A bowl of oatmeal and a plate of scrambled eggs. Coffee with cream and sugar, orange juice and a glass of ice water.
Breakfast items — across the country, are listed on diner menus, stacked in cupboards and even sold gas stations. They are, according to the saying, the worms — or sought-after nutrients — of the morning.
But when some students scramble to attend 8:05 classes and require an efficient morning routine, they skip the cereal and head straight out the door.
Megan Culbreth, a sophomore in biochemistry, said she takes the time most days to eat three meals while at school.
“Everyone says it is [important], but I don’t necessarily think so,” she said. “When I’m at home I don’t eat that much.”
However, Culbreth said she doesn’t always make a point to eat breakfast during the school year. Her schedule, she said, dictates whether she has the time for that first meal.
One proposed benefit of eating breakfast include its ability to jump-start the metabolism after the body’s fast during sleep, Stephanie Sobol, the associate director of Health Promotion, said. Another reason,is that breakfast gives the body enough fuel and energy to last through the day and prevent overeating.
To emphasize the point, Sobol compared the human body to a car.
“You start your metabolism by eating breakfast,” Sobol said. “It’s just like revving an engine.”
The metabolism, Sobol said, slows during sleep — eating breakfast is similar to “putting a key in the ignition” to get it started. Breakfast, she said, signals the metabolism to burn calories and aids in calorie expenditure throughout the day.
One unhealthy habit students pick up to avoid weight gain is skipping breakfast in an effort to cut down on calories.
In actuality, Sobol said, eliminating breakfast causes the body to gear into starvation mode later in the day — an action that results in overeating and weight gain. Eating a 300-calorie breakfast can be the deciding factor in how much students eat throughout the day, Sobol said.
Although students may need to fuel their bodies more frequently upon adding breakfast to their diets, Sobol said, they will ultimately consume fewer calories.
Eating breakfast is vital to burning calories, Sobol said — people who do so burn 15 percent more calories than those who skip it.
In addition, Sobol pointed out studies conducted on grade-school children have shown that eating breakfast contributes to better concentration.
But while breakfast produces both physical and mental benefits, some students still find it difficult to incorporate breakfast into their daily routine.
For Russ Talley, a sophomore in engineering, the problem is time.
Talley said he realizes the importance of eating breakfast, but simply doesn’t want to sacrifice sleep.
And he said he doesn’t grab something on the go because his “bagels are moldy.”
But Russ is not alone in his lack of motivation to eat breakfast. According to Sobol, students give a myriad of excuses to explain why they don’t make breakfast part of their regular diet.
One of these claims, Sobol said, is that students skip breakfast because they are not hungry in the morning. However, she said this is often a ramification of consuming too many calories the previous day.
Sobol recommends eating at least an apple for breakfast in order to regulate the metabolism and break the cycle of overeating.
And for those who will do anything to sleep until the last minute, Sobol advises stocking up on portable options such as cereal bars, which will both save time and provide the body vital nutrients on the walk to class.
Fountain Dining Hall
Today’s specials
* Chicken Biscuit
* Country Ham
* French Toast
* Hash Browns
DAILY
* Assorted Breads & Muffins
* Assorted FruitsTrans — Fat free, “wolf approved”
* Bacon
* BagelsWolf Approved — Trans-fat free
* Belgian Waffle Bar w/ Fruit Toppings
* Biscuits w/ Sausage Gravy
* Cereal Bar — Trans-fat free
* Eggs To Order — Trans-fat free
* Granola w/ Fresh YogurtWolf Approved — Trans-fat free
* Grits — Trans-fat free
* OatmealWolf Approved — Trans-fat free
* Omelet Station
* Scrambled Eggs — Trans-fat free
Clark Dining Hall
Today’s specials
* Country Ham
* French Toast
* Hash Browns
DAILY
* Assorted Breads & Muffins
* Assorted Fruits — Trans-fat free, “wolf approved”
* Bacon
* Bagels — Trans-fat free, “wolf approved”
* Belgian Waffle Bar w/ Fruit Toppings
* Biscuits w/ Sausage Gravy
* Cereal Bar — Trans-fat free
* Eggs To Order — Trans-fat free
* Granola w/ Fresh Yogurt — Trans-fat free, “wolf approved”
* Grits — Trans-fat free
* Oatmeal — Trans-fat free, “wolf approved”
* Scrambled Eggs — Trans-fat free
Case Dining Hall
Today’s specials
* Sausage Patty
* Pancakes
* Boiled EggTrans Fat FreeWolf Approved
* Biscuit
DAILY
* Assorted Breads & Muffins
* Assorted Fruits — Trans-fat free, “wolf approved”
* Bacon
* Bagels — Trans-fat free, “wolf approved”
* Cereal Bar — Trans-fat free
* Eggs To Order — Trans-fat free
* Grits — Trans-fat free
* Omelet Station
* Scrambled Eggs — Trans-fat free
* Scrambled Eggs — Trans-fat free
* Waffles
* Yogurt
