Whether you are busy at work, caught up in an important meeting, stuck in traffic or you are simply in no mood to eat, whatever the reasons are, they are insignificant when it comes to giving importance to your health.

So what happens when you skip meals or have odd meal times?

• It causes fatigue and weakness as available storage of energy and nutrients are used by the body to maintain bodily functions.
• Your metabolism drops and you burn fewer calories.
• Leaves you sluggish, tired and may even cause a headache.
• Leads to poor concentration and focus at work.

We are programmed for survival.

Basically, your body feels starved and you tend to overeat, even if you are otherwise strong willed. That is because our bodies are programmed for ‘survival’.  And we start to over-eat as if ‘food is scarce’.

And these kinds of circumstances make way for wrong choices of food like instant juices, sugar-loaded cold drinks or high-calorie foods like a packet of chips, biscuits or muffins. These foods give that sugar rush and instant energy needed to balance low sugars caused due to skipping meals.

Skipping meals to lose weight?

If you are ‘skipping meals to lose weight’, then you would be disappointed to know that your lost weight would bounce back once you get back to your regular food routine.  This weight loss is majorly from muscle mass and not the fat mass. This is the unhealthiest way of losing weight and your body replaces the lost muscle mass once you are back to your regular food routine. Talk to your health expert to lose weight the right way.

Have a healthy eating routine

Did you know that your blood sugar levels drop by 10% when you are hungry? That is because; most of the food that we eat is converted to sugar (glucose) to enter the bloodstream and give energy to all the cells in the body. When cells have drained enough sugar from the bloodstream, we feel the need to eat more food.

It is interesting to know that the kind of food you will eat becomes the deciding factor of how fast you will get hungry. For example, drinking a glass of fruit juice or soft drink will keep you satiated for about 30-40 minutes. Whereas eating a full meal consisting of roti, rice, vegetables, sambar and curd can keep you satiated for 4-5 hours.

 ‘Satiety’ of food is an estimate of how long a particular food can keep our stomach full.

Have you noticed your energy levels after eating a good healthy meal or a snack?  Aren’t they soaring? We need to eat every 4-6 hours to feel our best! And you would be surprised to know that, no food can keep us satiated for more than 4 hours while we are awake. Just like how ‘Breakfast in a Bottle’ is a complete meal that can keep you full for 3-4 hours.

Prepare for your Hunger

• Eat every 4-6 hours to prevent hunger pangs.
• Choose your snacks and meals wisely to get balanced nutrition.  Talk to your nutritionist if you need help in getting it right.
• Try to carry healthy food with you that can be had while you are in the car or while you are busy at your desk. ‘Breakfast in a Bottle’ is perfect for such instances since it is nutritionally well-balanced and easy to carry.
• Drink enough water to stay hydrated because your brain perceives thirst and hunger in a similar way. 

To create a healthy work-life balance, you need to eat right and eat healthy. So prioritize your health and get your mornings sorted with ‘Breakfast in a Bottle.’