At some point or other you’ve probably heard someone tell you that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but is that actually true?
Read on for some of the benefits of breakfast that might surprise you, and find out about a free programme that emphasises the importance of breakfast for students run by Teesside University’s Students’ Union.
An energy boost
A healthy breakfast has lots of benefits, so it’s important to make it a priority in your morning routine and not skip it. After fasting overnight, breakfast replenishes your body’s glucose levels which your brain heavily relies on for energy. It also helps to stabilise your blood sugar levels and jumpstarts your metabolism, so whether you’re physically active or could use the mental boost, breakfast is key to starting your day off on the right foot.
Brain fuel
When life gets busy we can often forget to prioritise ourselves. Let’s face it, sometimes that extra few minutes in bed seems more appealing than taking time to enjoy a nutritious breakfast. But the truth is, those extra few minutes in bed can have a negative impact on the rest of your day.
Without breakfast, tasks can feel much harder to complete than they usually would. Studies suggest that skipping breakfast can affect your mental performance, attention, concentration levels and memory. If you’re not an early bird, why not try meal prepping breakfast? Things like overnight oats and egg muffins are great grab-and-go options!
Good vibes
No matter how prepared we are, leaving too long between meals can sometimes fall outside of our control, and that’s when we become hangry. It’s not a nice feeling for ourselves, and it can be a bit scary for the people in close proximity to us! Missing meals, particularly breakfast, can lead to irritability, tiredness, and brain fog. Research has found that eating breakfast can lead to a more positive, happy mood and increase alertness. So, by prioritising breakfast, you’re technically doing those around you a favour too!
Free brekky?
Current students at Teesside University can get a free breakfast courtesy of Teesside University’s Students’ Union on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays during term time. The intention of the programme is to provide cereal and fruit options to fuel students for a busy day ahead – whether it be lectures, seminars, or even assessments.
If you’re a current student thinking about accessing this service, head to the Love It Lounge on the first floor of the Students’ Union on TU’s Middlesbrough campus and remember to bring your student ID card along with you as it’ll need to be scanned. You can stay informed about TUSU’s Breakfast Club here.
So, what do you think – is breakfast really that important? If you’re someone who often skips breakfast, why not challenge yourself to make time for it for one whole week? It doesn’t need to be anything fancy, but you might end up thanking yourself for it once you notice the benefits!
