Whether you’re running the kids to school or rushing to work, it’s hard to sit down and ENJOY a morning meal. The typical American lifestyle has us thinking that it’s not okay to slow down. If you’re not the busiest person in your friend group, you’re doing it wrong.
Actually, if you prioritize a calm morning meal, you’re doing it right. Here’s why:
Breakfast sets the tone for your day.
Starting the day without time to sit down and start slow often carries over into the entire day. This type of stress response associated with busyness and hectic lifestyles can activate stress hormones that may linger until the threat has passed. (Until you slow down and relax.) Because breakfast is really an essential meal and can help you manage your morning optimally, it’s the perfect time to practice slowing down.
In being mindful with breakfast, you’re more likely to pick more nutrient dense options.
If you’re prioritizing breakfast by grabbing a muffin on the way out the door, you’re on the right track! However, a nutrient dense breakfast with balanced macronutrients can do a lot more for your mind and body as you’re trying to problem solve that morning. A muffin provides a great source of carbohydrate, but if you make time to sit down and have that muffin with an omelet with veggies, you’ve got protein and vitamins in addition to help you conquer the day!
Mindful or slow eating can help you keep in tune with hunger/fullness cues.
Many of us in this fast-paced society eat in conjunction with it. We end up eating quickly and often take in too much and end up over full (or overwhelmed). Slowing down allows us to pay attention to what and how much we’re eating. Maybe we’re comfortably full after a half portion of that muffin and omelet breakfast, or maybe we need to add some avocado for extra calories. Every person’s nutrition needs are different.
Mindful eating can help you feel more satisfied.
Taking a little more time with morning meals can be helpful determining if that particular food is something we enjoy and would like to eat again. Positive experiences to eating when we sit down and enjoy our food release positive chemicals into our brains that enhance the eating experience and allow us to enter the busy day with a more whole mind and positive outlook.
A positive eating experience is a great way to start the day. Prioritizing mindful, slow eating can help inhibit unneeded stress hormones from wreaking havoc on your body, encourage nutrient dense choices, and provide satisfaction when keeping hunger/fullness levels in a good place. Even if you didn’t prioritize a calm morning meal this morning, each new day is a fresh start, so give yourself some grace, and try again!
References:
Comments