I wrote this article for a local magazine recently who were interested in my take on healthy breakfasts and wanted to share it with you in case its just what you needed to hear….
As school returns for 2020 it's a good time to be reminded of why healthy breakfasts are important and why cereals are really just “puffed up nothing”……We have all heard the saying “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day”
and why is this? All meals are important, it’s just that breakfast it is the first meal of the day after the body has rested, digested and rejuvenated itself during the night. Breakfast therefore is the first opportunity to nourish the body with the essential micronutrients for healthy brain and body development, focus and concentration and enough energy for playtime.
Now a nutrient dense breakfast does not come in a packet. Never has and never will! Nutrients are best absorbed in their natural state so high processed, puffed, cracked, flaked cereals with added sugars just do not cut it. They have been fortified with nutrients and yes they are easy and quick but they just do not provide enough wholesome goodness. When you think about the fact that Breakfast is usually eaten at 6-7am and school recess might not be until 10.30-11am the breakfast needs to have fats and proteins and carbohydrates to provide sustained energy release otherwise energy levels and learning can suffer. If breakfast is nutrient packed it reduces the energy slumps, cravings and low bloody sugar issues often present in those who don't eat breakfast or do not eat enough of the right breakfasts.
So what about the time and money issues? You just need a few varied recipes you can learn off by heart, rotate weekly, seasonally and you can make them in a time frame that works for you and your family. Better yet, teach your kids how to make their own nutrient dense breakfasts.
Here’s a few of my favourite alternatives to the old cereal or vegemite on toast
· Egg and spinach fried rice (left over rice for this)
· Rice pudding with sultanas, chia and coconut sprinkled on top (once again left over rice)
· Toasted pesto, spinach, red onion and tomato wrap
· Chia and banana pikelets with fresh berries
· Omelettes or scrambled eggs with vegies
· Chia seed pudding
Prepared breakfast you can just defrost or reheat
· Raw food cheesecake (one slice goes a long way to filling you up)
· Apple or other fruit crumble served with yoghurt of choice
· Frittata or tortilla heated up or eaten cold
· Banana and coconut bread heated up
And if its all going to be too much or the morning is going pear shaped then
· Smoothie of choice (loaded with your favourite goodies, banana, LSA, chia, coconut oil, bee pollen, green powders)
· Avocado, egg, nut butters, cottage cheese or mushrooms all make great protein and fat filled alternatives to go on top of your favourite wholegrain or sourdough toast of choice.
If you are interested in more breakfast ideas then head to the products page as I
have a downloadable breakfast ideas poster.
Happy breakfasting
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