How to eat a slimming breakfast.

I was watching television yesterday, and saw advert after advert for ‘slimming’ breakfast foods with pictures of slender, healthy people eating them with enjoyment. Did they get thin and fit using these products? I doubt it. Like everything commercial, there needs to be a hook. For example, in the 20's and 30's there were dieticians who advocated sugar as a slimming aid. Nuts, right? But we were predisposed to believe the men in white coats - that's why so many advertisements used to feature actors with a professional mien.

We, as consumers, are a lot more savvy now, and require a little more persuasion than a stethoscope and perfectly brushed hair. So we watch the slim, tanned and beautiful and buy into the idea that this or that product will make us slim, tanned and beautiful too. Because we think we can actually SEE the results. Just like we used to BELIEVE the actor when he read the lines. We can't help it; we all want to be thin and healthy or why are we watching the ads and contemplating buying the products. But it doesn't work. So what SHOULD you eat to lose weight without buying into the Big Company spiel?

Just remember these rules!

GOLDEN RULE 1 – If you’re hungry, you’ll eat the wrong things.

If you NEED to eat, you’ll probably make poor food choices, so the golden rule is that you need to eat regularly, and it should be something which is filling and will stabilise your blood sugar level. If you allow your blood sugar level to fluctuate through the day you'll end up craving sweet things for energy, so FILLING and REGULAR - starting with breakfast.

GOLDEN RULE 2 – Breakfast is the most important meal of the day

If you eat well in the mornings, your sugar levels and hormone balance will be good throughout the whole day. This means you’re far more likely to have natural circadian rhythms and a lower overall body fat level. For example: 2 slices of dark rye Ryvita with organic full fat Humus on (just enough to make the ryvita edible) One tablespoon of Organic coconut oil (full of good fats) A pot of Natural Organic Greek yogurt with half a dozen organic blueberries on (for taste and some electrolytes) 1 litre of filtered water to drink.

GOLDEN RULE 3 – Your breakfast should contain Fibre

Fibre is wonderful! It helps your gut to process and move food through it (think a natural enema and you’re getting the right idea). Ryvita is a great source of natural fibre (and made from Rye so it doesn’t affect those with wheat allergies too badly.) Fibre will help you to feel full and to control your blood sugar levels so you don’t crave sweet foods.

GOLDEN RULE 4 – Eat some fat

Yes! Sacrilege, you should eat some fat. Why should you eat fat? It allows the energy to be very slowly released into your body (and have a really low Glycemic Index.) this means you don’t get an elevated sugar level in your bloodstream which is what REALLY Causes people to gain weight.

GOLDEN RULE 5 – Eat some protein

A lot of people don’t realise that protein can be used just fine in the body for energy (like carbohydrates and fats) and it’s fantastic for controlling your blood sugar levels (just like fats) so you won’t feel lethargic later on in the morning when your blood sugar levels crash, causing you to crave sweet foods and coffee to boost your energy levels again.

There are lots of different diet plans and ideas you’ll see on the web, and the breakfast I've suggested in GOLDEN RULE 2 works GREAT with clients and I’ve seen positive results from it myself.

So, to recap: Eat SMART Eat REGULARLY Be WELL!