Is it a good idea to have breakfast for dinner?
Eating breakfast for dinner can be an easy way to ensure nutritious food intake and avoid eating junk or take-out food, even when you have a busy work schedule. But there are a few things to keep in mind.
In short
- Breakfast foods like poha, upma and omelettes can make for a nutritious dinner
- Eating breakfast at dinner makes meal planning easier and helps avoid eating junk food or eating out
- Portion control and choosing a balanced diet is important
After a long day at work, do you often find yourself agonizing over what to have for dinner? Zomato and Swiggy can certainly help solve cooking woes, but after a while, scrolling through such platforms can also become endless and mind-numbing. The plethora of options makes it difficult to make a decision, or sometimes you are just too tired to make another decision at that moment.
One solution that will help you deal with this dinner dilemma is… your breakfast. Yes, have only breakfast for dinner.
Why breakfast for dinner?
Do you start your day with a bowl of poha filled with vegetables and peanuts? Great! You can end your day with the same. Health experts say that eating breakfast foods for dinner can be a good idea and can be beneficial in many ways.
However, it all depends on what you like to eat. Ideally, one should only eat nutritious, protein-rich and somewhat light snacks for dinner. For example, one should avoid eating heavy parathas and puris at night. Even for breakfast, oily, fried and refined carb foods should be eaten only occasionally.
Dietitian Rizwana Saeed, clinical nutritionist and certified diabetes educator at Apollo Clinic, Pune, says, “Having a light snack for dinner instead of a traditional dinner is beneficial for several reasons. The ingredients used in snacks are often less expensive, quick to prepare, and most importantly, low in calories.”
Parmeet Kaur, Chief Nutritionist and Dietician, Marengo Asia Hospital, Gurugram, says, “Since morning dishes are often lighter and easier on the stomach than the heavy dinner, they are more suitable for the evening meal.”
Think poha, upma, daliya, omelettes and paneer-dal chilla. “They are rich in nutrients like protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals, making them a nutritious option for breakfast or dinner,” says Rizwana Saeed.
Eating ‘brinnar’ (breakfast for dinner) can be a great lifestyle choice for working professionals who don’t have enough time to spend in the kitchen. It simplifies meal planning and preparation. In the long run, it promotes eating home-cooked food, which is generally more nutritious and a better choice overall.
How to do Brinjar correctly
Generally, experts recommend having a light dinner and a heavy breakfast. So, if you are planning to bring your breakfast menu to the dinner table, consider changing the portion size. Also, avoid high-carb breakfasts or sugar-laden foods.
“Be careful of high-fat or high-sugar items such as sweetened cereals or pastries in the morning, as they may not be the healthiest choice for dinner. The idea is to eat a balanced, varied diet throughout the day,” says dietitian Parmeet Kaur.
Megha Puri, senior dietitian at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, says, “If you like pancakes or waffles with syrup, sweet cereals, doughnuts, muffins, processed bacon/sausage, oily French toast or high-sugar yogurt or fruit parfaits for breakfast, it is better to avoid them for dinner.” The same applies to chhole bhature with lots of milk, pakoras, samosas, parathas and muesli.
Breakfast and dinner should include complex carbohydrates, protein and healthy fats. Simrat Kathuria, CEO and Chief Dietician, The Diet Experts, says, “Dinner should especially focus on protein and complex carbohydrates to aid muscle repair and metabolism, as well as high-fibre foods rich in vitamins and minerals.”
Expert-Approved Briner Alternatives
Dietitians approve of Daliya Khichdi, Poha, Upma, Dosa, Whole grains with milk, Yogurt with fruits and nuts, Scrambled eggs (or omelette) with vegetables and Cheela with stuffed paneer as good options for breakfast and dinner.
“Dishes like eggs, whether in an omelet or served on toast with avocado, overnight oats, or breakfast burritos made with eggs, veggies, and whole grain tortillas are all great dinner options. Light breakfast options like poha, upma, dosa, and idli are also perfect dinner options. These meals provide sustained energy, support digestive health, and are rich in fiber and nutrients,” says Simrat Kathuria.
“Upma and besan chilla are simple and effective dinner options due to their low calories and high protein and fibre content,” says Rizwana Saeed.
Memorization…
A balanced and varied diet, regardless of meal times, is important for maintaining overall health. Having breakfast for dinner can be an easy way to ensure nutritious food intake and avoid eating junk or take-out food despite a busy work schedule. Just keep an eye on portion sizes and food choices.
