Nick Bhasin, Board Member
The Kinkaid School - Houston, Texas
Teen Board Member 2020 - Present
Nick is a sophomore at The Kinkaid School. At Kinkaid, he is a member of the debate team, writes for the school newspaper, and plays varsity tennis and soccer. In addition, he is a member of India Club, the curriculum committee, the community service council, and the community service technology team. Nick has also made the High Academic Honor Roll and the Citizenship Honor Roll every year he has been at Kinkaid. Nick volunteers at Teen Mentoring Teens, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Houston Methodist Hospital, and the Houston Food Bank. During his free time, Nick enjoys teaching children and adults tennis, spending time with his family, building computers, and reading.
“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day”
You’ve probably heard this phrase a hundred times, but have you ever wondered why breakfast is such an integral part of your day? After waking up from eight nice hours of sleep (hopefully!), breakfast is your first chance to kick-start your metabolism and provide your body with enough calories and energy to get through the day. Skipping your morning meal only disrupts your body’s natural cycle, depriving your muscles and brain from the energy it needs to work at its highest level. For me, breakfast is the perfect opportunity to start off my morning right with a nutritious, healthy, and tasty meal that will allow me to make the most out of my day.
What are the benefits of breakfast?
Energy - Breakfast is your body’s first opportunity to get glucose in your body and stabilize your blood sugar levels. Glucose is especially important to power your brain during the day. Research shows that even with a higher intake of energy, breakfast eaters tend to be more physically active in the morning than those who don’t eat until later in the day.
Vitamins, minerals, nutrients - As a multi-sport athlete, maintaining a healthy balance of key nutrients like calcium, iron, fibre, and B vitamins are essential. Breakfast meals are amazing ways to provide your body with these vitamins, minerals, and nutrients and, skipping breakfast, deprives your body of these.
Heart Health and Diabetes - In the morning, your body is very insulin-sensitive, meaning that it uses blood sugar more effectively. A good and healthy breakfast will allow you to lower your cholesterol and even reduce the risk of developing diabetes and experiencing a heart attack or stroke later in life.
What are some good breakfast ideas?
As a tournament-level tennis and soccer player, I consistently eat healthy and nutritious breakfasts each morning. Here are some of my personal favorites that are convenient and easy-to-make.
Omelet - One of my personal favorite breakfast meals is an omelet filled with healthy vegetables and protein. In my three-egg omelets, I enjoy putting vegetables and fruits like corn, cheese, tomato, spinach, and onions. I also love to pair the omelet with salsa and a tortilla to get a good source of carbohydrates.
Oatmeal - If eggs aren’t your favorite breakfast meal, oatmeal is an amazing way to provide your body with vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants. I usually add berries and granola to my oatmeal to add some extra flavor and get even more nutritional value from the meal. Oatmeal requires minimal preparation time and is easy to digest, making it an amazing option when you are on the go!
Smoothie - A smoothie with milk (I use almond milk!), yogurt, fruits, oats, and flax seeds is a great way to supply your body with energy for the morning. Personally, I put strawberries, bananas and blueberries with a spoonful of peanut butter, but you can put any fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds you want!
So, there you have it! Breakfast is truly the most important meal of the day, and you have a plethora of options to start your day off right!
Nick Bhasin
May 2021
