There are loads of foods branded as morning or breakfast foods — most grocery stores even have whole aisles of foods labeled exclusively for breakfast. Yet when it comes down to it, what does the time of day have to do with the kinds of foods we should be consuming, and when is it best to pick up some peanuts?
It is good to eat peanuts in the morning. Peanuts are packed with protein, have a dizzying array of vitamins and minerals, and have a low glycemic index. You can also prepare them in many ways, and they’re convenient to eat, so it is always good to eat some peanuts in the morning.
In this article, I’ll explore why time of day matters and what types of foods you should be eating when. More specifically, we’ll explore why peanuts make such a great morning food and why they should be part of your daily morning routine. I’ll also teach you what you should be looking for when choosing morning foods.
Why Does Time of Day Matter When Eating Certain Foods?
These days, we’re all very focused on what we’re eating and what we’re not eating that we sometimes pay less attention to when we’re eating.
According to Dr. Michael Roizen, Chief Wellness Officer of the Cleveland Clinic, knowing when to eat is just as important as what you’re eating.
In his book, What to Eat When he elaborates further, “Eating in tune with your circadian rhythms—a.k.a. your body’s inner clock that guides you to wake and sleep—automatically helps your health. You are getting fuel when you can use it and allowing your body to rest when it needs to.”
With this in mind, timing when you eat and managing what you eat can be vital in giving your body precisely what it needs when.
Time of day matters when eating certain foods because your body will need more or less fuel at certain times of the day. For example, it is always best to consume fats and proteins with plenty of vitamins and minerals in the morning when you need to fuel up for the day.
In fact, in a recent study, eating a large breakfast can contribute to long-term weight loss. This study adds that people should be eating anywhere from 30-60% of their calories in the morning, eating progressively less as the day continues.
How To Choose the Best Breakfast or Morning Foods
Now that we’ve established the ins and outs of how eating at specific times can matter as much as what food you’re eating, let’s talk about breakfast.
We’re all taught from an early age that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and that we shouldn’t skip it, yet many people do!
In a survey of American eating habits, the researchers discovered that nearly 25% or one-quarter of people skip breakfast. Just think about how many times you might have skipped breakfast in the past week, month, or even year.
The same survey of American eating habits also discovered that many people who eat in the morning only eat about 18% of their daily calories during that time.
When choosing more calorie-dense, highly nutritious foods, there are a few more factors to keep in mind.
Choose Foods With Low Glycemic Index
When you wake up in the morning, your body is trying to get ready to take on the day, and your body needs to fuel up after taking a short overnight fast during sleep.
Choosing foods low in the glycemic index will provide your body with fuel that lasts — instead of something that gets burned up quickly or stored as fat and leaves you hungry.
Research has also shown that eating foods with a low glycemic index can help protect you against type 2 diabetes and many other conditions such as heart disease and cancer.
Peanuts have a low glycemic index so they can help with your blood sugar through the day.
Now that you know about eating foods with a low glycemic index, what kinds of foods are we talking about? It’s simple! Most foods low in sugar and whole foods fall into that category. Think vegetables, legumes, and nuts such as peanuts.
Choose Foods With High Protein
Another category of foods to prioritize is foods high in protein. Foods high in protein provide your body with the building blocks it needs to repair and strengthen tissue and provide you with sustained energy. Some examples of foods that fall into this category are lean beef, chicken, eggs, and peanut products.
Peanuts contain anywhere from 20-30% of their total calories as protein and are considered one of the best plant-based protein sources for that reason.
Choose Foods With a Lot of Nutrients
Protein and low glycemic index are essential factors in choosing healthful morning food options. However, there’s one more piece to putting together the perfect breakfast food. Nutrients!
Vitamins and minerals are a vital part of a healthy diet, and while you can take supplements to fill in your daily dose, they’re nothing better than choosing food that naturally contains them.
Again, peanuts are a great source of all kinds of nutrients such as biotin, copper, niacin, folate, manganese, vitamin E, thiamine, phosphorus, and magnesium.
The Verdict: It Is Good To Eat Peanut in the Morning
After looking at all of the parts that make up excellent breakfast food, peanut products stand out as a strong contender as a healthy addition to any morning meal or snack. They are packed full of protein, have many vitamins and minerals, and come in low on the glycemic index.
Now that you know that peanuts are a great food to eat in the morning, how can you incorporate more of them into your diet? Peanuts are incredibly versatile, and you can add them to most foods as a topping, such as in yogurt or granola.
They can also be enjoyed as peanut butter on bread or added to other foods such as smoothies. You can also eat peanuts on their own.
Here are a couple of links to great breakfast recipes featuring the all-powerful peanut:
- Peanut Butter Comfort by Averie Sunshine (available on Amazon.com)
- 36 Ingenious Ways to Eat Peanut Butter for Breakfast
- 5 Creative Ways to Eat Peanut Butter for Breakfast
Conclusion
Peanuts are packed with protein, vitamins, and minerals, and they have a low glycaemic index, making them the perfect food for fueling up in the morning. Peanuts are a healthy and convenient ingredient that can help you ensure that your body stays full and energized all day long.
So, next time you’re cooking up some breakfast, toss a handful of peanuts or a tablespoon of peanut butter in! Your body will thank you later.
