Size Matters.

You might have heard the saying (or read it in an earlier post of mine) "Eat breakfast like a King, lunch like a Prince, and dinner like a pauper.", which refers to the size of the meals you consume throughout the day. What you may not have realised, however, is just how much sense that phrase holds, so read on to learn more...

Breakfast truly is the most important meal of the day, as you are 'breaking' your 'fast' from the night. What you eat when you wake up will set you up for the rest of the day, and have a big effect on your metabolism and energy levels. In this sense, protein and slow-release carbs are your best breakfast friends; they will keep you energy and blood sugar levels stable, and having a large breakfast will prevent you from snacking too much throughout the day, and craving sugary foods. A good breakfast would be something like scrambled egg whites on brown toast, and yoghurt with fruit. With that selection you're covering most of the food groups, and getting a balanced start to the day. Now, as you know by now I'm a Weetabix obsessive, and whilst cereals can be a good breakfast choice, try and stay away from high-sugar versions and think about things like muesli and granola too.

If there is a large gap between your breakfast and lunch (of more than 2hrs), it's a good idea to snack on something healthy to keep your blood sugar level stable and your metabolism fast. I tend to go for a banana, or if I have a coffee (soya, naturally) I count that as my mid-morning snack. A lot of people reach for cereal bars or granola bars - but beware. In their unaltered form, and by that I mean the plain granola and low-sugar cereal that you can get out of a packet, these are two perfectly healthy foods. However, by turning them into bars, many companies have decided that it's a good idea to add a heap of butter and sugar/syrup just so it tastes better (read 'sweeter'). While our sweet tooth may be appeased, our waistlines and health will not be, as these snacks can be highly calorific, so be cautious.

When it comes to lunchtime, a princely portion is in order. Consider a sandwich of grilled chicken breast, tomato, lettuce and avocado on wholewheat bread, with perhaps a yoghurt for afterwards. Many people end their meal with fruit, but fruit should always be eaten on an empty stomach, so think again! Eaten on top of a meal it begins to rot as fruit is the most easily/quickly absorbed foodstuffs, so you end up losing all the important nutrients it contains!

Once again it comes to snacktime, and in the afternoon I tend to have a Ryvita with peanut butter and banana, and a soya yoghurt. Ideally you will have had protein at lunch, which should keep you feeling full-ish, so a small snack is all you need. When dinner rolls around, try to avoid eating lots of carbs after 8pm, as your body is beginning to wind down, and it will find it harder to digest lots of carbohydrates. Try something like fish with vegetables, and if you're feeling a little cheeky, a bit of dark chocolate for after :) Dinner should be fairly light to help you sleep easier and to give your digestive system a bit of a rest!

Happy New Year and hope that helps :) xXx