Sunday, October 21, 2007

McDonald's for Breakfast?

Fast Food Breakfast and Fat Loss

A study in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that individuals who eat breakfast are less likely to be overweight -- and more likely to exercise -- than non-breakfast eaters.

Seems that more of us are getting the message that Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for each Monday morning I am surprised by the line of cars that could literally wrap around the McDonald's resturant in my small town, twice. But should your breakfast be coming from a fast food chain?


As a busy mom breakfast should be the priority each and every morning but the quality of your choice should be just as important.

The food you start your day with will determine your:
appetite
mood
energy levels
ability to stay focused
ability to be productive
willingness to be active (workout)

An Egg McMuffin is one of the most popular breakfast choices - it's even recommended by Bob Greene on the website! He just suggests that you order it without cheese. Just 250 calories, that's good - right? Calorie-wise, sure....nutrient-wise, not so good. The sodium, trans fat, high fructose corn syrup and a ton of artifical ingredients hardly seems the best choice with which to start your day. (see a list of ingredients here:
http://app.mcdonalds.com/bagamcmeal?process=details).

And how many of us add to this breakfast order? Especially on a Monday, it is very tempting and easy to add on one of McDonald's gourmet coffees. You need energy, you need to wake up and get your day started. Well that choice adds at least an extra 200+ calories and a ton of sugar.

Are there better choices at McDonalds? Sure, but do you want to make this a daily habit? No - not if you are truly serious about getting your body back.

If you want to start your day off right, you cannot skip over that fact that it starts with you. It is possible to find an extra 10 minutes each morning to nourish your body with a smart breakfast. Hopefully most of you are taking the time to give your children a healthy breakfast - why not do it for yourself as well?

Tips to help you Streamline your Morning:

~ Get up on Time (stop hitting the snooze button!)
~ Prepare the night before
~ Get up 10 minutes early
~ Make it enjoyable

This all goes back to the fact that your mindset must match your intention. If you view the morning ritual as dreadfull, difficult and chaotic - guess what.... it WILL be. Make the decision to turn it around and find a system that works for you. Not only will you feel better and be more productive - you will actually see results!

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