Breakfast, that beautiful meal we need to have after we wake up.
You do eat breakfast? Right?!
If not, you are missing out on many health and well-being benefits.
Breakfast provides the body and the brain with energy to kick-start and set yourself up for a fantastic day. It should be eaten as soon as possible after waking, as your body is still functioning in a sleep state until you eat.
One of the main benefits of breakfast is giving the brain the food it needs to fuel you for the day ahead. A breakfast that has plenty of complex carbohydrates, fibre and protein is what your brain requires for optimal concentration, mental performance,increased productivity and to lower your stress levels. Breakfast also regulates your blood glucose levels to minimise sugar cravings and the need for snacks high
in fat during the day. Breakfast also promotes a more positive attitude for the day ahead.
Sometimes, women in particular, don’t feel like they can stomach a big breakfast before they walk out the door in the morning. Sometimes it’s easier to eat on the run while going to work in the car (to those who do this, do you keep a toothbrush at work?), no not you!
Some people opt for just a coffee instead to wake them up (gasp) – shocking!! Caffeine gives your brain a liquid rush of energy as it produces a dose of adrenaline to the body. But this wears off after a while leaving your body feeling fatigued and irritable, and our body is then left needing another dose of caffeine to stay alert and awake.
Breakfast is also a great way to restrict us from gaining weight. There have been studies done to show that eating breakfast actually doesn’t lead to weight gain. So you can eat all the healthy breakfast you like!
“Breakfast like a King, lunch like a prince and tea like a pauper”
So what should a good, healthy, wake me up, breakfast look like?
Do you add variety to your breakfast morning routine, or do you stay with the same breakfast each day? We are not only what we eat, but where and how we eat our breakfast, affects how we digest and metabolise it.
If you eat cereal, even a ‘healthy’ cereal, become a food detective and look at how much sugar it has in it, the less the better (aim for less than 10%). Look at how many carbs and protein are in the cereal too and please don’t drink pre-made breakfast cereals!! Far too much sugar and crap in them!
Try to prepare breakfast in the morning, as it gets your digestive juices flowing, stimulates saliva production, and gets your brain prepared for the meal. Sitting down after you’ve prepared the meal to eat; and not in front of the T.V. watching your favourite morning programs, aids in the digestion of your meal. Eating on the go with nutrient deficient foods (white toast with butter or jam and cream etc.) is not going to provide you with what your body needs to fuel itself for the day ahead.
We don’t forget to put deodorant and make-up on, brush our hair or teeth before we go out the door, so why do we make breakfast a lesser priority for the day?
My favourite breakfast for the day at the moment is steel cut oats; they’re so creamy and yummy. I just add cinnamon, chia seeds, a date and sometimes a little coconut sugar on them. So filling and satisfying. The only drawback is that they take around 30 mins to cook, so I often prepare them the night before (add some coconut milk before reheating them) or I get the kids to make it when they wake up in the morning, as they get up earlier than me!
Smoothies, especially ones made with a variety of vegies / greens / avocado / chia / fruit / almond milk / coconut water or milk / oats with one or two pieces of fruit are a great start to the day. This makes them low in sugar, filling and alkalising which is what your body needs.
Ever tried a chia seed pudding for breakfast? This is seriously yummy, it’s like you’re indulging in a dessert in the morning! This is best made the night before, and placed in to the fridge to ‘set’. I love adding vanilla, goji berries and seeds to mine as well. (Recipe will be on website).
Quinoa is another ingredient that can be used not only for salads and tea but for breakfast too, cook it then add coconut milk, seeds and berries like the chia seed pudding mentioned before. Both quinoa and chia seeds are gluten free.
When you have a bit more time on your hands, you can’t go past eggs on sprouted grain / rye/ sourdough bread. You can go the whole way by adding mushrooms and tomatoes too!
So I challenge you, try to have homemade breakfasts this week, and see how you feel. If you have cereal, try making something different from the list and reflect on the benefits you feel during the day.
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