Breakfast is not the Most Important Meal of the Day

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I have heard all of my life, and likely so have you, that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. This notion has long been touted by parents and health experts alike.

But, hang on, a new analysis of research finds that, like other dietary advice, our belief in the magical power of breakfast is based on misinterpreted and biased studies.

Aaron E. Carroll, a professor of pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine argues that few scientifically sound studies have supported the idea of the necessity of breakfast and that much of the research backing the notion have been sponsored by you guessed it, the food manufacturers.

“Many of the studies are funded by the food industry, which has a clear bias. Kellogg (NYSE:K) funded a highly cited article that found that cereal for breakfast is associated with being thinner,” Professor Carroll notes.

“The Quaker Oats Center of Excellence, now a unit of PepsiCo (NYSE:PEP) financed a trial that showed that eating oatmeal or frosted cornflakes reduces weight and cholesterol if you eat it in a highly controlled setting each weekday for 4 weeks.”

The Big Q: What does this really mean?

The Big A: The bottom line is that the evidence for the importance of the early morning meal is something of a mess.

So, if you are hungry, eat a breakfast of Real Food (breakfast cereals are not Real Food). But, do not feel bad if you would rather skip it, and do not listen to those who would lecture you.