The importance of breakfast for teen athletes

They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Well is it? I would argue that every meal is important and essential for your success in school and on the field. However, breakfast does have a special role to play for high school athletes.

Your first meal of the day is when you ‘break’ your ‘fast’ from a long night of sleep. Breakfast is your first opportunity to infuse nutrients into your body to help boost your energy for practice.

Breakfast challenges for athletes

It is tough to eat breakfast! I know you are busy!

It is tough waking up early for school and even harder if you have early practices. The snooze button is too easy to hit!

Making something in the morning takes too much time and even if they make breakfast, it is hard to sit and eat with limited time before school.

They just don’t like breakfast foods. I get that. Eggs aren’t everyone’s favorite breakfast food.

I work with high school athletes who share these or similar challenges with me all of the time. Even with those challenges, and many more I have heard over the years, breakfast is essential! Let’s create a plan to help you hit your goal of eating breakfast.

Athlete strategies for breakfast

Keep quick and handy options available. Oats, bagels, hard boiled eggs, yogurt, kefir, toast, peanut butter or sunflower butter, bananas, and English muffins are amazing quick options! You can choose any combination of these foods, and many others, to create a fueling meal. I personally love these freezer egg sandwiches!

If you are looking for more quick and easy recipes for high school athletes, you definitely want to check out my FREE Breakfast Recipe Pack download here!

Make breakfast the night before. Save yourself some time in the morning! Can you plan a few options for breakfast that you can prepare the night before?

Can you spread peanut butter and jelly on a bagel? Or, make a yogurt bowl?

Think outside of the box. Breakfast does not always have to be the same. It can be simple, traditional or non traditional

Simple options like a bagel with cream cheese or cereal and fruit.

Traditional options like eggs, waffles, pancakes, or toast.

Try non traditional breakfast options like a turkey sandwich or leftovers from dinner. Whatever you enjoy and keeps you fueled is a great choice!

This week I challenge you to think about your breakfast routine. What do you like? Can you add some fuel or variety? We all have to start somewhere. To learn more about building a strong breakfast, check out my “Let’s talk breakfast!” episode on the High School Athlete Nutrition Podcast.