Two Rules for a Healthy, Fat-Fighting Breakfast

By Rigel Celeste on December 14th, 2009

So we all know that skipping breakfast is bad — it’s been touted as the “most important meal of the day” since it was first invented way back when — but we also know that not all breakfasts are created equal — like the bacon and eggs our grandparents enjoyed is now a big no no. So what should we be eating then? Figuring that out is easy when you follow these two rules:

RULE #1

Aim for 600 calories

RULE #2

Must have lean protein and carbs

A recent study found that women who ate a 610 calorie breakfast that contained both lean protein and carbs had less cravings for sweets and fatty snacks, and so lost more weight than women who had different kinds of meals.

600 calories is a lot of food, if you think about it. If you avoid calorie traps like deep fried foods, sausage, too much cheese, and sugary fat-laden coffee drinks, you can really have a good-sized meal. Like a two-egg omelet with salsa and a sprinkle of mozzarella, whole wheat toast, a piece of fruit, and a small non-fat coffee, for example.

I remember a few years ago when I first decided to jump on the “breakfast bandwagon” how hard it was to simply start having a yogurt every morning with my coffee. Now, although I can’t imagine going without breakfast, it seems I need to step it up and add an English Muffin or something to the mix.