(Newser) – A breakfast of fried eggs and bacon or sausage may be the best way to “program” the body to efficiently break down fats the rest of the day, according to a new study. Breakfasts rich in carbohydrates, such as cereal, may only prepare the body to break down carbs, say researchers. “The first meal you have appears to program your metabolism for the rest of the day,” lead researcher Martin Young tells the Telegraph.

The study found mice who ate high-fat breakfasts remained healthy while those fed carb breakfasts followed by high-fat dinners fared worse. “If you really want to be able to efficiently respond to mixed meals across a day, a meal in higher fat content in the morning is a good thing,” said one of the researchers. The findings seem to support an old adage: “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper,” the scientists note.