Breakfast is frequently an afterthought when we are rushing to get out the door in the morning. We are often reminded of the importance of eating a healthy breakfast, but does it affect our overall diet? A recent study, conducted by the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics, compared the daily food choices of participants on days they ate breakfast versus days they skipped breakfast.
Individual, free-living, adult participants, aged 20 years or older, were surveyed twice by 24-hour dietary recall as part of the NHANES annual survey. The NHANES survey is designed to represent the national characteristics of the US population. The first recall was conducted in person, the second by telephone. The data of more than 2,000 participants qualified for an evaluation of variation in food selection, both quantity and quality.
Participants typically ate a larger lunch when they skipped breakfast, but when total energy intake was adjusted for, both men and women consumed significantly less total fruit and whole grains on the days they skipped breakfast compared to the days they ate breakfast. For women, more added sugar was also included on days when breakfast was not consumed. This may suggest craving added sugars later on, after not having eaten in the morning. Consistent with this idea, it was shown that more snacks were eaten overall on non-breakfast days.
Bottom Line: Breakfast skippers may have a more difficult time getting fruits and whole grain servings into their diets, and may also crave more added sugars and snack foods. Try to choose a breakfast with a whole grain, a fruit and a protein to keep you satisfied and focused until lunch!
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