From The Straits Times    |

Breakfast is meant to be the meal that gives you energy for the day and keeps you going straight through until lunch, but unfortunately this isn’t the case for everyone. Even after having food first thing in the morning, there are times when you start to feel hungry again just a couple of hours later. As a result of this your liveliness can drop, leaving you feeling sleepy as your tummy growls.

Eating again so soon after breakfast does no good for your waistline, so what can you do to prevent it?

Firstly, it could come down to the amount of calories you’re having. How many should be consumed during each meal time is constantly changing, but think about the importance of breakfast. Having just a banana or apple won’t fill you up and keep you going – you want something more substantial coming in at around 300 calories. It sounds like a lot, but if you’re eating the right things and exercise regularly, this won’t pile on any pounds. Rye bread or wholemeal are good options, accompanied by peanut butter or avocado, as they are full of good fats, protein and carbs to give you a boost and cater to your cravings.

Stephanie Clarke, RD, and Willow Jarosh, RD, of C&J Nutrition, stressed the importance of what you eat to Popsugar. They back up that including protein and carbs in your breakfast is beneficial, adding that around 13 to 20 grams of protein is suitable while 40 to 55 grams of carbs is ideal. On top of this, healthy fats – like butter or coconut oil – are also listed, with around 10 to 15 grams apt. Fibre makes the cut too, and six grams will help keep you full.

The reason you’re hungry might not even come down to food though – in fact, you might not even be hungry. If you had a bad night’s sleep and you’re tired in the morning, you’re more likely to feel inclined to eat, in the hope it will wake you up. There’s also mistaking thirst for hunger, and you may feel fuller after glugging down plenty of water. Or, the worst case scenario, you could be coming down with something. Stick to your normal eating routine and see how things pan out before jumping to conclusions. — Cover Media 

Trying to lose weight? Check out these 4 low calorie fruits to snack on when you are on a diet and 5 ‘healthy’ food that are actually bad for you.