Hit snooze, leap out of bed, rush to the bathroom, dress and hurry to the car to greet morning traffic. Does this sound like a typical morning for you? Well, bypassing the kitchen may be hazardous to your health.
"Skipping breakfast, along with any meal, will shortchange your body, brain and attitude," said Samantha Schwenke and Kristin Finamore, U of M student health services nutrition educators. "People who skip breakfast tend to feel run down, fall asleep in class, have problems focusing and do not feel energized."
Gavin Ward, senior psychology major, said he does not feel more energized, but eating breakfast helps his mood.
"I'm not really a morning person," said Ward. "Eating breakfast helps me not be quite so grumpy."
Missing breakfast can follow you into lunchtime and may cause you to overeat to compensate for the missed meal.
"I hate being extremely hungry when it gets to be lunch time," said Ward. "I tend to overindulge when that happens."
Schwenke said skipping meals could slow down your metabolism and cause you to overeat at other meals during the day. This could eventually lead to obesity.
Some people cannot find the time to eat breakfast in the mornings, but there are options for full- and part-time students.
Students who are on campus in the mornings can take advantage of the Tiger Dining Services, which serves breakfast beginning at 7 a.m. They serve breakfast foods in the R. T. Café located on the first floor of Richardson Towers.
When part-time student Lakeishia Gray took a full-time class load, she enjoyed the breakfast special at the Tiger Den.
"I would usually have toast, grits, eggs and bacon," said Gray. "I have more energy and I am in a better mood when I eat breakfast."
If your day doesn't begin that early, there are various restaurants located in the Tiger Den, 2nd floor of the UC, and snack bars located on campus.
"Breakfast does not necessarily need to be breakfast foods either," Schwenke said. "Hot and cold cereals, yogurts, fruit, bagels, toast, eggs, oatmeal or cereal bars are good choices."
Pre-packing snacks in a backpack or in your car can help you eat and save time.
"It is imperative for students to prioritize eating into their schedules," said Schwenke. "Always carry snacks around in your backpack to ensure that you are never caught without breakfast or a snack later in the day."
