Serena Williams says her first training-day meal comes later than people might expect

Serena Williams, 44, said she doesn't start her training days with breakfast.

"I'm not really a breakfast person, so my first meal is usually around lunchtime. I'll start with protein, have something lighter before I train, and then make sure I have a more substantial meal afterward to recover," Williams told People in an interview published on Friday.

The tennis star said she tries to cook for her daughters, Olympia and Adira, every night, because "that meal is less about what I need for training and more about sitting down together as a family."

Even with her training-focused diet, Williams said one unexpected staple is part of the mix. "I love tacos," she said.

Eating to support her training does not mean depriving herself of the foods she likes.

"When I'm competing, I'm focused on eating what I need to feel strong and perform my best, but I also believe in enjoying yourself. It's all about balance," she said.

At the US Open, that includes making room for New York's food scene. "New York has some of the best food in the world, so it's impossible not to indulge a little when I'm there," Williams said.

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While eating breakfast can be beneficial, skipping it is not necessarily a problem.

Research has shown that eating breakfast is associated with benefits like weight loss and more stable blood sugar levels. At the same time, skipping breakfast could be a form of intermittent fasting, which is also associated with a lower risk of chronic illness and better blood sugar control.

Whether breakfast works best depends largely on the individual. "The timing of your day depends on schedule and your digestion. Some people should eat earlier, and some might not feel hungry in the morning," Bonnie Taub-Dix, a registered dietitian and nutritionist, told Business Insider.

Other athletes have also spoken about not having the habit of eating breakfast.