Most of us have heard over and over “eat your breakfast!” “Breakfast is a key to losing weight!” and other such promotions of breakfast. And yes, nutrition in the morning is good – helps your mind, body, and energy! …But only once you’re ready for it!
Intuitive eating is an important focus for many dietitians in helping counsel their clients: learning to listen to the body, to wait until you’re feeling true hunger to eat and then to listen to your body when it tells you to stop, even if there’s still food on the plate! And breakfast is as good a meal as any to listen to your body!
Sunday night went out with a bang – weekends can be hard for me to stick to healthy eating sometimes. But I ate late at night, and ate a bunch of heavy foods. When I got up this morning, I was not hungry. At all.
So, despite conventional instructions, I didn’t eat right away (gasp!) and instead, sipped on water, and then brought a smoothie with me to work. I did not want to be forced to wait for lunch to get the health and nutrition I need, but I also didn’t want to overwhelm my bloated tummy. No, skipping meals is not a great idea. But neither is forcing yourself to eat just because “it’s time to.” If you are able to, take snacks for when you DO get hungry. Take an apple to work; keep a bag of baby carrots in the fridge; snack on a small bag of nuts, have food available for when you are hungry, but wait to you are legitimately hungry before nibbling.
So.. what do you do about breakfast when you’re not hungry? Make sure you will be hungry! What did you have for dinner? A lot of dense, heavy foods? What time did you eat dinner? Late? Try eating earlier so you have time to digest your food so that you CAN be hungry in the morning! I know, I know – night time is the hardest time to fight those cravings ;-) But you can do it! Let your body have the night to rest and recover – not get back-logged with processing heavy meals and desserts.
You’ll sleep better and feel better!
Sleep well!