Is Breakfast Really the Most Important Meal of the Day?

You Should Know: Breakfast has recently developed a bit of a reputation problem. For years, we were told it was the most important meal of the day, but now more and more people are skipping it in the name of better health. To get to the bottom of this, a recent narrative review looked at what breakfast actually does for exercise and overall fitness, and the results are pretty level-headed.

Going Deeper: According to the review by researchers from the University of South Alabama, breakfast helps most when you’re exercising for more than an hour, especially in the morning. When it comes to strength training, specifically, lifting without breakfast might cost you a few reps early on, but it does not seem to affect long-term progress as long as your protein and calories are on track. Where breakfast makes a real difference is in overall caloric intake, because people tend to eat fewer calories overall when they skip breakfast. 

Takeaway: If breakfast helps you feel fueled and ready to train, then keep eating it (this is our go-to). But it’s absolutely ok to skip it, too.

Bottom Line: Breakfast is optional. What matters most is how you feel and how well your overall eating pattern supports your goals.