It is no secret that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. However, with our hectic lifestyles, it is tempting to skip breakfast or grab something quick and unhealthy on the way to lectures / seminars. Why not get up a few minutes earlier each day and prepare something yourself? It’ll be more healthy and you won’t end up feeling hungry a couple of hours later. I have suggested some alternatives to typical breakfast foods below to get you started.
1. Scrambled / boiled eggs
Although it makes a great hangover cure, bacon should not be consumed for breakfast on a regular basis. Bacon is often fried and full of fat, boosting your cholesterol levels. Swap bacon for a plate of scrambled eggs, or a simple boiled egg. Serve the scrambled eggs with mushrooms and tomatoes.
2. Homemade pancakes
While it is tempting to buy ready-made pancakes from your local supermarket since you can just stick them in the toaster, they contain large amounts of sugar and carbs. This isn’t helped when topped with syrup or Nutella. You could make your own pancakes instead by combining 50g wholemeal or buckwheat flour with 150 ml milk and 2 tsp baking powder.
3. Whole wheat or rye bread
White bread seems to be the most popular type of bread. Though it may be tasty, white bread has little nutritional value. White bread is made with a lot of salt and sugar. Whole wheat or rye bread make great alternatives. While whole wheat or rye bread can be expensive, they are much more beneficial to your health than white bread and will reduce the chance of health problems later in life. Whole wheat bread contains more nutrients than white bread, for example, iron, calcium and vitamin B. It is also full of fibre. Rye bread is wheat-free and less likely to leave you craving more food. Avocados are all the rage at the moment, so why not chop up one and serve on a slice of rye bread? Add a poached egg for a more filling breakfast.
4. Porridge and muesli
Commercial breakfast cereals, such as corn flakes and Shreddies, contain wheat, which is combined with lots of sugar to make it taste sweeter. When shopping for breakfast, opt for porridge or muesli. If buying plain muesli, top with fresh fruit and honey. Blueberries are the best fruit to add to muesli since they contain antioxidants which reduce stress and improve your memory, perfect for the upcoming exam season. If you are not able to grab hold of any fruit, muesli on its own is high in fibre and whole grain. Porridge is a great source of vitamin A and calcium. Try to use almond, soya or coconut milk instead of regular milk.
5. Homemade smoothies
It may come as a surprise, but shop-bought smoothies are not as healthy as you’d expect. Many branded smoothies are loaded with sugar, fat and calories. Some smoothies contain even more sugar than fizzy drinks. If you love smoothies, stick to homemade ones. Simply blend a mixture of fruit with honey and natural yoghurt or soy milk. Use frozen fruit to save money.
