Second breakfast sounds tasty, but might not be a weightless diet trend

Pancakes aren’t typical of second breakfast, but they certainly sound tempting to Ron Upshaw. (AP Photo/File)

When diet fitness trends reach the ears of Ron Upshaw, they’re already past their trendy peak. Thankfully, Don O’Neill is around to keep Ron in-the-know.

Don, spin instructor of the year in 2007, says the Paleo diet is what has the cross fit crowd in a tizzy; but Ron Upshaw is not excited to join in on the latest all-natural food craze.

“I don’t want that diet, I want the dual breakfast diet,” Ron told Don. The latest diet that is probably on it’s last leg, according to Ron’s theory, is the second breakfast diet.

The idea of having some pancakes shortly followed by more pancakes is appealing to many, including Ron. He says that if he can eat a second breakfast and still lose weight, he’s on board.

Spin instructor Don says sure, have a banana, work out, then eat a little more breakfast. “Get some fuel in early.”

Second breakfast isn’t necessarily about pancakes followed by bacon and eggs an hour later, nor is it an official diet being touted by some ‘diet guru.’ It has everything to do with habits of the so-called American on-the-go culture.

Second breakfast isn’t necessarily a full meal either. What qualifies as a snack or a meal is a matter of perspective, of course. But food companies are rolling out smaller bites that feed the growing appetite for morning snacks.

While no one is officially recommending a ‘banana-workout-followed by another banana’ as Don suggests, Ron can still grab another morning treat. General Mills, Quaker Oats, and others are adding to their lineup of breakfast bars and yogurts. Sara Lee’s Jimmy Dean introduced mini breakfast sandwiches last summer. Fast food chains like McDonald’s, in recent years, have expanded their breakfast menus to include morning snacks like smoothies and a fruit-and-walnut pack.

As for a second breakfast, big or small, being a weight loss technique – maybe not.

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