There are no ifs and buts when it comes to having breakfast

Everyone knows that breakfast is considered “the most important meal of the day” for many good reasons. Breakfast kickstarts the metabolism, provides energy for the whole day and helps the body perform at its best, whether at work or play.

However, more and more people are skipping breakfast because of diet fads or just because they don't feel hungry first thing in the morning.

To correct misconceptions, at an event called Herbalife Nutrition's Wellness Tour, Senior Director of Worldwide Nutrition Education and Training Susan Bowerman talked about the benefits of a healthy breakfast and how to put healthy nutrition habits into practice in daily living.

Eating a balanced and nutritious breakfast every day is important at any age, and for any health goal.

Susan Bowerman, Herbalife Nutrition senior director of worldwide nutrition education and training

According to Bowerman, eating a balanced and nutritious breakfast daily is a habit that should be important at any age and for any health goal.

“The power from fueling yourself right in the morning dictates how your body will perform throughout the day. Proper diet management paired with a healthy breakfast plays an important role in maintaining good health,” she explained.

“The best way to get around that is to try to eat as soon as you can. You don't need to eat as soon as you get up in the morning, but if you can get something into your system within an hour or so, it's really the advisable thing to do. Even if it's something small, you can start to get the habit back.”

For those who say they simply don't feel hungry in the morning, Bowerman acknowledged, “Some people don't want to eat in the morning because they're working out, but remember, you need that fuel. So, if you're going into a morning workout with an empty gas tank, that could be a potential problem. That's why you must get some fuel in your system right away.”

Herbalife Nutrition conducted the 2021 Breakfast Habits Survey, which polled 6,000 respondents across 12 markets in the Asia Pacific, including the Philippines. Results showed that inconvenience is the top barrier preventing Filipino from eating healthier breakfasts. Forty-four percent shared healthier breakfast options are not readily accessible, while 33 percent said healthier breakfast options take too long to make.

The survey also revealed that some respondents are misinformed that eating breakfast only adds unwanted calories.

“Many times, when people skip breakfast, they end up making up for it by eating more during the rest of the day. Or, they make very poor food choices the rest of the day, and may be prone to choose food high in sugar and fat, making skipping breakfast no guarantee to weight loss,” Bowerman informed.

“In fact, a healthier breakfast does not necessarily take too long to make. There is a wide range of fuss-free breakfast options that are nutrient-dense yet are easy and quick to prepare.”

For instance, the Herbalife Nutrition Formula 1 Shake is easy to prepare and provides the nutrients required to start your day right — these are high-quality protein, calcium, fiber, and vitamins A, C and E.

There's also the Herbal Aloe Concentrate and Herbal Tea Concentrate, which can help soothe the digestive system and improve nutrient absorption while keeping the body hydrated and energized and the head mentally sharp.

“In Herbalife, our nutrition philosophy is simply balanced nutrition. Food that you eat throughout the day matter because it will dictate what your body will do for the rest of the day,” Bowerman underscored.

“When a healthy breakfast starts you off, it's important that you eat balanced meals and balanced snacks to stay healthy. Consuming a healthy breakfast can bring you many benefits in the long run. All you need is little time and commitment,” Bowerman concluded.