kids).

And is that a good breakfast it is not important only for children and young people, also for the elderly; despite the fact that every day the usual thing is that we tend to neglect the first meal of the day because of the rush, stress or simply the lack of desire to eat.

Taking into account that breakfast should provide between 20 to 25% of calories that are consumed every day, it is evident that we are facing a very important meal, especially if we take into account that for 8 hours we have not eaten anything (which is the rest period during which we sleep).

The importance of breakfast for children and young people

Both during childhood and adolescence, children and young people are in continuous physical and intellectual growth. That is why it is vital to follow a healthy and balanced diet, as a way to provide your body with each and every one of the essential nutrients that they need so much for their growth and development.

In the case of breakfast, we are faced with a vital meal because, after 8 hours of fasting, the little one contributes to his body foods that will be transformed into energy, and that they will use throughout the morning at school or at the institute. .

We must pay special attention to the breakfast being as balanced and varied as possible, highlighting especially dairy products, cereals, fruits or juice, and healthy fats.

The importance of breakfast in adults

Obviously, breakfast is also an essential food for adults. As happens in the smallest, when we sleep during the night our body tends to use less energy than during the day when we are active, but also the next morning needs new foods to be nourished.

Therefore when we do not have breakfast, or we do it later than usual (or bad), it is common to feel tired, almost faint, being habitual that we fail our strength and energy.

How should the perfect breakfast be?

As explained on different occasions, the breakfast must suppose between 20 and 25% of the calories that are ingested throughout the day.

As it has been demonstrated in many occasions thanks to different studies, it is known that people who eat breakfast properly get the nutrients they need at the beginning of the day for the morning, so that everyone who has breakfast properly will not feel tired during the morning and you can do without problems the tasks you should.

In addition, a breakfast rich in fiber helps the bowel movement, so you will prevent the appearance of constipation. But how should it be perfect breakfast? What should we really have breakfast?

Here's how we should be a perfect breakfast, especially what should contain:

Complex carbohydrates: At meals, especially at breakfast, most calories should come from complex carbohydrates. Therefore, we must consume some of these foods: whole wheat bread, fruits, grains and whole grain.
Dairy products: They are essential for their protein content, in addition to containing calcium, zinc and iron. This group includes milk, cheese, yogurt and those combined with cereals. However, we can also substitute dairy products for vegetable drinks, especially if you follow a vegan diet. Rice milk, oatmeal, almond milk and soy milk (but without exceeding the latter) are ideal.
Fruits and fresh juices: Fruits are essential in a healthy and balanced diet, as they contain vitamins and minerals essential for the body, and help the proper functioning of the digestive system in general and the intestine in particular.

As we can see, it is actually very easy to prepare a nutritious, healthy and healthy breakfast. It is enough to choose with intelligence the food we are going to consume, and never eat in large quantities, or when we simply do not feel like it. This article is published for informational purposes only. You can not and should not replace the consultation with a Nutritionist. We advise you to consult your trusted Nutritionist. ThemesBreakfast