There’s a saying that, for optimal health and weight management, we should eat breakfast like a King and dinner like a pauper. And it’s spot on. Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. It’ll help you to maintain a healthy weight, get your brain fired up for the day, improve your mood and lead to higher intakes of essential nutrients. Skipping breakfast leaves you more likely to snack on junk and feel sluggish throughout the day.
So, if we know it’s good for us, why don’t we get on with it and eat a healthy breakfast every morning? If you’re one of the 56% of Australians who skip brekkie at least once a week, make it your mission to change your ways. Even if that is the one and only thing that you change, your health will benefit.
A healthy breakfast is low in fat, provides a variety of foods and has plenty of fibre, vitamins and minerals. We recommend always including dairy and a piece of fruit with your breakfast, so that you are on your way to meeting your daily dietary requirements.
Psst…. Your breakfast serve of dairy might come in your daily coffee. Just make sure it’s low-fat.
Variety is important. If you eat the same breakfast everyday, it’s unlikely that you’re ticking all of the nutritional boxes. Even having 2 or 3 breakfasts on rotation will help your health. Check out these ideas:
- A smoothie, including some rolled oats to add substance
- Soft-boiled or poached eggs on wholegrain toast with vegemite
- A bit of everything….. Wholegrain toast with avocado, a piece of fruit, a pottle of natural yoghurt
- Grilled cheese on toast and a piece of fruit
- A couple of weetbix with milk & a sliced banana
- Fruit salad with yoghurt or ricotta
- A 2-minute omlette filled with grated or shredded veges, so they cook in a flash
- Leftovers. Who said you can’t eat curry for breakfast?
- Wholegrain cereals (try to get the ones with plenty of nuts and not too much dried fruit) with milk & a grated apple or pear
- A punnet of berries, a handful of nuts and a glass of milk
The most important thing is to eat something. Get your metabolism, and your brain, going for the day. If you haven’t been a breakfast eater in the past, you might need to start small and slowly increase the size and variety of your breakfast. Consider it a challenge, and you might just find you enjoy it.
