Why Breakfast Is Important

WHY IS A HEALTHY BREAKFAST SO IMPORTANT? BECAUSE IT…..

Provides sustained energy for the morning ahead. It replenishes the glucose levels which have been depleted whilst we slept. Choosing the right kind of breakfast can help provide a slow and steady energy release to keep us fueled until lunchtime.

Fuel’s the brain properly. This means you can concentrate better and focus more on the work you have to do that morning. If the levels of glucose in the body drop too low the brain suffers because it runs on glucose.

Supports the metabolism. This means that choosing the right foods at breakfast time can influence the rate at which your body burns up the energy in food. In fact skipping breakfast may slow down your metabolism.

Supports healthy eating habits throughout the day. Start the way you mean to go on. A balanced breakfast meal means you’re more likely to make better, more balanced choices for lunch and your evening meal. You are also less likely to want to snack on quick-fix food between meals.

Supplies valuable nutrients to the body – protein, fat, carbohydrates but also minerals and vitamins as well as plant-based nutrients too ideally.

WHAT MAKES A GOOD BREAKFAST? A BALANCED BREAKFAST SHOULD CONTAIN…

A good source of protein and ideally some healthy fats. Think along the lines of eggs, nuts, seeds, greek yogurt and even meat or fish and you can’t go far wrong.

Very low sugar, if any at all. Always seek natural sugars if you do like something sweet in the morning. What I mean by that is a little honey, maple syrup with your yogurt or porridge perhaps or even better if sweetness comes from fruit.

Choose carbohydrates that release sugar more slowly. These are known as complex carbs. All you really need to know is that wholegrains such as oats and whole pseudo-grains i.e. buckwheat and quinoa are going to give you energy for longer as will the carbohydrates from vegetables.

SOME HEALTHY BREAKFAST IDEAS

Eggs any way

Smashed avocado on sourdough toast

Unsweetened muesli with whole milk or Greek yogurt

Nut butter on sourdough toast

Porridge with berries and nuts (or a spoonful of nut butter) and/or seeds.

Tinned fish on sourdough toast i.e. sardines or mackerel

Greek yogurt with berries and nuts or seeds

WHAT TO AVOID AT BREAKFAST TIME

Breakfast cereal with added sugar.

White non-sourdough bread.

Fruit on its own – you’ll get a sugar low just a few hours later.

Sugary fruit yogurts

Fruit juice