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Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, right? We think so! Especially if you’re on a diet, it’s crucial to start your day off with a filling, healthy, and slimming breakfast. Eating breakfast gives you energy, jump starts your metabolism, and sets you up for having a more productive day–all very important aspects of a busy workday.
“Studies have found that although people who skip breakfast eat slightly fewer calories during the day, they tend to have higher body mass index, or BMI,” says Christy C. Tangney, Ph.D., a clinical dietitian at Rush University Medical Center.
BMI is the ratio of someone’s weight to height and is used to easily measure if someone is in a healthy weight range or not.
“A BMI of 25 or higher, for example, indicates that someone is overweight and needs to take action to come back to their ideal weight,” said Dr. Tangney.
If you’re trying to lose belly fat for a flat stomach, every meal counts–especially breakfast. Here are four quick and easy breakfast recipes you should make this week to help keep your fitness goals on track and slim down your belly fat fast.
1) Açaí Or Smoothie Bowls
Made with real fruit, Açaí and smoothie bowls can make for a nutrient-packed breakfast. Açaí berries are low in sugar and higher in antioxidants than other berries like cranberries, blueberries, and strawberries. Berries, in general, are full of fiber, calcium, and vitamin A. Fiber-packed foods keep you full longer, which helps keep you from over eating. Since this is your first meal of the day, that's super important in helping you achieve that flat stomach. However, when preparing your Açaí or smoothie bowl, make sure you're not adding in too much sugar. Keep your toppings healthy by including more fresh fruits, Greek yogurt, or peanut butter.
2) Apples With Almond Butter
Apples are rich in antioxidants and fiber, and only contain around 95 calories. Eating an apple day really does keep the doctor away because it lowers your risk of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease (diseases that are also often associated with a high amount of body fat). Almond butter is a great spread to top your apple with because it's a lower-fat alternative to peanut butter and it has 3 grams of protein. The fats in almond butter are monounsaturated fats (the good kind) which actually help you burn calories.
3) Avocado On Whole Grain Toast
Avocados are naturally full of nutrients! They have a lot of fat, but not the bad kind like transfats. They contain healthy monounsaturated fatty acids which help spike your metabolism, leading to weight loss. Avocados also have more potassium than bananas and are packed with almost 20 vitamins and minerals. The whole grain toast contains lots of fiber which helps prevent weight gain.
4) Oatmeal With Fruit & Almonds
Oatmeal is loaded with fiber which helps keep you full, curbing your hunger and it helps lower your cholesterol. High cholesterol has a direct corilation to obesity and stomach fat, and an increased risk of heart and vascular disease. One cup only contains about 150 calories and six grams of protein making it low-calorie, balanced breakfast.
Looking for more breakfast ideas? Check out the 4 anti-inflammatory foods you should eat for breakfast on SHEfinds.com.
