Beef Up Breakfast

Think of it this way: if you eat right in the morning, you could be motivated to eat healthier for the rest of the day.

A study at Virginia Commonwealth University shows that the “big breakfast” diet is the way to do just that. In fact, eating a 600-calorie breakfast balanced in carbohydrates and protein proved to help dieters shed more weight in the long run than those who were eliminating carbs and calories. That’s because, scientists say, it helps people fell fuller, and less hungry come lunch and dinnertime.

In the study, one group of 46 women ate a low-carb (in this case, bread-free), low-calorie breakfast and an average of 1,085 calories a day. The other group of 48 women ate a balanced breakfast of about 610 calories, averaging approximately 1,240 calories a day. Both groups stayed on the weight-loss plan for four months, and then ate to maintain their new weight for an additional eight months.

But after the first four months of maintenance, the modest breakfast group had lost an average of 28 pounds, while the big breakfasters had shed only about 23 pounds.

Um, so why should you eat a big breakfast? Here’s why: at the second four-month mark, the women who had learned to eat a large breakfast continued to lose another 16.5 pounds on average, and while the low-carb eaters each regained about 18 pounds.

This doesn't mean to overload your morning meal with just anything. Health experts advise that the most important things to include are protein, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

We’re curious: What’s your breakfast prescription for weight loss? [WebMD]