Adults with ADD What Did You Eat for Breakfast

I recently joined a women's group with local nutrition counselor. The focus of the group is "eating for energy and beauty," which really appeals to me. One of the first questions that the group leader posed to us last week was "What did you eat for breakfast?" I answered "pancakes.

" They were homemade, with whole grain flour, eggs, and milk. The next question she asked was "How did what you eat affect your energy today?" I had an instant "ah-ha" moment. I had felt sluggish that day and had a hard time getting going in the morning.

Even though I pump up my pancakes with lots of protein in the form of milk and extra eggs, they're still carbohydrate-heavy. And for me, that's not a good way to start the day. Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) are super-sensitive to internal and external stimuli. This includes the foods we put into our bodies.

Protein-rich foods like meat, dairy, nuts, and beans can go a long way in helping an ADDer to stay alert, focused, and energized during the day. On the flip side, too much refined carbohydrates like sugar, corn syrup, and white flour can have us feeling sluggish and groggy. My women's group leader challenged us to experiment with breakfast foods the next week to see what foods supported our energy throughout the day, and what foods didn't. The goal was to develop individual, internal wisdom about nutrition. Every person is different, and some women found that a high-carb breakfast supported their energy throughout the day.

I wasn't one of them. When I really paid attention to it, I found that the best breakfast for me is two scrambled eggs (pastured eggs from a local farm--you won't believe how good pastured eggs are til you try them) and an apple or small piece of bread. I seem to need a big hit of protein in the morning (in the form of the eggs) along with a small dose of carbs (in the form of fruit or bread). The thing is, I knew this about myself, that my body responds well to a high-protein breakfast. But I didn't really pay attention to it until I was challenged to do so. Kinda like ADD coaching.

So now I'd like to offer you the same challenge. Pay attention to your breakfast! Which foods support you, and which don't? Which foods give you energy, and which rob you of energy? Which foods seem to have a negative effect on your ADD? Do some experimenting! Copyright (c) 2008 Jennifer Koretsky.

Jennifer Koretsky is the Founder of the ADD Management Group, Inc. and the author of Odd One Out: The Maverick's Guide to Adult ADD. Jennifer and her team work with ADD adults who are overwhelmed with everyday life in order to help them simplify, focus, and succeed. For free resources and information on adult ADD, visit http://www.ADDmanagement.com .