This is Your Breakfast Era

You heard it here first: Stop. Skipping. Breakfast. Time to rise and shine the *right* way.

- By Poppy Price

In an ideal world, we’d all have a well-balanced breakfast. But in reality, one in five teens passes on the bacon and eggs on a regular basis. No big deal, you say? Not so fast: Science shows that not noshing ’til noon can negatively affect everything from test scores to mile times. So let’s make this the year you tap into all of the bennies of breakfast. We’ve got all the expert advice you need to maximize your morning meal.

{ YOUR EXCUSE } I’M NOT HUNGRY IN THE MORNING

Just not feeling food first thing? It might be because you’re stuck in a cycle of eating too late in the day. Research shows skipping breakfast throws off your timing for the rest of your meals. This causes you to keep snacking well into the night...leading to you still feeling full when you wake up, says Dr. Dyan Hes, medical director of Gramercy Pediatrics in New York City.

The best way to break out of the “no breakfast” club? Sip a smoothie in the a.m.: Before bed, add frozen berries and pineapple to a container and stash in the freezer. When you wake up, all you have to do is add some coconut milk and protein powder, then hit blend before you bolt for the bus.

{ YOUR EXCUSE } THERE’S NO TIME—I’VE GOT A TEST FIRST PERIOD

We get it: When you’ve got a history quiz to prep for, breakfast can plummet on your priority list. But research has shown that students who ate breakfast outperformed their peers who didn’t eat before an exam, says Dr. Hes.