Rulebreaking, sometimes called \”thinking outside the box\”, is something that most of us do here and there.

This morning you would have thought that I had violated a major rule of grocery shopping: Don\’t shop for food while you\’re hungry.

I didn\’t exactly go to the store hungry. I ate a banana before leaving home, intending to have a more substantial breakfast when I got back. Then, while standing in the line to check out, my stomach began to growl.

There was some kind of problem with the customer in front of me; the card she was using to pay wasn\’t working right, or something. So there I was, waiting and hungry. The longer you have to wait in line, the more you notice the items in the racks next to you.

I spied Clif Bars, which I use regularly as ride food. I grabbed a couple of them; then saw the Cooper Street granola cookie bakes. I got two of those as well — and devoured one before climbing aboard my bicycle to ride my loaded panniers back home. I think I\’ve discovered a new ride food.

After I got the groceries put away, it was finally time for real breakfast. Here is another way in which I indulge in rulebreaking. I don\’t give a hoot what we\’re \”supposed\” to eat for breakfast. If I want brown rice and lentil soup at breakfast time, that\’s what I\’ll eat. Breakfast is supposed to be a great time to eat legumes, anyway: they provide slow-digesting fuel to keep you going. On the bike isn\’t the only time we need fuel.

So be a rulebreaker! Think of yourself as a trend-setter, and don\’t be afraid to think outside the box.