Breakfast 101
THESE Q&A'S CAN HELP PREPARE YOU FOR
COMMONLY-ASKED QUESTIONS FROM YOUR CLIENTS
Q:
I don’t like breakfast foods. Can I eat other foods instead?
A:
Yes. There are many foods that can be a healthy option for breaking the fast. While cereal eaters tend to have better nutrition and healthier body weights than other breakfast eaters, there are still benefits from other breakfast choices.
Q:
I’m always running late in the mornings. How do I make time for breakfast?
A:
Get prepped! After dinner the night before, take a few minutes to set the table for tomorrow’s super-fast breakfast. Put out boxes of cereal, fresh fruit and other nonperishable items. Keep fat-free milk and yogurt and 100% fruit juice within easy reach in the fridge. Or, you can pack a breakfast and take it with you. Pack cereal or a cereal bar, a container of fat-free yogurt and a banana in a bag.
Q:
Does whole milk have more vitamins and minerals than low-fat or non-fat milk?
A:
Low-fat and non-fat milk have the same nutrition as whole milk with less fat and calories. While there are benefits for children under the age of two who drink whole milk, dietary guidelines recommend that children older than two and adults should make the switch to low-fat or non-fat milk.
Q:
Is fresh fruit more nutritious than frozen or canned fruit?
A:
Not necessarily; it depends on how long the fresh fruit has been picked and shipped. All fruits provide nutrition, and breakfast is a great chance to eat it.
Q:
Isn’t cereal a heavily processed food?
A:
There are many cereals you can choose from that are simply made. Similar to how you would make grain based foods at home, grains are cooked, allowed to dry, and either shredded, flattened into a flake, or puffed, before being toasted.
Q:
I just started eating breakfast again. Why do I get hungry so soon after eating breakfast? Be aware, a lot of people use the term “metabolism” without a good understanding of what slows it down (loss of muscle mass, skipping meals) and with a lot of myths about what speeds it up (specific foods, etc.). Be prepared to provide simple clear information on this topic.
A:
If you’ve skipped breakfast for a long time, your body has adjusted to not eating. When you start eating again, that mid-morning hunger is just your body adjusting to getting food earlier in the day. Choose a healthy snack like a fruit or vegetable to tide you over until lunch.
Q:
I feel queasy if I eat breakfast first thing in the morning. What can I do about this?
A:
It’s okay to wait an hour or two to eat breakfast. If you need to leave the house, pack a portable breakfast of a cereal snack mix and fruit to take with you.
Q:
I don’t like the taste of low-fat or non-fat milk. Do I really need to drink it?
A:
Dietary guidelines recommend that children older than two and adults should make the switch to low-fat or non-fat milk. Try making the switch at breakfast with cereal. The change in flavor is less noticeable when you are consuming milk with other foods.
Q:
Fruit is so expensive. How can I eat more of it when I can’t afford it?
A:
Look for lower prices on fresh fruit either at a grocery store or farmers’ market when it is in season. Keep track of sales on fruit using your local grocery store circular. Try using fruit canned in 100% juice or dried fruit which can provide good nutrition and be less expensive than fresh fruit depending on the time of year.
Q:
What kind of cereal should I eat or feed my kids?
A:
Any type of cereal can be enjoyed by you and your family. Research shows that cereal eaters tend to have healthier body weights and nutrient intake compared to people who skip breakfast or eat other foods for breakfast. This seems to be true whether the cereal is pre-sweetened or not.
