The old saying goes that ‘breakfast is the most important meal of the day’, but is it really?
Saying that it is the most important meal may be a bit ‘out there’, but recent studies have showed that breakfast is important when considering overall health and wellbeing. Findings show that individuals that have skipped breakfast are more likely to overeat later in the day which makes it more difficult to manage their weight. Research also suggests that people who eat breakfast compared to skipping it are more likely to reach their recommended intakes of core food groups, vitamins, and minerals. Finally, skipping breakfast can leave you feeling ‘foggy’ as the brain is starving for energy that is derived from nutritious foods such as whole meal bread, cereals, fruit, and dairy.
Due to many cultural differences in the type of foods people like to eat at different times of the day, it can be quite difficult to break out of habit. The typical westernised diet shows that breakfast is typically overlooked and that most food is generally consumed in the back half of the day, around dinner time. It is not uncommon to see someone grab ‘a cuppa’ in the morning before beginning their day and forgetting to consume a well-balanced meal for breakfast. The decision about if and what to eat at the start of the day has been shown to have positive effects on our health, well-being, and cognition.
So, what exactly should we eat for breakfast?
- For the best start to the day choose a breakfast that is high in fibre (whole meal grains) and includes protein.
- A hot tip would be to look at some of your weak areas throughout the day and aim to incorporate them into your breakfast.
- For example:
- Lacking in veg? Try an omelette with a heap of your favourite vegetables.
- OR
- Lacking with dairy products? Try yoghurt, muesli, and berries for breakfast to increase your dairy consumption.
Other helpful tips to stay on top of eating breakfast!
- Keep a supply of healthy cereals that are high in fibre in the pantry.
- Prepare breakfast the night before when you are making dinner. It can only take another 5-10 minutes to grab a bowl of yoghurt, some muesli and berries and its ready to be placed into a bowl and into the fridge for the next morning!
- If breakfast is on the go always look out for store options like yoghurt pouches, milk, fruit, nuts, cheese and crackers and fruit.
This week’s recipe is going to focus on including vegetables for breakfast and will show you just how yummy a meal like this can be, enjoy!
Jump over to this week’s recipe!
If you have any questions about your diet or would like one-on-one dietary advice from your Able Dietician, send us a message letting us know what you’re after and we’ll be in touch to help you achieve your goals!
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