WHAT MAKES A GOOD BREAKFAST?
A few good ways to make a break for it, break your fast and do it fast, courtesy of Seren McKeever.
Everyone knows that breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day – but not everyone knows how to make that meal ‘good’. It’s difficult, because it’s supposed to be nutritious, tasty, and quick enough for the busy morning.
When eating in the morning, carbohydrates are always a good place to start. Although they’ve gotten a bit of a bad rap on diet blogs, carbs are really important, as they help the body create enough energy to keep you going for the day.
Fruit and veg are should also be considered, for obvious reasons. If you can, incorporate them into breakfast, because they contain lots of vitamins and minerals which are essential to keep your body going. It’s especially good if you use ones which are high in protein, because protein helps your body’s enzymes and hormone levels stay stable.
If getting all that into one meal seems a bit overwhelming, don’t worry – here’s a short list of options which check all of the necessary boxes for a good breakfast:
Avocado on toast
It seems a cliché, but there’s a reason that avocado on toast has become such a staple breakfast option: it’s very customisable. In a rush, simply smashing up avocado and putting it on a loaf of standard brown bread is enough to give you that great combination of carbs and vegetables. However, if you’ve got a little more time, poaching or soft boiling an egg adds even more protein and extra flavour. Or, if eggs aren’t your thing, then a sprinkle of something as simple as paprika, chili flakes or tomatoes can also elevate the meal to the next level.
Overnight oats
The best thing about overnight oats is that most of the prep is done the night before. All you need to do is mix some oats, milk and cinnamon together and leave them overnight. Then, in the morning, you can add whatever you want. A good place to start is by adding natural yogurt, nut butter, and some form of fruit. The combination is quick, super tasty, and really filling. Honestly, who needs old fashioned porridge when you can have this instead?
Peanut butter and banana smoothie
If you’ve got a decent blender, then this smoothie takes no time at all: you just blend three frozen bananas, along with a generous two tablespoons of peanut butter, and add some milk and natural yogurt in to thin it out. This is really high in fibre and protein, so it’s great if you’ve got a busy day ahead. Plus, if you want a real treat, honey goes great in this and really enhances the sweetness of the bananas.
All of the above are just a few options to give you a starting off point. Really, breakfast can be anything you want it to be – as long as you’re keeping a balance of ingredients in mind. For example, a bowl of cereal is good, but why not make it even better by adding sliced banana? Toast is a staple, but have a glass of orange juice too, for those extra vitamins.
What makes a good breakfast? What you make of it.