Breakfast: The Morning Meal that Really Matters

Is breakfast really the most important meal of the day? There’s some controversy surrounding breakfast as it relates to health, but we’re not here to debunk any myths about your morning meal. Your Food Town is big on any opportunity to bring the family together, and to start the day on a healthy foot. (And the breakfast table is the perfect place to do just that!) Here, we’ve highlighted a few of our favorite benefits that come with eating breakfast, and offered up some tips to help inspire you to enjoy that meal with others.

Missing Your Morning Meal
Just like any other meal, breakfast is an opportunity to nourish your body and replenish your energy levels. Studies have shown that eating a healthy breakfast can improve memory and concentration while lowering the likelihood of diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease. On the other hand, skipping this meal can lower your blood sugar and immune system, causing more than just mental and physical fatigue. That’s why it’s so important to listen to your body’s needs and prioritize your health.

When you’re on the go early (and before you’ve developed an appetite), or when you leave home in a rush to get to work, it can be to forget to eat breakfast. If you know you have a tendency to miss meals, it’s a good idea to keep dry snacks, grab-and-go yogurt cups or portable produce nearby. Chilled coffee drinks, like the tasty options Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks offer, can also put a pep in your step. Maybe you’re craving a little something different from your morning snack. If so, try these simple yet flavorful breakfast ideas:

• Bake-Free Recipe: If cooking isn’t your thing, try whipping together one of our Berry Breakfast Parfaits. All you need is two cups of cottage cheese, granola, berries and some chopped almonds. Talk about easy!
• To-Go Meal Prep: These Crescent Roll Egg Muffins are a great meal prep option for the beginning of the week. The three main ingredients are eggs, milk and crescent roll dough. Season your egg mixture, add as much cheese as your heart desires, then feel free to get creative with your vegetables and protein. These only take about 20 minutes to bake, and you can reheat them in the microwave in less than two minutes.
• Easy Bake Breakfast: This Baked Avocado Eggs with Bacon and Cilantro recipe is low-carb, simple and packed with flavor. First, you’ll need to slice your avocado in half and scoop out a tablespoon of meat from the center. Then, gently crack one egg in each half and add your favorite toppings. You can bake your snack as you get ready for work and eat it in just a few bites!

Bonding Over Breakfast
Eating a family breakfast has several benefits for parents and their children. It’s important to teach kids healthy eating habits at a young age so they’re more likely to practice them as they mature. Another benefit of eating as a family is learning how to work together in the kitchen. This is a bonding experience that helps kids develop cooking and communication skills. Just sitting down to eat together encourages brain stimulation early in the day, so they’re prepared to learn and interact with others. Eating early meals together also trains a person to be alert first thing in the morning, so they’re clear-headed before the start of the day. Here are a few fun family recipes that are sure to make hungry tummies happy and get the conversation flowing:

• If you have little ones, they’ll love lending a hand — or dipping a finger — with this French Toast Stars with Nutella recipe. We highly recommend serving strawberries with this sweet morning treat. Oh, and don’t forget the star-shaped cookie cutter. We’re told it’s a deal breaker among food critics (ages 8 and under).
• This recipe for Eggs Benedict is perfect for a late Saturday brunch with the family. If this is your first time whipping up hollandaise sauce, fear not! Our Knorr’s hollandaise sauce mix comes complete with cooking instructions. (And for more seasoned chefs, you can find every ingredient to make it from scratch!) Also, don’t let poaching a few eggs scare you away from making this classic brunch staple. Gordon Ramsay has an instructional video on how to prepare the perfect poached egg — and as an added bonus, he won’t be there to yell at you if you decide to start over.

Breakfast is a big deal around here, neighbor. A healthy morning routine sets the tone for the rest of your day by nourishing your mind, your body and your environment. So, whether science proves breakfast is (or isn’t) the most important meal of the day, we still think it offers big benefits. And we hope this blog offered some helpful insight into making your mealtimes something great.

If you’re looking for a little more inspiration, check out our breakfast/brunch recipes. Our smoothie ideas blog also offers great ideas for quick and healthy meal options for families on the go. Once you’ve pulled together your grocery list (and checked out all the available deals to save money), come stock up at your local Food Town. We’re looking forward to seeing you!