Kickstart your day

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for many reasons. Literally, it breaks your overnight fast. While you sleep, your body digests food from the previous day, repairs cells and prepares for the new day.

Going overnight with food allows your body to slow down a little and work on other functions. However, once you wake up, you need to refuel so that you operate at your best.

Ideally, if you are eating a good amount of food for your body and activity level, it should all be used overnight and you should wake up hungry. Waking hungry is a sign that your liver and kidneys are healthy and that your body is functioning well.

If you imagine your metabolism as an open fire, eating a good breakfast ‘stokes’ the fire and sets the foundation for an efficient day metabolically.

When you first wake up, a glass of water with a squeeze of lemon is a great way to start. It hydrates you, gives you a shot of vitamin c and fires up your body’s ability to eliminate waste.

Breakfast needn’t be boring. There is an almost overwhelming array of options in a supermarket – depending on your tastes you can choose warm, cold, sweet or savoury. If you find yourself bored with breakfast – try something new.

Breakfast ideas

Instead of plain porridge, make it with a teaspoon of cinnamon, add some dried fruit and slice a banana over the top. Try Greek yoghurt and honeycomb instead of cream and brown sugar. Add nutrients by sprinkling a tablespoon of LSA (ground linseeds, sunflowers seeds and almonds) over the top.

In warmer months, bircher muesli is a tasty alternative to porridge (1/3 cup of oats, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tbsp raisins, 1 tbsp chopped nuts, 1 tbsp coconut, 1 grated apple – mix and cover with milk and soak overnight – serve with fruit and yoghurt).

Try a new cereal. Read the side of the box and choose a cereal with whole grains, and not too much added sugar. Add fresh, tinned or frozen fruit for flavour and goodness. A serving of complex carbohydrates in the morning will give you a wonderful dose of energy.

For a variation on cereal, try a handful of chopped mixed raw nuts (almonds, brazil nuts, macadamias etc) with 2 tbsp of yogurt and fruit. 

 Try a smoothie – it’s a meal in a glass. In a blender, add ½ cup milk, ¼ cup juice, 1 banana, 2 tbsp protein powder (optional), ½ cup fresh or frozen fruit, 1 tbsp LSA and a handful of icecubes. Blend until smooth. 

Eggs and breakfast go hand in hand. Packed with protein and goodness, you can never go wrong with an egg. For a new twist, spread wholegrain toast with pesto, add wilted spinach and top with a poached egg. If you are running short on time, a boiled egg and slice of ham in a fresh roll with chutney makes a great breakfast on the run.

Aim to eat breakfast within an hour of waking up. If you leave it too long, your body may go into ‘starvation mode’ and instead of using breakfast to pep up your system, your body may wonder where its next meal is coming from and store your breakfast as fat! Eating little and often discourages indigestion and encourages a healthy metabolism.

If you can, make each meal an occasion. Set the table or take a tray to a sunny spot. Make your food look appealing – remember we eat with our eyes to a certain extent as well. Have the newspaper nearby, some nice music on or listen to an interesting programme on the radio and take time to enjoy your food.