National Survey Reveals Half Of Women Admit Skipping Breakfast Due To Time Crunch

MODESTO, Calif., Sept. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Whether it's feeling crunched for time or just not hungry, a nationwide survey[1] revealed 50 percent of women say they'll skip breakfast due to chaotic mornings, and more than a quarter admit to having no appetite in the a.m. hours.  In conjunction with Better Breakfast Month, nationally known registered dietitian Bonnie Taub-Dix has teamed up with California Almonds to encourage Americans to change their habits. Taub-Dix is sharing quick and easy ways to make nutritious morning meals and launching a photo challenge.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130905/LA74548)

"Ditching breakfast can affect your mood, weight and well-being," said Taub-Dix, author of "Read It Before You Eat It" (Plume, 2010). "Breakfast helps fill up our minds and bodies after we've gone without food for several hours while sleeping."

There are simple ways to incorporate a healthy, filling breakfast into the busiest of lives.  Of the women surveyed¹, 39 percent usually eat hot or cold cereal or a breakfast bar for the day's first meal, 22 percent opt for yogurt and/or fruit and 18 percent choose eggs.

Almonds are a great way to add crunch to your breakfast and just one ounce adds a boost of fiber (4g) and protein (6g). You can add almonds to yogurt, cereal and oatmeal, almond butter in smoothies and almond milk in your coffee for a delicious start to your day.

"Even if you're crunched for time, there are quick and simple ways to fit healthy breakfast into your morning routine," said Taub-Dix. "I love a bowl of 100% whole grain cereal sprinkled with almonds because it's easy, deliciously crunchy, and it's a good combination of carbs, protein and good fat. If I'm in more of a hurry, I'll have a piece of fruit along with some 100% whole grain bread with almond butter."

To celebrate the morning meal makeover, the Almond Board of California is running a Better Breakfast Challenge, tasking entrants to eat "a better breakfast" for at least one week during September for a chance to win a year's supply of almonds. To enter, visit AlmondBoard.com/BetterBreakfast and follow the instructions to submit a photo of a better breakfast made with almonds.

For Better Breakfast Month inspiration, Taub-Dix created quick and delicious tips to make the most of the morning meal:

• The ideal breakfast combines protein, complex carbs and good fats. Try almond butter on 100% whole grain toast with berries, or Greek yogurt with a small handful of chopped almonds along with your favorite fruit. 
• Try this unique, really tasty smoothie: in a blender combine 1/2 cup skim milk, 1/2 cup of plain Greek yogurt, 1/2 baked sweet potato, 1/2 banana, 1 tablespoon of almond butter and 3 ice cubes. Blend together and enjoy the natural sweetness of the banana and sweet potato, both potassium powerhouses!
• Satisfy your sweet tooth with a second breakfast "sundae" treat. Swirl a tablespoon of almond butter and a teaspoon of sweetened cocoa into oatmeal; top with fresh fruit and some warm skim milk.

Find more information on the importance of eating breakfast and the Better Breakfast Challenge at AlmondBoard.com/BetterBreakfast.

About Bonnie Taub-Dix, MA, RDN, CDN
Bonnie, nationally known registered dietitian and nutritionist, is the award-winning author of "Read It Before You Eat It" (Plume, 2010) and Owner of BTD Nutrition Consultants, LLC. She is a motivational speaker, freelance journalist and media spokesperson. Bonnie has conducted thousands of interviews for all forms of media including CNN, CBS' "The Early Show," ABC's "Good Morning America," "The TODAY Show," "Anderson Cooper 360," Martha Stewart Radio, The New York Times and The Washington Post. She is an advisor to global corporations, food companies, and media outlets devising wellness programs, creating media/social media campaigns, and conducting workshops for health professionals and consumers. She is a Health & Wellness Blogger for US News & World Report and Everyday Health and her stories appear in national magazines and newspapers online and in print. Bonnie was the recipient of The Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics' 2012 Media Excellence Award.

About California Almonds
Almonds from California are a natural, wholesome and quality food. The Almond Board of California promotes almonds through its research-based approach to all aspects of marketing, farming and production on behalf of the more than 6,000 almond growers and processors in California, many of whom are multi-generational family operations. Established in 1950 and based in Modesto, California, the Almond Board of California is a non-profit organization that administers a grower-enacted Federal Marketing Order under the supervision of the United States Department of Agriculture. For more information on the Almond Board of California or almonds, visit Almonds.com.

[1]Conducted by telephone for the Almond Board of California by ORC International's CARAVAN Surveys August 22-25, 2013. The margin of error is +/- 4%.

SOURCE California Almonds