Do you feel overwhelmed or stressed out at the very beginning of your day? Skipping breakfast - or making coffee your 'breakfast' - can be part of the problem. Here's why:

1. Your brain is really picky when it comes to its preferred energy supply. If you skip breakfast, your brain won't be able to function at an optimal level, which means you'll be cranky and irritable. Slow-digesting carbohydrates such as oatmeal, whole grain cereal, or whole wheat toast combined with protein (eggs, peanut butter, salmon) give your brain the nutrients it craves to function smoothly.
2. Caffeine may make you think you're getting an energy boost, but caffeine itself can't give you energy. It's fine to enjoy a cup of coffee, but only with a healthy, balanced breakfast that truly provides the energy boost you need to deal with stress. Cafffeine on its own, without food in your system, can actually make you feel more jittery and anxious.
3. Serotonin levels are the key to feeling great, and food influences serotonin levels. Elaine Magee, MPH, RD, says that there are three types of foods you can eat at breakfast to boost serotonin: protein foods (like turkey or eggs) that contain tryptophan which increases serotonin levels, whole grain carbohydrate foods high in fiber directly influence serotonin, and folate (in orange juice, tofu, or papaya) helps keep serotonin levels high.

Start your day tomorrow with a balanced breakfast and let me know how much better and full of energy you feel.