…According to nutrition experts, the most important meal of the day is breakfast. Breakfast should help your body recover from sleep and give you energy during the morning hours. Pan-fried cakes, sausages, eggs, cheeses and other fatty foods make up traditional morning meals, but these foods aren't off limits. The time to indulge in them is in the AM, when you're more likely to burn off any extra calories during your daily activities. Alternate some of your not-so-healthy items with steel-cut oatmeal and other fiber-rich complex carbs to up the nutritional value of your breakfast and promote alertness throughout the day.

Your midday meal should consist of items that will stave off hunger and fatigue in the late afternoon. Sandwiches and salads, made with high-protein meats or tofu, can make a light and satisfying lunch that helps you feel full without weighing you down. Keep in mind that hectic schedules and some medical conditions, like diabetes, can render three square meals a day unrealistic or even impossible. Many experts agree that eating five smaller meals a day is a healthy option.

If you''ve ever gone to bed after eating a calorific, high-fat meal only to wake up in the wee hours with it creeping back up your esophagus, you know that a smaller, healthier dinner can keep destructive acid reflux at bay. Sleep is more recuperative when your body is not working hard to digest a feast! For a nourishing evening meal, divide your plate into thirds-- one protein, one complex carbs, like brown rice or whole grain pasta, and one vegetables. Follow these simple guidelines to ensure that your meals give your body and mind what they need to stay strong and they'll thank you in more ways than one!