Dietitian Susie Burrell's verdict on whether skipping breakfast is bad for you
To breakfast or not to breakfast?
What was once considered the most important meal of the day is now regularly skipped in favour of a coffee or two, or a fasting regime in which the first meal is pushed back until late morning or even lunchtime.
Then, there are also plenty of people who are simply not hungry in the morning, often as a result of late dinners or treats at night, and as such are not in the habit of starting the day with a substantial meal.
So is it better to eat breakfast hungry or not, are there nutritional implications if you are not the greatest fan of starting the day with a plate of eggs or bowl of cereal and is there any extra merit in fasting for health or metabolism?
READ MORE: The best freezer aisle products to save time and money
Susie Burrell says breakfast eaters are more likely to have higher intakes of wholegrains, dietary fibre and B-group vitamins. iStock
Why is breakfast important?
Traditionally breakfast is the meal that breaks the overnight fast, giving metabolism a boost as the day begins, fueling both the brain and the body until the next meal time.
Nutritionally breakfast eaters have been shown to have higher intakes of wholegrains, dietary fibre and B-group vitamins, and dietary intake studies have shown that there are metabolic and blood glucose related benefits associated with eating a higher proportion of calories throughout the first half of the day.
Why is breakfast out of favour?
There are a couple of reasons that breakfast is not considered as important as it once was. Coffee culture has seen many of us replace our toast or cereal with a milky drink, a drink that can contain almost as many calories as a breakfast meal, and as such means we are not always as hungry for food as well.
READ MORE: The cheapest and most nutritious supermarket foods according to a dietitian
Coffee culture has seen many people replace breakfast with their morning coffee, according to Burrell. Getty
The other common reason that we do not wake up hungry after the overnight fast is that many of us eat far too much late at night which shortens the number of hours in which we have not eaten – from an ideal 12 hours overnight without food to as little as 8 hours since our last meal.
This basically means we are still full from the night before. So instead of grabbing a substantial meal of eggs or cereal, we are satisfied with a coffee or even nothing until mid to late morning.
Are there benefits to skipping breakfast?
Nutritionally there are a number of benefits of enjoying a protein and fibre rich meal within an hour or two of waking. Not only will it give your metabolism a boost, but you will have tighter blood glucose control and a higher intake of key nutrients that are important for health long term.
In saying that, on occasion, when you have eaten late the night before, or eaten a lot, there is nothing wrong with skipping breakfast occasionally and waiting until you are genuinely hungry the next day to eat again.
READ MORE: The four denim items one editor would rebuy if she lost them tomorrow
Burrell says while there are nutritional benefits to eating breakfast, there's nothing wrong with skipping breakfast and waiting until you are genuinely hungry to eat again. Getty
The issue is when we then choose to replace a nutritious breakfast with quick and easy, high calorie options such as pastries, muffins, milky coffee, bagels and fried food often picked up at cafes mid to late morning.
What about fasting?
There are a number of different fasting regimes and some people may find that they can keep their weight and calories more tightly controlled by limiting their eating to within eight hours each day and as such readily skip the first meal of the day.
If this works for you, and you do not find yourself excessively hungry throughout the afternoon and evening, there are no standout issues other than the need to ensure you are getting adequate dietary fibre each day.
On the other hand, if skipping breakfast simply means you overeat throughout the afternoon and evening, it may be better to grab a slice of toast or tub of protein yoghurt to enjoy with your morning coffee and embrace the positives a nutritious breakfast does offer.
FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.
Most viewed in Health & Wellness
How to train for your body type, according to an expert
‘Every step counts’: Walking faster with a lower step count may lower risk of early death
The number one mistake people make when asking ‘R U OK?’
At 24, Nic Jovanovic made a life-changing decision. It finally paid off the first time he held daughter Sofija in his arms
