Copyright 2005 Ryan Cote

Did you know that how and when you eat is important for good health?

For most of your life, you probably have eaten breakfast, lunch and dinner. Now depending on your eating habits, this may be okay...but many people skip breakfast because they don't have the time, they have a semi-normal lunch and then a large dinner. Avoid this at all costs...

When you wake up, your body is screaming for food- it's been many hours since you last ate. By skipping breakfast, you're depriving your body of the nutrients it needs and forcing it to go into hibernation mode- this slows down your metabolism. Dinner should be your lightest meal of the day because your metabolism is slowest in the evening...yet for many people, it's their largest.

That being said...

The ideal eating schedule is to have a small, healthy meal every 2-3 hours (healthy sandwich, protein shake, peanut butter, fruit, healthy fats, whole grains, nuts etc). Your body isn't made for digesting huge portions of food. By eating small meals every 2-3 hours, you keep your metabolism at top speed and your digestive system healthy.

And it really isn't all that difficult. Go out and buy nutrition bars (but pay close attention to the ingredients- Kashi bars are great)...buy good fat like peanut butter and almonds...fruit like apples and berries...lean meats like chicken and turkey...whole grains breads- these are all foods you can bring to work with you. It's what I do every day so I know it's possible.

To sum things up, you need to change your habits so you're eating small, healthy meals every 2-3 hours. This will keep your metabolism at top speed, your digestive system healthy and your body in peak performance.

If this is completely impossible for you, then make sure your breakfast is your biggest and most nutritious meal of the day, lunch your second largest, and dinner your smallest. And don't forget to drink water!

Try this for a month or two...combine it with a good exercise plan and the right nutritional supplements and you'll be amazed at how great you feel.
Ryan Cote is the author of 4 Days to Better Health, a free 4 day e-course with additional advice on nutrition, exercise and nutritional supplements. To receive all 4 days, visit http://www.4DaysToBetterHealth.com