Pitchers: Why you shouldn't skip breakfast

What did you eat for breakfast this morning? Did you have breakfast? A bowl of cereal? An English muffin? Oatmeal?

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, particularly for pitchers. If you didn't eat breakfast this morning or if you routinely skip out on eating first thing in the morning, I hope I can get you to change your habit.

Breakfast quite literally means "break" the "fast." By the time you get up in the morning, your body hasn't consumed any calories (energy) for eight hours or more. Breakfast replenishes the body's energy system with the nutrients (vitamins and minerals), fluids, carbohydrates, protein (amino acids), and fat (essential fatty acids) it needs to rev up for the long day ahead.

What to eat? Aim for a mix of high, medium, and low glycemic carbohydrates. A bowl of oatmeal with skim milk, honey, raisins and/or blueberries/raspberries/bananas provides a nice mix. There's protein (about 7 grams) in the milk. Add two eggs or an English muffin with peanut butter for protein and some good fat. Drink a glass of OJ and/or water to top it off.

Sound like a big meal? It should be. Breakfast should be your biggest meal of the day because the time between the moment you go to sleep until the time you wake up is the longest your body goes without food in a 24-hour cycle.

I know you're serious about your pitching. Now get serious about your breakfast. What did you eat for breakfast today? Enter your comments below.