Thursday, April 2, 2015

B is for Breakfast


They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I don't know who "they" are but I've learned that they're right!

I'm a foodie, so for me, every meal is an important one. The only problem with breakfast is that it happens in the morning! For years, I'd skip eating in the morning or try to get by with scarfing a banana as I drove to work,  because I "didn't have time to eat." Eventually, I realized my body was telling me that I need to eat at the start of my day. If I go too long without eating, I'll usually get a headache, my mind becomes foggy, I become irritable and eventually get to a point where I can't function. When this happens by 10am, it doesn't sit well with co-workers and makes for a loooong day!

For the majority of my life, I wasn't a "breakfast person." I'm not a huge fan of many of the dishes traditionally served for breakfast. Thanks to a couple traumatizing experiences of being forced to eat eggs when I was a kid, including one particularly memorable time of vomiting the forced eggs back onto my plate, I didn't eat eggs that weren't hard boiled until I was in my 20's. Even now, I'm very picky about eating eggs. I'll only eat scrambled eggs if I've made them myself, otherwise I just can't get them down. At a restaurant, I'll occasionally order eggs over easy (if they come with the meal I'm ordering) but I've been known not to eat them if they "don't look right" when they arrive at my table. I don't like French Toast, it's always too soggy and wet bread grosses me out. Until the past couple of years, I'd never liked pancakes much either but then I discovered crepes and realized that not all pancakes have to be the diameter of a dinner plate! However, I will admit I'm a huge fan of breakfast meats and fried potatoes so I can usually find something to eat on a breakfast menu!



In the five years that I've been with my significant other, I've reaped the benefits of the fact that he likes to cook breakfast! I've discovered breakfast items that I enjoy, like the previously mentioned crepes ( I love crepes,) scotch eggs, biscuits with gravy and of course I've always liked waffles. I've also noticed that like most other meals (but even more so, in my opinion) breakfast foods are much better when they are homemade and catered to our particular tastes. Instead of syrup, I put Greek yogurt and fresh fruit on my pancakes and waffles, for example. 

Not only does breakfast provide me with the sustenance needed to start my day and use my brain, it also forces me to be still for a few minutes. On work days, stopping to prepare and eat something helps me focus and sit down at the start of my day. On weekends, time in the kitchen preparing breakfast with my other half has become a fun, bonding experience for us. Sitting down to eat our meals together gives us more quality time and a chance to chat. 

I now realize that all the mornings I skipped breakfast over the years I was missing out on an opportunity for quality time with my loved ones and delicious food. I can't get that time back but I've learned from it and try to make the most of each morning I have now! 



8 comments:

  1. Thanks friend! I like that you can relate to this. Thanks for commenting & sharing! xoxo

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  2. My daughter is a bit like you... is very picky about eggs - can't stand a skeric of uncooked white and is a bit wary of runny yolk too. Me... love runny yolks but blergh to runny white. I love most breakfast foods... and love it cooked by others so very different to you there (although I do love yoghurt on waffles and pancakes) Thanks for stopping by my blog. Be sure to come back on E day... you get a mention and some special photos :) Ozzypipquilts.blogspot.com.au

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  3. Visiting from A/Z. I have always been a breakfast eater, LOL, but my son and hubby don't like to eat first thing in the morning, they've grown used to it and realize the importance of it. I find if I don't have protein for breakfast I end up being more hungry for the rest of the day. I added myself as a follower on your blog; saw you live in Bozeman; I lived in Billings for eight years (1998 to 2006) best (but coldest) days of my life :)
    betty

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  4. oops, I was going to leave the link to be blog; forgot to (just in case you wanted to visit)
    http://viewsfrombenches.blogspot.com/

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  5. I think of hard boiled eggs as their own creation, they don't bother me at all. I definitely include corned beef hash when I say I love breakfast meats! Thanks for your comment!

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  6. I can handle runny yolk but only if the rest is cooked all the way! My boyfriend likes poached eggs and I can barely look at him while he's eating them! Thanks for stopping by, I'll be sure to check your blog again!

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  7. I prefer eating breakfast foods for dinner, and "non-breakfast" foods for breakfast. I don't know why that is, but I've pretty much always been that way. I think it's important, like you said, to find out what works for you, not what you're "supposed" to do.

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  8. Friend, I tend to overeat breakfast (happily). So when I skip breakfast for long periods of time, I drop pounds. When I eat breakfast, I gain pounds. I know, it's all self inflicted. Oh, and after years of knowing you as a vegetarian, it's cool to see you post pics of bacon. Brings a small tear to my eye.

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