Breakfast is genuinely my favourite meal of the day and it is really is important that you don’t go without. Your body has been fasting overnight and by eating breakfast you are breaking the fast and kick starting your metabolism for the day. If you do not eat breakfast, your body goes into starvation mode by preserving fat stores and instead will break down muscle mass to use as energy. The lower your muscle mass, the slower your metabolism which could contribute to weight gain.
I always try and have a nutritious breakfast and eat porridge most days. It is really quick and simple and sets me up for the day. I take one cup of porridge oats, (I prefer the smaller grains usually, but these are the more chunky grains or ‘old fashioned’ as they are sometimes called), put them in a bowl and then add about one tablespoon of Chia Seeds. I then add one cup of almond milk and put it in the microwave for about 2 minutes. You may have to adjust the amount of milk and cooking time depending on your microwave and size of porridge grains, but find that this is roughly about right. Of course you could also heat in a saucepan too if you prefer. When most of the milk has been absorbed by then oats, it is ready so then I just chop up whatever fruit I have at home, but usually a combination of blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and bananas and then dig in!
Oats are a perfect choice for breakfast as they are a complex carbohydrate, which means they take longer to digest making you feel fuller for longer. They are also a great source of fibre and help to reduce cholesterol too. Chia Seeds are my latest obsession and are the highest vegetarian source of Omega 3 fatty acids which are amazing for the skin and enhancing mood. I have recently started using almond milk, not because I am lactose intolerant, but because I am seeing a difference it makes to the clarity of my skin. The mixture of berries and bananas give me a good dose of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and make the porridge a little sweeter without having to add artificial sweetener such as syrup.
What is your staple breakfast?
Come and join me!