Page 68 - Girl's Life (August - September 2019)

Breakfast of

In an ideal world, we’d all make time got a chem quiz to prep for. But research THINKING OF SKIP-
for a well-balanced breakfast. But in has shown that students who ate breakfast PING BREAKFAST?
reality, nearly 30 percent of teens out-performed their peers who didn’t eat
pass on the bacon and eggs on a regu- before an exam, says Dr. Hes. THINK AGAIN! WE’RE
Breakfast has brain-boosting benefits,
lar basis. No big deal, you say? Not so especially when packed full of the right BREAKING DOWN
fast: Science shows that not nosh- stuff. Think: Omega-3 fatty acids found in YOUR BIGGEST
ing ’til noon can negatively affect walnuts, flax and salmon. Get smart about BREAKFAST EXCUSES
everything from test scores to mile prep by whipping up a batch of overnight
times. Read on for all of the bennies oats with walnuts and blueberries in the SO YOU CAN RISE
of breakfast—plus expert advice on evening (spy the recipe on p. 75). Or slather AND SHINE THE
making over your morning meal. a bagel with cream cheese and top with *RIGHT* WAY.
smoked salmon. Need to do a little last-min-
ute cramming while you chow? Stock up on

{ YOUR EXCUSE } quick and portable foods like string cheese, BY JESSICA D’ARGENIO WALLER, CNS
yogurt tubes, packs of trail mix or protein
❝ I’M NOT HUNGRY bars (we love RXbars). A banana or an apple
IN THE MORNING
❞
also will do the trick.
Just not feeling food first thing? It might
be because you’re stuck in a cycle of eating
too late in the day. Research shows skipping { YOUR EXCUSE }
breakfast throws off your timing for the ❝ BREAKFAST FOODS
rest of your meals. This causes you to keep BORE ME ❞
snacking well into the night...leading to you It’s 7 a.m. and you’re staring down wheat
still feeling full when you wake up, says Dr. toast for the millionth time this month
Dyan Hes, medical director of Gramercy while feeling…uninspired. What to do? Get
Pediatrics in New York City and a director of creative. “Breakfast doesn’t have to consist
the American Board of Obesity Medicine. only of things like cereals, muffins and
Try to curb your midnight munchies and sugary juices,” says nutrition specialist
instead prep a smoothie base for the next Dr. Nicole Beurkens.
morning: Add frozen berries and pineapple Broaden your breakfast horizons by
to a container and stash in the freezer. making a quick PB&J; noshing on a plate of
When you wake up, all you have to do is add cheese, crackers and dried fruit; topping an
some coconut milk and protein powder and everything bagel with turkey, tomato and let-
hit blend before you bolt for the bus. tuce or even reheating dinner leftovers (cold
pizza is a classic, but think brown rice and

{ YOUR EXCUSE } broccoli, too). Branching out on ways to start
the day will open up a world of possibilities
❝ THERE’S NO TIME—I’VE you never considered before—and might even
GOT A TEST FIRST PERIOD ❞ allow you to pack more nutrients into your
We get it: You’re busy, overtired and not usual morning meal. MASKOT/GETTY IMAGES
focused on food, especially when you’ve Continued on page 75

64 GL AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2019