FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Breakfast is often considered the most important meal of the day, but its sometimes skipped due to busy lives, lack of hunger or as a weight loss strategy.
“It comes down to personal preference and what works best for your body,” said Julia Zumpano, a dietitian with the Cleveland Clinic.
Zumpano said breakfast can help with focus, blood sugar control, appetite management and even lowering diabetes risk. But people who regularly skip it may also feel alert and clear-headed -- especially if that pattern works for them.
Whether you eat early or not, she recommends making your first meal high in protein and fiber. Options like Greek yogurt with berries and nuts, avocado toast with an egg or overnight oats can help prevent energy crashes.
“Those people who chronically skip breakfast or just don’t feel hungry in the morning have likely been that way their whole lives,” she said. “Those who wake up hungry and ready to eat, again, physiologically, that’s what their body is telling them.”
She also warns against “naked carbs” -- eating carbohydrates alone, including fruit -- which can spike blood sugar. Pairing carbs with protein offers more balanced energy.
The takeaway: listen to your body and focus on balanced meals, no matter when you eat them.
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