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Meals to Fight Cancer: Breakfast

January 27, 2008 By Julie Lanford MPH, RD, CSO, LDN

Get Your Day Started Right!

You have all heard it before. I’m sure Kellogg’s started it. But really, the most important meal of the day? Let’s not discriminate; I think ALL meals are important. No one meal is more important than any other. They’re just, how should I say it …  ‘different’.

Yes, I’m talking about breakfast!

The first meal of your day can be a starting point for getting in cancer ‘phyters’ (phytochemicals). Breakfast is also important in maintaining a healthy weight, which is imperative for healthy survivorship and in decreasing your risk for cancer. Research shows that people who are successful at maintaining their weight eat breakfast every day.

Breakfast is the meal that tells your body the day has started. When you go to bed at night, your body’s metabolism slows down. However, your metabolism won’t speed back up again until you have that first meal.

What is a Healthy Breakfast?

If you’re one that doesn’t like breakfast, you’re not alone. It
should be a relief to know that you don’t have to only eat breakfast
food in the morning. Think outside the cereal box. Who said you can’t
have a sandwich or soup? Or leftovers? Don’t tell me you’ve never had
pizza for breakfast!

A healthy breakfast should consist of 3-4 different food groups.
Since most people don’t like vegetables at breakfast, fruit is a must!
I prefer that people eat their fruit rather than drink it, but 3/4 cup
of 100% fruit juice can be a good back up plan when you’re in a hurry.

Some examples for breakfast might be:

  • 1 cup cereal with low-fat milk and 1/2 grapefruit
  • Low fat granola with berries and yogurt
  • 1 egg, whole wheat English muffin and strawberries
  • Fruit smoothie (frozen fruit, milk, yogurt and a splash of juice)

When I’m in a hurry, here are some things I grab to eat on my way:

  • Kashi granola bar and banana
  • Crackers, 1 oz. low-fat cheese and a 100% juice box
  • Apple and peanut butter
  • String cheese and a banana

Plus, I’m NEVER without my hot tea in the morning (thanks to my husband)!

The best time to have breakfast is within 1 hour of waking up. It’s OK (in fact normal) if you get hungry a few hours after eating breakfast. That just means it’s time for a snack!

In the US, we tend to get stuck in a rut for breakfast. All we can
think of is cereal, toast, oatmeal, eggs and McDonald’s. A lot of the cereal bars on the shelf
really ought to be in the candy section! The worst thing to do,though, is to NOT eat breakfast at all.

Good Morning to you!

– Julie







Cancer Fighting Lunches: Brown Bag Recipes
Healthy Snacks: Getting Nutrients Between Meals

Filed Under: Meal Planning

This post may contain affiliate links for products I recommend. This means if you click on a link and purchase a product, Cancer Services, Inc. will receive a small percentage of the sale at no extra cost to you. We use these proceeds to support cancer patient direct services and community education in the Triad area of North Carolina. For more information, view our disclosure policy.

Comments

  1. Jes says

    January 28, 2008 at 7:38 am

    One way to incorporated veggies in to breakfast is to make an omelet (or scrambled eggs) and throw in some spinach and salsa! Yum 🙂

  2. Jack says

    January 28, 2008 at 11:27 am

    What about one of those handy whole wheat muffins with egg cooked in the microwave in a mug with some cheese on it and a smoothie. Does this cover things well enough? (My sister taught me the “easy” mcmuffin way a couple years back, I think you may know her). Does that cover things sufficiently per recommendations or is there something I’m missing?

    Currently I skip breakfast altogether (which is apparently a no-no and was bad during ultimate) so it’d be better than nothing, but I figure if I’m trying to get going I ought to try to start out right.

  3. Julie says

    January 29, 2008 at 4:59 pm

    I think I do know your sister! Anyway, a 100% whole wheat English muffin with 1 egg (cooked in a pan, or in the microwave) with some low fat cheese is a great breakfast. Add a fruit on the side and you’re set. In fact, I had that for breakfast 2 days ago. Plus I added tomato and arugula to the sandwhich.

    I like your attitude about starting out right!

    Thanks for the comment:)
    – Julie

    • david says

      January 25, 2019 at 6:14 am

      what sort of tea do you drink and what do you sweeten your tea with, please?

  4. Mariella Wynacht says

    October 10, 2017 at 9:10 pm

    I had breast cancer and a double mastectomy.
    Now I only eat fresh fruit salad and top it with yogurt, every morning.
    I don’t get tired of fruit for breakfast. Fruit is absorbed best on an empty stomach.

    • Lyn says

      January 17, 2018 at 5:07 am

      Hi mariella what stuff do you eat for lunch , snack time , and dinner ? Your reply will be highly appreciated

  5. Ruthie Grady says

    August 27, 2018 at 7:49 am

    What kind of yogurt and fruit salad.

  6. Gail says

    September 6, 2018 at 9:06 am

    I was told dairy was bad for cancer? How true is that

  7. heather says

    November 19, 2018 at 12:28 pm

    I am shocked that this is what is recommended for anyone to eat, let along a cancer patient. Low fat milk, low fat yogurt, English muffins, string cheese, Juice boxes??? That stuff will kill you. There are far better ways to eat and if you are a cancer patient, DO NOT LISTEN TO THESE suggestions. Do some research and look into eating non-processed, low sugar foods and if you do eat dairy, eat it raw from a trusted source or preferably no cow dairy at all – go with homemade almond milk. Do not eat processed breads – eat starchy vegetables – sweet potatoes, beets, carrots, etc. Dr. Mark Hyman, Dr. Terry Wahls, Dr. Perlmutter all have much better suggestions when it comes to feeding cancer patients.

    • Julie Lanford MPH, RD, CSO, LDN says

      December 13, 2018 at 5:07 pm

      Please provide citations with your claims. Citations from peer reviewed journals. Do not drink raw milk if you are immune compromised. That is VERY BAD advice.

    • Naturopathic Doctor Frank says

      February 12, 2019 at 6:32 am

      Raw milk is the best super food you can have. Non-raw milk is Pure TOXIC for cancer patients. Raw milk will get ruined under the sun/heat just like any other high protein food, no more , no less. No need for the extra scare. Cancer is an ugly business. Peer reviewed journals will never get you anywhere close to true health when it comes to cancer. On the contrary they aim to confuse and keep you in the dark of the true secrets of health and promote big pharma; Just like Mrs. Landford is doing. As she makes no effort to warn you of ALL the cancer toxic food being offered on this website. Healing cancer is what i do, using food to a great extent and i gotta tell you, im quite dissapointed with this site.
      Heather is spot on. Please do more intensive research.

    • Julie Lanford MPH, RD, CSO, LDN says

      March 6, 2019 at 11:46 am

      You are wrong on this one. Actually raw milk IS TOXIC because it could be contaminated with dangerous bacteria. The safety of raw milk depends upon the farmer keeping his cows free of mastitis, sanitizing the milking equipment and proper refrigeration. Raw milk from cows, sheep, and goats that has not been pasteurized to kill harmful bacteria can carry dangerous bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, Campylobacter, tuberculosis organisms and others that cause food borne illness, often called “food poisoning.” Cancer patients ABSOLUTELY need to be cautious to avoid infection because it can be deadly. Also – if you are going to make claims when commenting on my site and expect my readers to consider your comment anything more than just someone’s (wrong) opinion, you are going to need to cite some credible sources of information. And other naturopathic doctors or nutritionists without the required credentials are not going to cut it. I will continue to rely on research that is legitimate and peer-reviewed because I don’t believe that my opinion on it’s own is enough. It should be backed up with objective evidence, as yours should too.

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