3 Simple Rules for Feeling Full After Breakfast

on February 14, 2012 at 4:00 PM

hungry after breakfast We all are very clued in that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, yes? Yes. I love me some breakfast as well, but I can't help but notice it disappoints my actual body several times a week. Generally within an hour or two after eating, I'm starving. Like stomach rumbling, crazy cravings starving. In fact, I'm starving right now.

However, on the weekends when I have the opportunity to make an omelet or have a heartier breakfast, I'm good until mid-afternoon. The obvious answer here is that I need to eat more in the morning. The challenge, however, is how to do this when you're busy and ready to run out the door for school drop-off, then back to work, then the million other things you do during a day.

I know I'm not alone, because Google tells me so. After scouring the Internets, I found three ways to stop my crazy morning hunger pains and stay satiated. Hooray! Try this at home.

1. Kick Cereal to the Curb

I know it's easy, tasty, and a no-brainer. But unless you're eating something hot and hearty, like oatmeal, these empty carbs will leave you hanging in short order. Yes, even if you add fruit on top.

2. Drink Lots of Water

I drink lots of water starting around noon. I'm all coffee, all morning. But apparently I'm messing with my stomach by avoiding the a.m. water. This should help.

3. Add Protein

The omelet thing should have been a major tip-off that my body (and yours) needs protein to stabilize itself. This also reminds me of how much I loved eating a ham and cheese sandwich every morning for breakfast when I was traveling through the Netherlands. You can also try breakfast for lunch, with high protein and low carb options.

All right, I'm busting out the almond butter and gluten-free crackers right now. We'll see if I can't start my day off a little better from now on.

Do you get hungry right after eating breakfast?

Image via Nina Matthews Photography/Flickr

About the author April Peveteaux

writes about anything that gets stuck in her craw. A mom of two in Los Angeles, she can't believe she practically lives in the country now after attempting to raise kids in Brooklyn.

Filed Under: breakfast, food, healthy choices

Comments (4)

PonyChaser

on Feb 14, 2012 at 10:46 PM

Hard-boil some eggs, peel them, and keep them in the fridge for a quick grab-and-go. If you have time on the weekend, mix up a bunch of breakfast burritos... scrambled eggs, bacon/ham/turkey sausage, maybe some peppers, and fat-free cheese. Roll in whole wheat tortillas, wrap and freeze. They'll keep for a long time in the freezer, so do a bunch. Zap in the micro each morning. Also quick and filling. Oh, and if you're worried about cholesterol, mix your burrito eggs half-and-half or more with the boxed egg whites (the real whites, not that fake yellow stuff). You'll never know the difference.

I gave up the cereal habit about six months ago, and I've never looked back.

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Nonmember comment from AI

on Feb 15, 2012 at 7:11 AM

The reason people get hungry a couple of hours after eating a small-ish breakfast is because we are generally supposed to eat 5-6 times a day (not just 3). And I'm not talking 5/6 "full" meals. General pattern: breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack (optional). Smaller, more frequent meals digest easier and let you avoid that starving feeling in the late morning/early afternoon. It's not that hard. I don't have a set work schedule, generally it's 4-5 eight hour days a week at different times a day, and I can maintain this though I tend to eat bigger meals in my days off. A snack for me is usually 1-2 pieces of fruit and/or granola bar, maybe a cheese stick. My meals tend to be smaller (400-600 cal), but I never feel overwhelmingly hungry except before breakfast (usually on days I skip the post-dinner snack). And you're right on the importance of water. My advice: buy a reusable water bottle, skip the coffee, and have an apple (or two) instead.

mjimaging

on Feb 25, 2012 at 11:03 AM

I agree with AI. I have started drinking a fruit smoothie in the morning and it does a pretty good job. I drink water throughout the day and have a stainless steal water bottle. I eat a really early lunch at work so that first snack wouldn't be necessary but an afternoon snack for sure. Good suggestions.